Today we’re talking all about epigenetics! What is it, how does it work and how can we use that information to protect our DNA and reduce our risk of diseases such as cancer. Watch the video version here:  https://youtu.be/yJTXCSDGDeE Dr. Amanda Khoury is a Cancer Epigeneticist who is driven by a deep curiosity to work out how our bodies work and how a breakdown in our epigenetic processes can give rise to disease. Dr. Khoury’s work focuses on preventing DNA damage and developing therapies...

This episode shares some valuable PhD advice from Dr. Eva Lantsoght, host of the podcast “PhD Talk”. Our discussion focuses on the benefits and challenges of doing a PhD, and why you might consider doing (or not doing) a PhD. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/Fjb3xKDEmns Dr. Lantsoght is a Professor of Structural Engineering at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador and a part-time tenured assistant professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Her field of...

I recently travelled to India and participated in a 10-day Vipassana meditation course. In this episode I’m going to discuss what it involved, how it worked and the results that I observed after taking the course.  Topics covered include: -Noble Silence, 10 days without speaking to another human -giving up all personal electronic devices -waking up at 4am every morning -meditating for 12 hours every day -being stuck with nothing but your thoughts all day, every day Ultimately, the course...

How can we use microbes to improve our world? This is the kind of research that Dr. Taylor Szyszka lives for! Taylor is currently working on improving the process of photosynthesis in order to promote plant growth and improve crop yields, and she is also working on building novel nano-reactors that can do chemistry at a femtoliter scale. You can watch the video version here:  https://youtu.be/MCgfQOgjZkY Dr Taylor Szyszka is a protein engineer and synthetic biologist as well as a passionate...

What’s more appealing; Biochemistry and molecular biology…or patent law? For Chloe Kirk, the answer is…both! This week, we are chatting with Chloe the Scientist about transitioning from the world of science to law. She shares her research on Amyloid proteins, why she is fascinated with patent law, and why things like science communication and diversity in STEM are so important.  You can watch the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/AKO6fm9DL6U Chloe Kirk (aka...

In this episode we are discussing how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to improve your life, and how can you utilise AI, TODAY, to live smarter, happier and healthier! AI is revolutionising our world! We hear about it in the news and online…but are YOU taking advantage of this new technology? Maybe, after this episode, you will be. We’re going to be talking about how Artificial intelligence can be used to monitor your physical health, support your mental health, and improve various...

In this episode we chat with Dr. Aaron Dingle, a visionary in the field of tissue engineering and limb transplantation. From the University of Wisconsin, Aaron unravels the complexities of developing artificial limbs and neuroprosthetics, sharing how advancements in this area can drastically improve the lives of those with lost limbs. Fueled by impactful personal experiences and a fascination with science fiction, Dr. Dingle provides insights into the symbiotic relationship between science...

This week we are trying to solve nature conservation problems using social psychology. Humans are a part of nature, and we need to be responsible for protecting it rather than potentially irreversible damage. During our conversation, we discuss topics such as animal control, green prescriptions, Australian Dingoes, Canadian super wolves, spying on other animals and what we can do as individuals to preserve nature. Watch the video version of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/q8kULZSpT3Q Dr...

This episode looks at the science of addiction; What is addiction, what causes addiction and how can we treat addiction? We also discuss mental health issues and how they can have a huge impact on ones tendency to struggle with addiction problems. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/hGUEoRSbYjQ Manny Nsien is a Master of Health Care Administration and the CEO of Ripple Ranch Recovery Centre. Manny has devoted his life to helping people find treatment for chronic issues like mental...

Antioxidants are good for you…that’s all you need to know right? WRONG! This episode looks into the research behind antioxidants. What are Antioxidants? Where do Antioxidants come from? How do Antioxidants work? And is it possible the Antioxidants could be bad for you?  To check out the Video Version:  We are also investigating related molecules like free radicals, reactive oxygen species and processes like oxidative stress and disease formation.  Hopefully by the end of this episode you...

DISCLAIMER: This episode involves conversations around suicide. If this could be triggering for you, please contact your local support service. Suicide can affect all of us. That is why this week I’m talking all about mental health and suicidality with lived experience practitioner Victoria Lynne Carrier. We discuss ideas like rumination, doom scrolling, self care, mindfulness, lived experience, conversations around suicide, finding support, peer groups, reaching crisis point, calling life...

This week we are discussing; autoimmune disease, innate versus adaptive immunity, inflammation, psoriasis, eczema, asthma, acne, sweet syndrome, gut health and how to engineer an optimal microbiome. To watch the video version: https://youtu.be/HzjkN4SIYe8 Kellen Cavagnero is an immunologist and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California in San Diego. His work focuses on understanding the innate branch of the immune system - how it defends against pathogens and how it contributes to...

