Women, Life and Science

Send us Fan MailFor many of us, the defining moments of adolescence set the stage for how we meet life’s heaviest challenges. In this episode, author Erica Kent discusses her novel Black Dog, a story that begins with the shock of John Lennon’s death and navigates the complex, turbulent landscape of youth, mental health, and loss. We examine the thin lines between memory and reality and what it takes to reclaim light from the dark. Listen on demand!ERICA KENT is a winner of the Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards Program. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her work has appeared in StoryQuarterly and The Brooklyn Rail, among other publications. She is the recipient of scholarships from Marilyn Moss Rockefeller and James S. Rockefeller, Jr., Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, and Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Portland, Maine. 

Send us Fan MailThere is no Dolores without Mita. But overnight, an inseparable bond is shattered when Mita is sent away to London, and her parents act as if she never even existed. In our upcoming episode at Women, Life and Science podcast, we sit down with debut author Juliet Faithfull to discuss her deeply personal novel, Liar’s Dice. Set against the dangerous, repressive backdrop of a military dictatorship in Brazil—where ordinary citizens vanish into thin air—Dolores begins to suspect the unthinkable: Is her sister really gone, or are her parents lying?Determined to uncover the truth, Dolores will lie, gamble, and steal. But her most powerful weapon isn't a weapon at all—it's literacy. Desperate to reach across the distance, she learns to write just so she can keep sending letters into the void, hoping against hope that someone is listening. Tune in as Juliet opens up about family secrets, the survival of the human spirit, and the transformative power of the written word.#Sisterhood #PowerOfWords #DebutAuthor #WomenLifeAndScience

Send us Fan MailIn 2025, more than 3,200 families traveled over 40 miles to access care at Duke Children’s. And when an emergency arises, being within 30 minutes of the hospital can be critical.For families traveling for their child’s cancer treatment, finding a temporary place to stay nearby can become another burden on top of chemotherapy, appointments, and the uncertainty of caring for a sick child.Heather saw this challenge firsthand when her daughter, Harper, was diagnosed with leukemia and received treatment at Duke Children’s. While Heather was able to go home each night, many other families had nowhere nearby to stay.After Harper finished treatment, Heather listened to what these families needed—and turned that experience into Harper’s Home, providing free housing for families traveling to Duke Children’s for care.🎧 Listen to our conversation with Heather about motherhood, navigating her daughter’s cancer journey, finding purpose on the other side, and choosing to make the road easier for the mothers coming behind her.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we step into a significant chapter in history with Eileen Isola, lead editor of Necessary Turbulence, a book that brings together the stories of 108 women from the first generations of women to enter the U.S. Air Force Academy.In 1976, women entered the U.S. Air Force Academy for the first time. They were stepping into an institution that had been built around men. There was no established roadmap, few women to look to for guidance, and little precedent for what it meant to be a woman in these roles.Fifty years later, their stories invite us to reflect on the meaning of that journey.Necessary Turbulence is not simply a story about women in the Air Force. It is a story about women everywhere who have entered workplaces, professions, industries, and leadership spaces where people like them were not traditionally represented.Join us for this powerful conversation with Eileen Isola and discover the stories behind the necessary turbulence.Listen now!

Send us Fan MailWhat if one experience could change the direction of your entire life?In 1971, a young Witney Schneidman traveled to Africa. What began as curiosity would become a lifelong journey. One that took him across more than 30 African countries and into the world of diplomacy, international relations, economic development, and U.S.–Africa engagement.Now, decades later, he shares that journey in his new memoir, This Africa Idea: A Memoir of Discovery, Diplomacy, and Opportunity.For today's episode, we're sitting down with Witney to talk about the experiences that shaped his understanding of Africa, the people and places that influenced his journey, and what he believes the world needs to understand about Africa today.Join us for a conversation about discovery, diplomacy, and possibility.Listen now!

Send us Fan MailBorn from clinical experience, refined through motherhoodAs a board-certified allergist, Dr. Brynn Everist spent years helping children with food allergies. But it wasn't until she became a mother herself that she experienced firsthand how difficult early allergen introduction could be even with the science and medical training behind her.In this episode, you'll discover:• Why early allergen introduction matters• The challenges parents commonly face when putting the science into practice• How one mother's experience inspired a simpler, more practical approach for familiesWhether you're expecting your first child, starting your baby's feeding journey, or simply want to better understand food allergies, this conversation offers evidence-based insights that can help you navigate the journey with greater confidence.Let's start the conversation!#EarlyAllergenIntroduction#TrainingYourImmuneSystem#Parenthood

Send us Fan MailBased on the diaries and memories of her mother and grandmother, Dreaming of the River tells the true story of a mother and daughter whose lives were forever changed by the Holocaust. From the peace of life before the war to forced labor, concentration camps, survival, and ultimately liberation, their journey is one of unimaginable hardship and enduring hope.Join us as author Pauline Steinhorn shares not only her family's history, but also the profound responsibility of preserving their legacy for future generations.The river that flows through the story was a real place where her mother and grandmother once found joy and peace. Throughout their ordeal, it became more than a cherished memory, it became a powerful symbol of home, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Send us Fan MailWho gets to decide whose life is worth living?Missed our thought-provoking Science Café with author Susanne Antonetta last June 29?You can still join the conversation. Listen anytime, anywhere on our Buzzsprout page.Our conversation explored the dark history of Germany's eugenics movement, inviting us to reflect on the devastating consequences of labeling people with intellectual disabilities, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other conditions as "unfit" or "socially undesirable." History reminds us how fear, prejudice, and pseudoscience can lead to profound injustice.More importantly, the conversation challenges us to cultivate a more nuanced understanding of mental illness. One grounded in empathy, dignity, and respect for every person's humanity.🎧 Tune in and join the conversation.#ScienceCafe #PodcastSpecial #Author #MentalHealth

Send us Fan MailWhat if one of the statues of Notre-Dame Cathedral came to life? Not for one magical night, but to discover what it truly means to be human?The West Facade follows St. Genevieve, a statue on Notre-Dame Cathedral that comes to life and must choose between becoming human or remaining immortal.In this episode, Lauren Johnson, author of The West Facade, gives us a glimpse into the inspiration and creative process behind her enchanting story.Here's what you'll hear in this episode:What inspired Lauren Johnson to imagine a cathedral statue with human desires?Why did she choose St. Genevieve as the heart of the story?How does she weave medieval history into fantasy?Whether you're a fan of fantasy, history, or creative writing, this episode is one you won't want to miss.#FantasyBooks#AuthorInterview#HistoricalFantasy#CreativeWriting#BookLovers

Send us Fan MailYears in the corporate world, she followed someonelse’s script for success. Mandy Tang realized this is not for her. One day, she found herself crying. Since then she started journaling. She would wake up, write about gratitude, write about affirmation, a vision about herself in the future and meditate. That’s when she faced a major transition in her career. Mandy started to heal career wounds. Mandy Tang is a career coach based in Eugene, Oregon. She write about self-help, shamanic healing, becoming more self-aware, finding your purpose, and navigating your career. Listen now!#CareerWounds