Girl Power Gurus

Vanessa Wyche is the Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the hub for U.S. human spaceflight, overseeing everything from International Space Station operations and astronaut training to the development of spacecraft and spacesuits for the Artemis moon program. She holds a B.S. in Materials Engineering and an M.S. in Bioengineering from Clemson University, and joined NASA in 1989 as a project engineer developing hardware for microgravity experiments on the Space Shuttle and later the ISS. She went on to lead a 400-person team studying how to send astronauts to Mars, served as JSC's Deputy Director starting in 2018, and became the center's 13th director in 2021. In 2025 she also served a stint as NASA's Acting Associate Administrator, the agency's highest-ranking civil servant position, before returning to lead Johnson Space Center. Under her leadership, JSC was ranked the number one best employer among Texas's major employers by Forbes and Statista. In this episode, Annika is joined by new co-host Josephine "Jo" Billingsley, a seventh grader from Virginia, with her own hopes of a career in space, to talk with Ms. Wyche on a particularly busy day: a spacewalk was underway outside the International Space Station as they spoke. She walks through what it actually takes to run a space center, from coordinating crew rotations and upcoming Artemis missions to the simulated Mars habitats currently testing astronauts here on Earth. She also opens up about being the only woman in her engineering branch early in her NASA career, the mentors who shaped her path, how she handles self-doubt by preparing rather than worrying, and the advice she'd give any young woman starting out: find what you're genuinely passionate about, and let resilience carry you through the setbacks along the way.

Dr. Cindy Van Dover is a pioneering deep-sea biologist and explorer whose career took her to some of the most extreme habitats on Earth. In 1990 she became the 49th person — and first woman — certified to pilot the deep-submergence vehicle Alvin, ultimately logging nearly 100 dives to the ocean floor, a mile and a half or more beneath the surface. Her research on chemosynthetic ecosystems, the communities of giant tube worms, mussels, shrimp, and bacteria that thrive around hydrothermal vents by living off chemical rather than solar energy, helped define an entirely new field of ocean science, and her graduate work revealed that scalding "black smoker" vents actually glow, uncovering a hidden source of light in the deep sea. She went on to direct the Duke University Marine Laboratory and later served as Harvey W. Smith Professor of Biological Oceanography at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, where her focus expanded into deep-sea conservation and environmental management, especially the challenge of balancing seabed mining with protecting fragile vent ecosystems. Now retired as professor emeritus, she remains one of the most influential voices in deep-sea exploration. In this episode, Annika is joined by brand-new co-host Lacy Walker, a high school sophomore with her own passion for marine biology, to talk with Dr. Van Dover about her journey from poking around New Jersey tide pools as a kid to piloting a submarine on the seafloor. She shares the story of persistence that got her into the Alvin pilot program after early rejections, describes what it's like to watch tube worms and swarming shrimp thrive beside a 350°C black smoker, and speaks candidly about facing harassment and self-doubt as one of few women in a male-dominated field. The conversation also touches on her mentors, her recent love of CrossFit, and the advice she'd give any young woman chasing a dream in science: stay curious, learn to communicate your ideas, and don't be afraid to just ask.

Hilary Hahn is a three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist widely recognized as one of the greatest violinists of her generation. Since beginning violin at age four in Baltimore, she has built a career as a touring soloist, chamber musician, and teacher, performing with the world's leading orchestras and conductors. In this candid conversation, Hilary opens up about her childhood immersed in music, navigating imposter syndrome, what practice and progress really mean for a professional musician, the emotional relationship between a player and their instrument, and the on-stage breakthrough that changed how she performs. She shares advice for young women pursuing ambitious careers, reflects on mentorship and being a role model to her own students, and closes with a hard-won lesson on the difference between compromise and sacrifice. Whether you're a musician, an aspiring artist, or just chasing a dream of your own, this episode offers wisdom for anyone learning to trust their own instincts.

Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft is a Research Professor at the University of Maryland and the Director of NASA ACRES, NASA's US-focused agriculture program. She helped found NASA Harvest in 2017 and has dedicated her career to applying satellite data, machine learning, and geospatial tools to benefit agriculture worldwide. Her work sits at the cutting edge of space technology, earth science, and sustainable food systems—proving that NASA is about much more than just space exploration. In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, Alyssa shares her unconventional path from pre-med student to leading NASA's agriculture programs. She opens up about struggling with anxiety and depression in college, the pivotal geography course that changed her life, and her ongoing battle with imposter syndrome even at the height of her success. Alyssa discusses the realities of being a woman in male-dominated STEM fields, the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career, and how she created systemic change by establishing a dependent care fund at her university. Above all, she emphasizes the importance of following your curiosity, believing in yourself, and remembering that it's never too late to try something new. Whether you're interested in technology, agriculture, or simply learning how to navigate life's challenges with grace and determination, this episode offers wisdom and encouragement for dreamers of all ages.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jean Bennett, Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology at Penn Medicine and a true pioneer in gene therapy research. Dr. Bennett led the team that developed the first FDA-approved gene therapy to treat inherited blindness, transforming the lives of patients with retinitis pigmentosa and other retinal diseases. Her groundbreaking work spans over three decades and has opened doors for gene therapy applications far beyond ophthalmology. Dr. Bennett shares her remarkable journey from a curious child in New Haven, Connecticut—who chose seeds over candy at age four—to becoming a world-renowned scientist. She opens up about the challenges she faced as a woman in science, including being advised to leave her field entirely when seeking tenure at Penn. With candor and humor, she discusses how mentorship from previous Girl Power Gurus guest, Dr. Virginia Lee, helped her persevere, the emotional eureka moment when blind dogs first regained their sight, and what it felt like to witness blind children see for the first time. Dr. Bennett also offers invaluable advice for young women pursuing STEM careers, emphasizing the importance of finding work you love, building collaborative teams, and never giving up on your dreams despite the obstacles. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in science, medicine, or the power of determination.

