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Artwork for People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Dr. Marie McNeely, featuring top scientists speaking about their life and c
Climate Change
Cancer
Neuroscience
Ecology
Mentorship
Evolutionary Biology
Cancer Research
Regenerative Medicine
Paleontology
Personalized Medicine
3D Printing
Conservation
Cancer Biofabrication
Amphibians
Infectious Diseases
Biodiversity
Science Communication
Evolution
Materials Science
Science Careers

Are you searching for great stories to ignite your curiosity, teach you to perform better in life and career, inspire your mind, and make you laugh along the way? In this science podcast, Dr. Marie McNeely introduces you to the brilliant researchers behind the latest scientific discoveries. Join us as they share their greatest failures, most staggering successes, candid career advice, and what dri... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes836Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for People Behind the Science Podcast Stories from Scientists about Science, Life, Research, and Science Careers

Latest Episodes

Dr. Tim Long is Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Macromolecules Innovation Institute at Virginia Tech. Tim's lab is working on a wide variety of research projects that are focused on novel macromolecular structures to tailor the properties ... more

YouTube

Dr. Tajie Harris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia. Tajie's research is at the intersection of immunology, microbiology, and neuroscience. She's interested in understan... more

YouTube

Dr. Eric Pop is an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering as well as Materials Science & Engineering at Stanford University. Research in Eric's laboratory spans electronics, electrical engineering, physics, nanomaterials, and energy. They are ... more

YouTube

Dr. Ana Luisa Trejos is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as Biomedical Engineering at Western University in Canada. She is also an Associate Scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute. Ana Luisa's research ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dr. Tajie Harris
Associate professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia; neuroimmunologist studying brain infections
University of Virginia, Neuroscience Department
Episode: 862: Understanding How the Brain Battles Infection - Dr. Tajie Harris
Ana Luisa Trejos
Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Western University; researcher in wearable mechatronics for mobility impairment
Western University; Lawson Health Research Institute
Episode: 860: Making a Mechatronic Tremor Suppression Glove for People with Parkinson's Disease - Dr. Ana Luisa Trejos
Dr. Lawrence Uricchio
Assistant Professor and the Eunice Family Professor of Innovation in the Department of Biology at Tufts University
Tufts University
Episode: 859: Modeling How Ecological and Evolutionary Processes Drive Adaptation in a Changing World - Dr. Lawrence Uricchio
Douglas Fields
Neuroscientist; NIH NICHD researcher; author
National Institutes of Health (NICHD)
Episode: 858: Studying New Cellular Mechanisms of Memory Involving Myelin - Dr. Douglas Fields
Talithia Williams
Associate Professor of Mathematics; host of NOVA Wonders; author and researcher
Harvey Mudd College
Episode: 857: Mathematician and Communicator with an Eye for Modeling Cataract Development in Populations Over Time - Dr. Talithia Williams
Dr. Tyler Susko
Founder and CTO of Cadence, Inc.; UCSB mechanical engineering faculty
Cadence, Inc.; University of California, Santa Barbara
Episode: 856: Engineering Innovative Shoes to Help Feet Move Forward - Dr. Tyler Susko
David Sedlak
Plato Malozemoff Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Berkeley Water Center co-director, and author of Water 4.0
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: 855: Working to Purify and Preserve Our World's Water Supply - Dr. David Sedlak
Carla Finkielstein
Associate professor of biological sciences; director of the Integrated Cellular Response Laboratory at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech
Episode: 854: Studying How Disruptions in Circadian Control of Cell Division May Cause Cancer - Dr. Carla Finkielstein
Donald Smith
Professor of Plant Science at McGill University; CEO of BioFuelNet Canada; researcher in plant-microbe signaling and nitrogen fixation
McGill University; BioFuelNet Canada
Episode: 853: Getting to the Root of How Microbes Help Plants Thrive Under Stress - Dr. Donald Smith

Host

Dr. Marie McNeely
Host of the show, interviewer of scientists, focused on human stories behind research, career insights, and clear science communication.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 356 ratings
  • scientists talk about t their research and careers. interesting behind the scenes look at science 🔭🧪

    Audible
    5
    Mike Green
    United States2 years ago
  • fascinating stories from interesting people

    scientists talk about t their research and careers. interesting behind the scenes look at science 🔭🧪

    Audible
    5
    Mike Green
    United States2 years ago
  • Voyage through the cosmos. 🌌

