Ep 83: DNA is Love - The Journey

We continue our interview with Dave Latorra and Stephanie Ford, the entrepreneurs behind DNA is Love, a unique company that uses science to make cherished memories. Dave describes his science journey as “one thing leading to another.” After high school, he attended junior college where his interest in chemistry first blossomed, then he transitioned to biochemistry followed by microbiology, and ended up pursuing molecular biology during graduate school at Colorado State University. Throughout his journey, Dave has always kept an open mind about his career goals and this helped open the door to many diverse opportunities focused on product development and science. Although Stephanie had a very different career journey from Dave, what helps connect these two co-founders is their appreciation for each other’s curiosity. The idea for DNA is Love was built on Stephanie’s experience as a hospice caregiver and interest in family genealogy. She was inspired by her previous patients to create a unique way of holding onto the memories of those we love. In the brainstorming stages of the company, curiosity, care, and science all came together to give a new meaning on how we view DNA and what it means to us–it is our past, our present, and our future. But most importantly, it is also a special kind of connection and stability that never leaves us–just like love. Looking back at their younger selves, Dave and Stephanie offer this advice: stay on course and true to yourself, and believe in yourself. Check out the current episode to hear more about their journey!    To hear about the work of DNA is Love, check out the previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1720419/episodes/17909274   Tune into this episode to hear Dave and Stephanie share:The scientific journey that inspired DNA is LoveWhich mentors inspired Dave and Stephanie along their career journeysHow they plan to evolve DNA is Love into the futureReach out to Dave and Stephanie and learn more about DNA is Love on their website: https://dnaislove.com  If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:Ep 61: The Love Language of Organic Chemistry - The Journey  Ep 38: The Secret Behind CRISPR Gene Editing Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

We are so excited to have two special guests on our episode today–Dave Latorra and Stephanie Ford, who blend science, entrepreneurship, and keepsakes with their company, DNA is Love. Dave and Stephanie approach DNA is Love from each of their areas of expertise in  biology and hospice care, respectively. DNA is Love has discovered a unique way to hold on to the memories of the people and pets in our lives through jewelry, picture frames, and other special items. And, what makes these items so priceless and personal is they contain actual DNA from the people and pets being commemorated–literally their essence. While Dave always had the general idea of somehow preserving DNA as part of family heirlooms, the concept didn’t come to fruition until he met Stephanie; she was able to bring the heart to the idea and give it life. Dave and Stephanie agree one of the most rewarding parts of the work is hearing from happy customers who share the joy, peace of mind, and gratitude they feel after receiving these special items. One of the biggest challenges they face, however, is in the marketing of this futuristic product and getting new customers to understand exactly what services are offered. For anyone who is interested in pursuing their own great idea to start a unique science-based company, Dave recommends doing your homework first and Stephanie emphasizes to just go for it!Check out the latest episode on the website: https://welovesciencepodcast.com Tune into this episode to hear Dave and Stephanie discuss:How they brought science together with creating lifelong, family memoriesWhat process is used to purify and verify the DNA in every sample collected What each of them brings to co-founding and running DNA is LoveWhy the reputation of DNA is Love is key to the ethos of the company Reach out to Dave and Stephanie and learn more about DNA is Love on their website: https://dnaislove.com  If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:Ep 60: The Love Language of Organic Chemistry - The WorkEp 35: How CRISPR Gene Therapy is Bringing Hope to the WorldVisit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

We continue our interview with Colleen Kelley of Kids Chemical Solutions to learn about her journey into chemistry. Her journey began with a harrowing experience running from “raining radiation” as a young girl, facing this uncertainty with the same confusion as the adults around her. Reflecting back on this experience, Colleen realized that a lack of clear guidance and good communication founded in molecular literacy made it impossible for her, and those around her, to grasp how the community was impacted by the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. This experience stamped itself into her memory as she continued through school and her love of chemistry grew. Towards the end of high school, Colleen started to explore ways to attend college, which was an unfamiliar career path in her family. Fortunately, she was able to find her way to University of Richmond by joining the military, which provided her with the support to follow her dreams. As a college student, she was introduced to the world of research and instantly enjoyed it; from there Colleen was encouraged by her mentor to attend graduate school. And she did; graduating from Penn State University with a Ph.D. in chemistry. Her journey into writing, however, developed from a desire to connect with students and effectively teach chemistry. And, it wasn’t easy; each rejection was followed by disappointment as her ideas changed and developed. Originally Colleen wanted to publish a text book, and after lots of trial and error, she created a fun comic book series, the MC Detective Agency. Looking at the next phase of her journey, Colleen is looking forward to publishing the next set of comic books to complete the bundle that will give readers a foundation of college level chemistry.   To hear about Colleen’s work with Kids Chemical Solutions, check out the previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1720419/episodes/17740197  Tune into this episode to hear Colleen share: How she used characters to connect with her students and teach the principles of chemistry Her experience as a first generation college and graduate student The journey of creating and publishing a comic bookReach out to Colleen and discover the MC Detective Agency on her website, Kids Chemical Solutions:https://kidschemicalsolutions.com If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:Episode 67: Memory and the Human Mind - The Journey Episode 40: The Art of Science with Laura Canil - The JourneyVisit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