_*]:min-w-0"> This episode features Dr. Marianne Baernholdt, Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia, who brings a unique international perspective to healthcare leadership. Born in Denmark and educated across multiple countries, Dr. Baernholdt's journey spans continents, cultures, and nearly every role within the nursing profession. _*]:min-w-0"> We discuss her pioneering research in rural healthcare, which challenges common assumptions about healthcare quality in underserved areas. Her studies reveal that rural hospitals often excel in team dynamics and holistic patient care, providing crucial touchpoints for communities that would otherwise lack access to preventive healthcare. Dr. Baernholdt also shares insights from her global health work, including eye-opening experiences in South Africa where rural clinics demonstrated sophisticated quality tracking methods ahead of their time. _*]:min-w-0"> As an immigrant and first-generation college graduate, Dr. Baernholdt offers honest reflections on dealing with imposter syndrome, finding belonging in new environments, and learning to laugh at yourself along the way. Her advice to young women is refreshingly practical: be curious, don't limit yourself, and do it even when you're uncomfortable—because nobody else can see those butterflies in your stomach. From co-founding Denmark's first women's crisis center to leading a top nursing school while mentoring the next generation, Dr. Baernholdt exemplifies how embracing vulnerability and supporting others can create lasting change.

This episode features a remarkable conversation with Tara VanDerveer, the recently retired Stanford women's basketball coach and one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history. With 1,216 career wins, three NCAA championships, and an Olympic gold medal, Coach VanDerveer has dedicated 45 years to excellence in coaching and developing young women athletes. We explore Coach VanDerveer's unique journey—growing up before Title IX without opportunities to play organized sports herself, yet going on to build one of the most successful programs in women's basketball. She shares her perspectives on what makes a great coach, why competence matters more than confidence, and how to maintain a positive outlook when facing the systemic challenges women in sports still encounter today. We also discuss the current explosion of interest in women's basketball, the impact of players like Caitlin Clark, and the ongoing fight for equality in collegiate athletics. Whether you're an athlete, a coach, or simply someone pursuing their passion, Coach VanDerveer's wisdom about teamwork, preparation, and resilience will inspire you.

The latest episode is with Jenny Rickard, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Common App, a not-for-profit membership organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Each year, more than one million students, one-third of whom are first-generation, apply to college through Common App's online application. Ms. Rickard was a pleasure to interview, it was fun conversation with lots of great details about her personal journey coupled with great insights and advice for our listeners. Ms. Rickard has shown a strong commitment to college access as evidenced by her accomplishments as the chief enrollment officer at both the University of Puget Sound and Bryn Mawr and in admission roles at Swarthmore and New York University School of Law. Her extensive service within the national higher education community includes a wide range of roles with the College Board, Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS), US Department of Education, and The Common Application Board of Directors — serving as Board President from 2007 to 2008. Within the corporate field, Ms. Rickard was a vice president responsible for higher education product strategy at PeopleSoft. She was also a consultant for the higher education software company Datatel and started her career on Wall Street at J.P. Morgan & Co. Since she joined Common App in August of 2016, the organization has developed a long-term strategic plan and roadmap and has expanded its access initiatives, including the acquisition of Reach Higher, the college access and success campaign founded by former First Lady Michelle Obama during her time in the White House, and the development of a new application system for transfer and adult students. Ms. Rickard serves on the board of directors for the Posse Foundation and College Possible. She is an advisory board member for the National Education Equity Lab and Liaison GradCAS, a centralized application for graduation admission, and she currently sits on the American Council on Education's Washington Higher Education Secretariat. She received a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania; a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University, Stern School of Business; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Swarthmore College. This interview was extra special for Eli and Jordana due to the common connection of Swarthmore College. It was an fun interview for them, especially connecting on all things Swarthmore. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

A new episode with Dr. Wendy Horton, the Chief Executive Officer at UVA Health University Medical Center. Dr. Horton was a pleasure to speak with, it was fun interview with lots of great details about her background and career along with insights, perspectives, and advice for the future.

A super informative and interesting interview with Dr. Prathibha Varkey, the President of the Mayo Clinic Health System. Dr. Varkey leads over 17,000 employees serving 16 community hospitals and 50 multispecialty clinics across 39 communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Dr. Varkey is a Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.