    Dr. Marie McNeely introduces scientists and their stories to the public in a unique and profound manner, she has a logical approach towards crucial conversations. “Einstein was urging us to tear down the walls around science that have excluded and intimidated so many of us — to translate scientific insights from the jargon of its priesthood into the spoken language shared by us all, so that we may take these insights to heart and be changed by a personal encounter with the wonders they reveal.” ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sinai.Coons
    United States4 years ago
  • Voyage through the cosmos. 🌌

    Dr. Marie McNeely introduces scientists and their stories to the public in a unique and profound manner, she has a logical approach toward crucial conversations. “Einstein was urging us to tear down the walls around science that have excluded and intimidated so many of us — to translate scientific insights from the jargon of its priesthood into the spoken language shared by us all, so that we may take these insights to heart and be changed by a personal encounter with the wonders they reveal.”

    ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sinai.Coons
    United States4 years ago
  • Absolutely love this show!

    Dr. Marie is an excellent host - not only does she have a fabulous “radio voice,” but she asks fantastic questions that allow you to learn about complicated scientific topics in an accessible fashion. Her guests are super interesting, and the information that they cover consistently blows me away. Really grateful for this resource!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ArlieLP
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host for a clear, engaging interview style and accessible science explanations.
Overall, the production quality and conversational approach are highlighted as strengths, with appreciation for humanizing science.
Guests are described as interesting and stories as inspiring, with high regard for the depth of career and research insights.
Some feedback notes that the show sometimes emphasizes high-profile academic pedigrees and can feel niche to casual listeners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#33
Norway/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#34
Mexico/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#79
Indonesia/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#86
Brazil/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#105
South Korea/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#107
Ireland/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

859: Modeling How Ecological and Evolutionary Processes Drive Adaptation in a Changing World - Dr. Lawrence Uricchio
Q: What is the best way for listeners to learn more about your work and get in touch?
The lab website uricchio.github.io is the main hub for information and updates about current projects and publications.
858: Studying New Cellular Mechanisms of Memory Involving Myelin - Dr. Douglas Fields
Q: So, Doug, do you have a favorite story of a failure or a challenge or one of these difficult times that you faced that you can tell us about today?
Fields argues that in science there is no true failure—experiments that don't work are part of the process, akin to rock climbing where you learn from falls. Real 'failures' occur when projects are hampered by practical barriers like funding, equipment, and collaboration issues, rather than the data itself.
852: Using Astrophysics to Unravel the Enigma of Quantum Entanglement - Dr. Andrew Friedman
Q: What have you learned from the funding and collaboration challenges of cross-disciplinary projects?
Success required persistence, luck, and aligning the right reviewers; many rejections happened before NSF funding, but with the right team and continued refinement, the work eventually gained support and visibility.
852: Using Astrophysics to Unravel the Enigma of Quantum Entanglement - Dr. Andrew Friedman
Q: What is the Cosmic Bell Experiment and why is it important?
It's an entanglement test where measurement settings are chosen by distant astronomical sources to minimize the chance of hidden variables influencing results, helping to rule out local-realist explanations and reinforcing quantum mechanics' predictions.
852: Using Astrophysics to Unravel the Enigma of Quantum Entanglement - Dr. Andrew Friedman
Q: How do you describe what you do when people ask you what your work is about?
I explain that we study the universe's history from the Big Bang to today, using distant astronomical objects to learn about fundamental physics and quantum mechanics, often thinking of the universe as a laboratory for understanding how the world works.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features in-depth conversations with scientists about their research, career paths, collaborations, and the human side of science. Episodes highlight how researchers navigate funding, mentorship, and interdisciplinary work, often weaving personal stories with technical insights to illuminate how discoveries unfold in real life. Listeners can expect approachable explanations of complex topics, behind-the-scenes looks at scientific careers, and practical career advice for aspiring researchers. A standout aspect is the host's ability to draw out meaningful personal and professional narratives from guests across biology, physics, environmental science, medicine, and engineering, making science feel accessible and human.

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1. Science Magazine Podcast
2. Nature Podcast
3. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
4. People I (Mostly) Admire
5. Science Friday

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 12 years ago and published 836 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Dr. Tajie Harris
2. Ana Luisa Trejos
3. Dr. Lawrence Uricchio
4. Douglas Fields
5. Talithia Williams
6. Dr. Tyler Susko
7. David Sedlak
8. Carla Finkielstein

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