Today we are interviewing Colleen Kelley, the creator and founder of Kids Chemical Solutions. she started her science education focused company to promote molecular literacy when she noticed many of her students were struggling with chemistry. Colleen wanted to develop a fun and creative solution that could give students of all ages–from 8 to 108–an easy way to learn and enjoy chemistry. Kids Chemical Solutions offers a variety of different educational materials for all ages including a comic book series, The MC Detective Agency–a mashup of Encyclopedia Brown, Agatha Christie, and a variety of popular animated movies. The main subtheme of the comic series revolves around the mysterious MC–but we aren’t giving any spoilers on the identity of this famous chemist. To figure it out, you’ll have to dive into the comic series yourself! The main characters of the series are Granny Eve and her grandchildren, Poppy and Ray. Each story revolves around solving mysteries, time travel, and includes a sprinkle of humor. The ideas that underlie each of the amazing adventures in The MC Detective Agency come to Colleen through her dreams, journaling, and daydreams. The storylines are funny, entertaining, quirky and educational, and brought to life with the help of an illustrator. Almost a year and a half of work goes into each comic book! “Chemistry requires imagination,” Colleen explains; which is a big advantage to start teaching chemistry at a young age–to build that 3D invisible world that is key to understanding the interactions and characteristics of molecules. However, regardless of your age–between 8 and 108– the most important piece of learning is just to have a beginner mindset, or as Colleen would describe it, inter-generational learning. This means it doesn't matter at what age you start to learn anything new, you only need to start at the beginning. One piece of advice Colleen would give to anyone interested in creating a science-themed comic book series is to first learn how to be a storyteller and then add the science. Tune into this episode to hear Colleen share: How she defines molecular literacy and why it is so important What students and parents have to say about her comic book series, The MC Detective AgencyWhy writing an educational comic book is like making a kale smoothieReach out to Colleen and discover the MC Detective Agency on her website, Kids Chemical Solutions:https://kidschemicalsolutions.com Tedx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwQfs0pIO-IIf you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:Episode 66: Memory and the Human Mind - The WorkEpisode 58: Unpacking the Science Behind Everyday Things - Stuff MattersVisit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

In this bonus episode, we do a book review of Matt Ridley's "Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters." The book explores the functions of key genes, which are, unfortunately, often understood through the diseases they cause. It also highlights key figures in genomics, and ethical considerations like eugenics. Overall, we found this book to be engaging and accessible enough for diverse audiences.If you enjoyed this episode you'll also enjoy:Ep 58: Book Review of "Stuff Matters"Ep 59: The Science Behind Printing Body PartsEp 32: Book Review of "Crazy for Birds"Visit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

In this bonus episode, we’re back with another round of Hidden Genius! Shekerah puts Fatu in the hot seat with a mystery scientist. The clues start flowing and she has 5 chances to get it right. Can you guess this hidden genius before she does? If you enjoyed this episode you'll also enjoy:Ep 24: From Dyslexia to Nobel Prize Winner! - Hidden Genius Challenge #1Ep 28: Yogurt-Making DIY Style - A Food Science ShortEp 23: The Accidental Discovery of PenicillinVisit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

We are joined again by Christine Vazquez, a viral immunologist and Principal Scientist at GSK, to hear about her journey into science. The earliest memories from her childhood picture Christine sitting with her dad watching educational shows like Stories from the ER and dreaming of growing up to become a medical doctor. Her dad, especially, nurtured her interest in science and reading through books. As an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University, she was introduced to laboratory research as part of the curriculum and immediately felt a spark. “I think for me, what I became more interested in after exposure to research, was …  I don’t necessarily want to treat patients. I want to figure out why they’re getting sick and how to help them get better. The broad interest still was the same; the research question changed,” explains Christine. This change in her perspective, and a strong aversion to taking the MCAT, encouraged her to look beyond medical school as the next stage of her journey unfolded. But, Christine didn’t really know if graduate school would be the right choice for her. More importantly, the experiences Christine had gained over time also evolved her perception of who is a scientist–some work at the bench and many others apply their knowledge to different fields like science writing and communications. There were endless opportunities for her at this stage; how could she make the right decision? Looking back at her journey, Christine had several influential mentors, especially teachers and guidance counselors who saw something in her that she didn’t even see in herself. They encouraged her to participate in extra-curricular activities and opened doors to new opportunities. If she could give one piece of advice to her younger self it would be, breath, it will all work out. Outside of work, Christine enjoys reading, especially literary fiction.Check out the previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1720419/episodes/17378991 Tune into this episode to learn about Christine’s journey:The importance of pivoting for Christine to find her way along her journeyHow her definition of “who is a scientist” evolved with different experiencesWhere Christine sees herself going nextReach out to Christine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-vazquez/ If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:Ep 61: The Love Language of Organic Chemistry - The JourneyEp 65: Finding Your Fit: How to Navigate the Transition from Academia to Industry – The JourneyVisit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