In this episode we are focusing on felines! Why do cats have whiskers? What should you do if you are allergic to cats? How to tell if your cat is too fat! We are talking all about the science behind cats, the health benefits of living with cats and how they evolved from the giant feline predators of the savanna desert into the little fluff balls curled up on our beds. To watch the video version:  https://youtu.be/Ha0szQH4LTw Jonathan Losos is an evolutionary biologist who has spent his career...

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it difficult to sleep. In this episode, I discuss the research behind insomnia, looking at the science of this sleep disorder and what causes it. I’m also going to share a number of science-based techniques that you could apply to reduce the severity of insomnia and improve your sleep. To watch the video version of this episode:  https://youtu.be/PVkARsJZSUQ Get guest updates and submit your listener questions via Instagram:...

In this episode, we talk about donating organs and tissue to save lives, working in the endocrinology laboratory of a fertility clinic and being a beer scientist, all while being in a highly successful band. Zoe Catterall is a Biomedical Science graduate from UTS as well as the lead singer of Sydney band The Buoys. Zoe has worked in a range of fields including organ and tissue donation, fertility, and now currently works at a brewery as a quality scientist on a part-time basis, to make time...

How can algae be used to brew carbon negative beer? Or reduce methane emissions from livestock? Could Algae potentially capture and store carbon emissions? What about new biological plastics made from algae? Or Algal building materials? Perhaps Algae could even supply us with a sustainable source of crude oil? And most of us have probably forgotten that algae is already supplemented in various products that we use in our everyday lives. This conversation will open your eyes to the amazing...

In this episode, we discuss ideas like malware, password hacking, phishing scams, sharenting, spam, scams, spam scams, smart devices, the internet of things (I.O.T) and what to do if the prince of Nigeria emails you… You can watch the video version of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/JdjBHsh9X5E Asha Rao is a Professor of Mathematics at RMIT, a cyber security expert and a STEM enthusiast, inspiring people to get involved in the fields of science, technology, engineering and...

Cortisol is our stress hormone, but it is extremely important, both for our health and our survival. In this episode, I will explain what Cortisol is, how Cortisol works, why Cortisol is important and I will share a few tips and tricks that you can use to master your Cortisol levels and improve your life! Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/WojVBo4Yd58 Get guest updates and submit your listener questions via Instagram: https://instagram.com/travellingscience/ If you'd like to...

Can we develop allergies as an adult? Can we overcome our allergies? How long does it take to create a vaccine? And how does DNA work? Dr. Catriona Nguyen-Robertson answers these questions as we talk about the science of immunology, focusing on how those concepts can be shared to a wide audience through creative expression! You can watch the video version of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/ByyAjwC-gXA Dr Catriona Nguyen-Robertson trained as an immunologist at the Peter Doherty Institute...

Discussing productivity, procrastination, dealing with anxiety, stress reduction, habit formation, task management, meditation and mindfulness, Ana shares the most impactful things that we can do to improve our focus and our workflow! To listen to the podcast version: https://travellingscience.buzzsprout.com Ana Pineda, PhD is a scientist and a productivity and writing coach for professionals who struggle with the ability to focus & write. Through her motivation-boosting emails, free...

Professor Andy Pitman is the Director of the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and he has done so much research and writing on this topic that he is the ultimate climate change expert!  In this episode we discuss topics like electric cars, battery technologies, renewable energies, biofuels, agriculture, carbon offsets, carbon capture, deforestation, greenwashing, & Andy shares the most impactful things that we can do as individuals to reduce...

In this episode, we discuss the science behind serotonin, our “Feel Good Hormone”. I talk about what Serotonin is, where it comes from and how it works. If you have the right amount of serotonin, you feel really good…but if you don’t have enough serotonin, you might feel depressed or anxious, which is totally normal, and boosting your serotonin levels is very possible. Today, I’m going to explain to you what serotonin does in your body, what happens when serotonin levels are imbalanced, and I...

Dave Farina is a Science Communicator, public figure, author and host of the famous YouTube channel “Professor Dave Explains”. With over 2.5 Million subscribers and almost 1’400 videos on his channel, teaching everything from Chemistry to calculus, economics, Italian and more, Professor Dave is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to science literacy and education.   https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorDaveExplains In this episode, we discuss online education, the future of AI, debating...

Elena Savva is a Medical Scientist and Genetics Genius who works at the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital, reviewing patients genomes and searching for genetic diagnoses to illusive and rare diseases. In our discussion, she explains things like genetic testing, genetic diseases, DNA privacy, bioethical issues, genetic modification, CRISPR-Cas9, male pattern baldness and much more! Get guest updates and submit your listener questions via Instagram:...