Affiniti+ Podnotes
Podnotes
Mental health, explored through honest, practical conversation.
- No glossy prospectus version. No polished soundbites.
- Just the conversations people do not usually have out loud — hosted by psychologists who have lived both sides of the couch.
Part VisPod, part educational resource
Why Podnotes?
In clinical practice, notes are how we make sense of what we hear — turning conversation into insight and insight into action. Podnotes work the same way. Each conversation is designed to leave you with something you can actually use.
Podnotes is home to more than one series over time. Here's what's live now.
Our shows
So You Want To Be A Psychologist
An insider series on what the route into clinical psychology actually looks like — from motivation and misconceptions to applications, training and career reality.
- Honest discussion of the route into clinical psychology.
- Practical insight into applications, training and work.
- Clear next steps for aspiring psychologists.
Almost 6,000 people applied for 1,179 NHS-funded doctorate places in 2025. Over 100 applicants for a single assistant psychologist post is not exceptional — it is normal. University tutors give you the official version. Career services send you generic advice. Online forums give you anxious speculation.
This series gives you something different:
- Five free episodes covering everything your university tutor did not tell you — the realities of this rewarding but competitive path, from A-levels to qualified.
- Most advice focuses on what to know. This series focuses on how to be — which, in our experience, matters more.
- Direct access to Dr Anindita and Zara via Substack community chat — ask your questions; we read everything.
- Free subscription to An Affiniti for Psychology monthly newsletter when you provide your email.
Be first to hear what comes next
Podnotes will continue to grow beyond the current series. Subscribe once and receive the announcement when the next conversation is ready.
- New-series announcements without repeated checking.
- Direct access to the existing Podnotes and newsletter community.
- One focused update when the next series is ready to watch or hear.
Find where you are on the path.
Who this series is for
Episode 4 changed everything. I tailored my CV using Dr Anindita's keyword strategy and got my first AP interview afer several months of rejection.
Exploring the profession
A-level students, undergraduates and career changers looking for a realistic picture before committing years to the route.
Building relevant experience
Graduates navigating the competition for assistant psychologist and related roles, including repeated applications and uncertainty.
Preparing for training
Applicants preparing for doctorate applications, interviews and the practical reality of clinical psychology training.
Navigating a different route
International students and non-traditional entrants who need the UK pathway explained plainly rather than assumed.
The clinicians and voices behind the conversation
Hosted by
Consultant Clinical Psychologist | Founder, Affiniti+
Dr Anindita Sarkar, AFBPsS
For 22 years, Dr Anindita worked in the NHS and local authorities, including as head of clinical services for a London borough. On Podnotes, she brings 26 years of clinical experience to honest conversations about the realities of a psychology career.
Assistant Psychologist
Zara Tandy, MSc, BSc
Zara holds a psychology degree from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Developmental Psychopathology from King's College London (2025). She co-hosts Podnotes fresh from navigating the path herself – bringing the questions new graduates are actually asking.
So You Want To Be A Psychologist · Catalogue
Episode trailers
Most people who want to be clinical psychologists don't fully understand what the role involves until they are already years into trying to get there. This episode fixes that. Dr Anindita and Zara discuss what drew them to the field, what the profession actually involves, and what aspiring psychologists need to understand before they invest years in this path.
Clinical psychologist. Psychotherapist. Psychiatrist. Counselling psychologist. Most people use these terms interchangeably. They are not the same — and confusing them can cost years of experience in the wrong direction. This episode clarifies the differences and answers the questions nobody tells you early enough.
The prospectus version of a clinical psychology doctorate sounds manageable. The reality is different. This episode goes beyond the prospectus — what training actually involves, what a viva is really like, and what you need to do before you apply.
Over 100 applicants for one assistant psychologist post. That is not exceptional. That is normal. This episode covers what you actually do about it — CVs, interviews, rejection and the application mistakes most candidates make without realising.
You have qualified. Now what? This final episode looks at what clinical psychology actually looks like from the inside — NHS versus private practice, the long-term impact, leadership, and the emerging questions around AI and the profession's future. And the question the whole series has been building toward: is this worth it?
What you'll get
Assistant psychologist application checklist
CV template built for clinical psychology roles
Clinical psychology interviews: how to be, not what to know
Additional reading to deepen your understanding of the pathway
DClinPsy application timeline — A-levels to qualified
Podnotes is just the starting point
Want to go further?
Everything most applicants spend months piecing together – in one place. most advice focuses on what to know. This series focuses on how to be – which, in our experience, matters more.
- Direct access to Dr Anindita and Zara via Substack community chat — ask your questions; we read everything.
- Free subscription to An Affiniti for Psychology monthly newsletter when you provide your email.
When content is not enough, step into support.
Personalised support
Personalised support applies whether you are preparing for your first role, moving into a senior post, changing career direction or refining how you present your experience. Our CV reviews, mock interviews and career strategy sessions are open to everyone — not only those working in psychology.
CV review
Focused feedback on evidence, structure, language and the way your experience is positioned for the role.
Mock interview
Practise the interview as a conversation: how to think aloud, use examples and respond when the question shifts.
Career strategy session
Clarify the next move, identify gaps and build a realistic plan for your first role, senior progression or career change.