In the final episode of our Academia to Industry series, we sit down with Dr. Christine Vazquez, a viral immunologist and Principal Scientist at GSK, to explore what it really means to make science work for patients. With humor, warmth, and sharp insight, Christine walks us through her deeply personal journey—from the tragic loss of her father to sepsis, to finding purpose in virology and infectious disease research. Christine reflects on what she’s had to unlearn to succeed in industry. She also shares how she’s come to appreciate the power of using her scientific training to pivot, adapt, and make a real difference in people's lives. Tune in to learn more about:How rotations in grad school changed her focus from bacterial to viral pathogens How to recognize and transfer the skills you’ve built, even when the language around them changes  The realities (and myths!) of publishing, mentorship, and impact in industry science  Why your project doesn’t define your worth as a scientist Reach out to Christine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-vazquez If you enjoyed this episode you'll also enjoy:Ep 60: The Love Language of Organic Chemistry - The WorkEp 64: Finding Your Fit: How to Navigate the Transition from Academia to Industry – The WorkVisit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

Dr. LaTasha Fraser, program manager for the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) at New York University (NYU) joins us today to discuss her journey in science, the people who inspired her, and the lessons she learned along the way. She was motivated to go into science by a very unconventional source–the Maury Show. Specifically, Tash remembers the days she spent in front of the tv, when she was home sick, and engrossed by the family drama unfolding before her eyes as Maury would reveal the results of paternity testing. From there, Tash was determined to go into forensic science. She completed summer programs and attended the University of New Haven, which has a renowned forensic science program. After completing her undergrad, Tash realized laboratory research was a better fit for her career goals than working on a real-life crime scene; and she attended the University of Connecticut for her Masters in biochemistry. With this new drive, Tash completed her doctorate in molecular genetics from Rutgers University. While at Rutgers she was also introduced to the experience of recruiting students, and this moment changed everything for Tash. She couldn’t describe or specifically see what career path this activity encompassed, but Tash knew she wanted to help students become scientists. Looking back at her journey, one piece of advice she would give her younger self is reassurance. “The beauty of things not working out the way you envisioned them, is you learn how to navigate,” she explains. In her reflections, Tash also wishes she had more confidence in her decision making, rather than waiting for the approval or support of others. Outside of work Tash enjoys spending time with her family and singing karaoke–you can find her breaking into song and dance anytime!    If you missed the last episode listen here. Listen to the latest episode here.Tune into this episode to hear LaTasha discuss: How her dreams of becoming a forensic scientist were completely shattered by realityWhat she admired most about her mentors and their personalitiesHow she envisions her future selfReach out to LaTasha:[email protected] To learn more about STEP:https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/high-school-and-middle-school-programs/high-school-programs/science-and-technology-entry-program.html If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:Ep 7: STEMLand Future of Science - The JourneyVisit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic

Today we welcome Dr. LaTasha Fraser, program manager for the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) at New York University (NYU), which offers resources to middle school through graduate school students in numerous areas within STEM–engineering, math, medicine, and others.. The program works through a tiered system providing courses to strengthen introductory STEM coursework, to understand the application of STEM concepts in the real world, and an immersive introduction to medical and professional training. In her every day, Tash balances numerous responsibilities including making sure key deliverables are met for particular programs through various tasks from budgeting to achieving team goals to working directly with students. What she enjoys most is the ability to learn new things regularly and interact with students eager about STEM. “It makes me feel like I’m doing work that is truly affecting the lives of these students,” explains Tash. Apart from these highlights, there are also challenges that come with her role like being a saleswoman; she is constantly looking for new schools to partner with, realizing that every school will have different and unique needs, and advocating for support for the STEP program. The best advice Tash has for anyone who is interested in a similar career in program management is to get involved with student organizations or volunteer organizations to get a flavor of what it is like to juggle many plates and responsibilities.      Tune into this episode to hear LaTasha discuss: Why she feels like she is in the circus juggling plates like an acrobatWhat she loves about her job and working with studentsHow program management compares to academic career pathsReach out to LaTasha:[email protected] To learn more about STEP:https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/high-school-and-middle-school-programs/high-school-programs/science-and-technology-entry-program.html If you enjoyed this episode, also listen to:Ep 6: STEMLand Future of ScienceEp17 : Mentors of Incalculable Worth - AnthologyVisit our store: WeLoveSciencePodcast.comSuggest a guest Reach out to Fatu:www.linkedin.com/in/fatubmInstagram: @thee_fatu_band [email protected] Reach out to Shekerah:www.linkedin.com/in/shekerah-primus and [email protected] Music from Pixabay: Future Artificial Intelligence Technology 130 by TimMoorMusic from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes: Hotshot by ScottHolmesMusic