Frequently Asked
Questions, with as honest an answer as I can give.
If something isn't here, the email at the bottom of the page works — I'll usually answer within a few days.
About the project
Who runs Psychverse?
Just me — Shivani, a pre-med student at the University of Michigan. There's no team, no editor, no funding. Everything you read here is something I wrote down after a conversation I cared about.
Is this a school project?
No. It's something I started on my own and plan to keep doing through residency and beyond.
How often do you publish?
Every two to three weeks, roughly. School comes first, so the pace varies. If you'd like to know when new interviews go up, there's a feed you can follow — see the Subscribe page — or you can just bookmark the site. I'm not running a newsletter yet.
For interviewees
How do you choose who to interview?
Honestly? People I'm curious about, or people my interviewees suggest I talk to next. There's no checklist. I look for people who do this work thoughtfully, regardless of how well-known they are.
What's the time commitment?
About 60 to 90 minutes for the conversation itself, in person if we're close, on a call otherwise. After that, I do all the writing — you only see it again when it's ready for your review.
Will I see the piece before it's published?
Yes — always. You'll get the full edited draft before anything goes live, and you have the final say on what stays in. If something doesn't sit right, we cut it.
How much do you edit?
Lightly. Mostly I remove the things we said twice, smooth out the ums and false starts, and occasionally reorder a question so the conversation flows. I don't rewrite your answers.
Can I withdraw after the interview?
Of course. At any point, for any reason, no questions asked. The conversation is yours.
For readers
Can I share these interviews?
Please do. Send them to friends, post them, send them to the person who'd love being interviewed next. Every share helps the project find people I should be talking to.
Can I suggest someone you should interview?
Always. The best interviews I've done so far came from suggestions. Email me with a name and one sentence about why.
Why aren't there comments?
Comments tend to flatten conversations into reactions. If you want to respond to something here, I'd rather you email me — those exchanges tend to be much more interesting, and sometimes they turn into the next interview.
Still curious?
If your question isn't here, ask. I'd rather hear from you than have you wonder.
shivani@psychverse.blog