Science Episodes

In this episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary: Conversations with Women in STEM, host Kathy Nelson sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Mendes, a newly minted PhD and postdoctoral researcher whose work focuses on rare and aggressive pediatric cancers. Dr. Mendes recently completed her PhD at Duke University, where she spent over five years researching rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood soft-tissue cancer. Her goal: identify new biological targets that could one day lead to better, more effective treatmen...

In this episode, Kathy and Linda LaTourelle sit down with Linda Rhodes, a former large-animal veterinarian, pharmaceutical executive, entrepreneur, and author, to explore an extraordinary career path rooted in agriculture, science, and perseverance. Linda shares her journey from being one of the few women working as a large-animal veterinarian to building a groundbreaking career in veterinary pharmaceuticals, biotech startups, and executive leadership. Along the way, she reflects honestly on th...

In this bonus, Halloween and Bat Week episode, we talk with Dr. Kristen Lear, a bat conservation scientist, National Geographic Explorer, and If/Then® Ambassador whose lifelong passion for misunderstood creatures turned into a career protecting bat populations around the world. Kristen shares how a childhood Girl Scout project building bat houses led her to a career at Bat Conservation International (BCI), where she now directs the Agave Restoration Initiative—a binational program supporting en...

Kalpana Pot is an actor, writer, host, and space communicator. Renowned for her vibrant online presence, particularly in space science, Kalpana has cultivated a platform with over 200K followers on Instagram and 4.4 million likes on TikTok. Importantly, she challenges the prevailing narratives about women in STEM, a perspective not often encountered. Furthermore, it's uncommon to find a woman in STEM with a substantial following, but Kalpana leverages her platform to educate people about space....

Dr. Syatta Wallace is an advocate for women in STEM and Founder of Janisaw Company. With over 15 years in developing gender-based programs, Dr. Wallace specializes in addressing the unique challenges women face in STEM careers. She shares her extensive experience in developing leadership and career development programs tailored for women in STEM. Her mission involves aiding companies in enhancing female leadership. As an award-winning scientist and professor, she draws from her own experiences a...

Dr. Chanfeng Zhao is the VP of R&D Chemistry at TriLink BioTechnologies. She has over 25 years of experience in nucleotide and modified nucleotide chemistry for sequencing and genomics applications. She co-founded MyChem LLC, a company later acquired by TriLink, specializing in ultra-pure synthetic nucleotides. Chanfeng was the CSO and Co-founder of Sequlite Genomic (acquired by Fapon International), a company that was developing NGS instruments and reagents. Previously, Dr. Zhao was one of the ...

Asha Devasia is an executive with experience in strategy, products, innovation and operations in the Energy industry. She leveraged her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Business and her MBA to transition to leadership early in her career. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and empathetic leadership style. What do we talk about in this episode? Asha’s career journey and how she got into strategy and leadership. Deep dive into Asha’s leadership style and roles within her career. The importance ...

Kathy Ford is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Kura Oncology. She has over 30 years experience in biopharmaceuticals. She is equally passionate about the work she does bringing treatment to cancer patients and as a mom and grandmother. Kathy earned her R.N. from Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing and her B.S.N. from Fitchburg State College. What do we talk about in this episode? Kathy's journey from nursing, being a stay at home mom, and back into the job market and into execu...

Sheryl Recinos is a physician, author, speaker and advocate. She is a locums hospitalist. After spending her teen years homeless and living on the streets in Los Angeles, she got a Bachelor's Degree in Cellular and Microbiology and later went back to school for her MD. Her childhood trauma helps her identify trauma in patients she sees and she advocates and works with homeless in Los Angeles. She has written several books about homelessness including a memoir, Hindsight, which chronicles her chi...

Liz Lee Heinecke is an author and media figure for science and STEM. She has loved science she was young which drew her to study molecular biology where she worked in research for ten years. As she transitioned to parenting, she began sharing her love of science through experiments with her kids which became the basis for her books and media appearances. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Art and a Master's Degree in Bacteriology. What do we talk about in this episode? How Liz got involved in writi...

Dr. Alison Banwell is a Glaciologist and Research Scientist in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), part of the University of Colorado Boulder. She studies glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctica and glacial lakes that form from glacial ice melt. She has led many field expeditions in Antarctica and has also conducted fieldwork on the Greenland Ice Sheet, Svalbard and the Himalaya. She has a PhD in Polar Studies from the University of Cambridge. What do we talk...

Nancy Joie Wilkie worked for over thirty years in both the biotechnology industry and as part of the Federal Government’s biodefense effort. Nancy is now retired and explores many creative pursuits including writing, composing original music, playing a variety of instruments, and is recording many of her compositions. Nancy has a BA degree in Biology and a MS degree in Bio-Chemistry. What do we talk about in this episode? Nancy recently published a book "Faraway and Forever", a collection of 5 ...

