Women in STEM Podcasts You Need to Be Listening To
I will be the first to admit that I was very late to embrace podcasts.
I have worked from my home for over five years, and the usual advice of “start listening on your commute” didn’t align with my reality. Even when traveling I found that my preference was to drift to sleep while listening to music after takeoff and waking just before landing; thoroughly deserved rest after days of stressing over what to wear and questioning whether everything I had packed would meet female professional dress codes.
I held this preference firmly until September 2016 when word of a new podcast called Period made its way to me. Period was and is everything a podcast needed to be to pique my interest: a podcast about women’s health, hosted by biological anthropologist Kate Clancy, which speaks plainly about the realities of menstruation as well as the social, political, and biological aspects of menstruation.
Period science and activism? I was hooked, and Period is the podcast that convinced me to give podcasts a try finally. If you are not already listening to Period, you can subscribe here or here, follow on facebook, and on twitter at @periodpodcast2 and @kateclancy. While you’re at it, check out these other podcasts created by women in STEM that I just cannot get enough of:
Superwomen in Science
From the Show Page: The podcast is created and hosted by Cordon Purcell and Nicole George, two Canadian graduate students with a passion for promoting women in science.
The Superwomen in Science Podcast aims to highlight a wide variety of different scientific endeavors, ranging from arts research to STEM fields. Each episode will include stories of past women, interviews with current women in science, and opportunities/organizations for future generations. The goal of the podcast is to increase exposure of women in science, as motivation for young women entering scientific fields and to provide a supportive community for current lady scientists.
Why you will love Superwomen in Science
Cordon and Nicole explore different career paths in science and highlight women who are kicking ass in their fields. Cordon, a music therapist and Nicole, a neuroscientist, provide a balance between the hard sciences and social sciences, and the result is that they cover a wide range of topics that offer something familiar and something new for listeners each episode. Episodes begin with a short discussion and an excerpt from Rachel Ignotofsky’s book Women in Science before transitioning to the guest interview. In line with Cordon and Nicole’s intent to break down stereotypes about scientists, they kick off each discussion with the question, “do you wear a lab coat?”
The first season is complete, but new listeners can catch up by listening to the ten archived episodes before season two begins.
Ologies
From the show page: Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and some insane stories about what fuels these professional ologists’ obsessions. Hosted by humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward.
Why you will love Ologies
Alie Ward is a professional delight. Each episode of Ologies explores a different ‘ology’ and interviews a professional in the field. Alie, if you are not familiar with her previous work, is part comedian and part science correspondent/enthusiast. She brings curiosity that is both charming and sincere, and each episode takes on the comfortable cadence of two friends catching up on topics ranging from glycobiology to Coachella. Once you’re caught up on the 14 available episodes, you will be counting down the days until a new one is released.
Bugs & Stuff
From the show page: A podcast hosted by Caitlin & Cari, your friendly neighborhood ecologists trying to find their place in the world of science communication and outreach. We want to bring weird science to the general public, help researchers share their science, and simply explore the world around us. We’re excited to bring you along on our journey every other Tuesday!
Listen. Wonder. Discover!
Why you will love Bugs & Stuff
Catilin and Cari have turned their passion for science communication and their love of all things weird into a bi-weekly podcast about bugs (and stuff). From creating fictional bug superheroes to navigating the challenges that women face in STEM careers, and discussing the problems we face as a result of invasive species, topics genuinely do cover the full range of bugs and, well, stuff.
Talk Nerdy
From the show page: Cara Santa Maria is a science communicator, television host, producer, and journalist. She is excited to present “Talk Nerdy,” a place for conversations with interesting people about interesting topics.
Why you will love Talk Nerdy
Where to start? I’m embarrassed to say that I was not subscribed until Holly set me right. Talk Nerdy delivers an entertaining and in-depth conversation with a different guest to listeners each week. Recent guests have included Natalie Newell, creator of the film Science Moms; Nate Blakeslee, author of American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West; and neuroendocrinologist and author Dr. Robert Sapolsky (Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst.) If you are not already listening, you will find 190 episodes waiting for you and a whole new reason to say “One more episode, and then I’ll get some sleep,” at 2:00 am.
I’m always seeking out new and diverse voices to add to my ever-growing list of subscriptions. What podcasts celebrating Women in STEM are you listening to?
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