Lydia Blume is the Morning Meteorologist at WDAY in Fargo, North Dakota. Lydia has a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. She focuses on communications of scientific information to non-scientific people. What do we talk about in this episode? Lydia talks about her love for meteorology and weather from a young age. She grew up on a farm in rural South Dakota, fascinated by weather and never deviated in her goal of becoming a meteorologist. She shares the challenges...

Nicole Kelner is a science and climate artist. She is the founder of Arts and Climate Change. Prior to founding Arts and Climate Change, she was an Artist in Residence at MCJ Collective. Prior to these two positions she worked in operations areas at climate companies. Nicole has a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Shreyer's Business College and Honors in Engineering Entrepreneurship from Penn State. What do we talk about in this episode? Nicole shares how she went from technical areas into a...

Dr. Sirisha Kuchimanchi is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, podcast host, live radio and live radio show host. She's a former tech executive who left the corporate world to start her own business. She founded Sahita, a Global community for South Asian Women to achieve Career & Financial empowerment so you can "Live the life YOU Dream". She has a PhD and Master's Degree in Materials Science and a Master's Degree and Bachelor's Degree in Physics. What do we talk about in this episode? Sirisha sh...

Dr. Rachel Cady is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and a Certified Menopause Practitioner. She is an active member of both the North American Menopause Society and the International Menopause Society. Among the concerns and symptoms she treats are weight management, sexual problems, vaginal dryness, abnormal bleeding, pelvic floor rehab, incontinence, heart health, mood swings, hormone replacement, bone health, sleep issues, and hot flashes. What do we talk about in this episode? Dr. Cady shares a...

Dr. Ginger Campbell is a Palliative Medicine Physician. Prior to Palliative Care, Dr. Campbell was an Emergency Physician. She earned a BSE in Electrical Engineering and an MSE in Biomedical Engineering prior to her MD. Dr. Campbell launched her podcast Brain Science in 2006 and was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2022. What do we talk about in this episode? Dr. Campbell shares her experiences in palliative and emergency room medicine. She is in the process of moving from doing pallia...

Hayley Hoaglund and Madeleine Howard developed a tampon that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect cervical cancer without a pap smear. They share their journey with the intersection of women's global health, business, and tech. Hayley has worked in health care and program management from rural settings to government level. From community level health efforts in the Peace Corps in Peru to working on program design and management within the Ministry of Health, she’s designed and implemente...

Ashley McDonald is the Interim Vice President of Sustainability at National Pork Board. Ashley's passion for agriculture, farming, and STEM started at a very young age and she specializes in sustainability and policy. Ashley has a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics and a Doctor of Law (JD) from George Mason University. Episode Notes Ashley shares the close relationship between agriculture and STEM fields. She specializes in sustainability in the pork industry and she talks about the...

Patty Mechael is a leader in digital transformation of global health in low-and middle-income countries. She is the Co-founder and Policy Lead of HealthEnabled. She has held numerous executive and leadership positions, traveled to over 40 countries, and spent more than 20 years improving public health throughout the world. She has served as Executive Director of the mHealth Alliance at the UN Foundation and Executive Vice President of the Personal Connected Health Alliance at HIMSS as well as Vi...

Dr. Emilia Molimpakis is the co-founder and CEO of thymia, a company that uses video games based on Neuropsychology along with analysis of speech and facial micro expressions to quickly, accurately, and objectively diagnosis mental health issues, including depression. In 2020/2021 she won the Young Innovators Award. Emilia has a PhD in Neuroscience and Linguistics, a Master's Degree in Language Sciences with specialisation in Linguistics with Neuroscience. Episode Notes Emilia shares how she ...

Dr. Moira Gilchrist is the Vice President of Strategic and Scientific Communications at Philip Morris International (PMI). She has a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and in 2006, came to PMI to help launch the company’s smoke-free products, which were developed as better alternatives to cigarettes for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke. Her journey to PMI was as personal as it was professional: as a smoker, she understood the potential for these better alternatives to become a bre...

Alana McNulty is the Chief Business Officer at eFFector Therapeutics where she leads corporate development and business development. She has held various leadership roles including Chief Financial Officer, VP of Finance, Executive Director throughout her career. Alana has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Genetics and an MBA in Finance & Marketing. Episode Notes Alana shares how her background in biology and genetics provided a foundation for her career as she moved into finance and business r...

Dr. Angelique Adams is an entrepreneur, scientist, engineer, mother, and philanthropist. She recently started her own company - Angelique Adams Media Solutions, LLC and is passionate about leadership and developing her team and now clients. She holds a PhD in Fuel Science, MS in Fuel Science, BS in Chemical Engineering, and an MBA from MIT. Episode Notes Dr. Angelique Adams brings multiple decades of leadership experience and knowledge to our conversation. She shares her journey from being a sc...