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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
Cancer
Climate Change
Neuroscience
Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Mentorship
Cancer Research
Regenerative Medicine
3D Printing
Paleontology
Personalized Medicine
Conservation
Cancer Biofabrication
Amphibians
Infectious Diseases
Science Communication
Biodiversity
Alzheimer's Disease
Evolution
Materials Science

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

Latest Episodes

Dr. Lauren Ponisio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Oregon. Lauren's research revolves around preserving and restoring bee populations in agricultural areas and other natural habitats. She is interested in u... more

YouTube

Dr. Greg Wilson Mantilla is a Professor in the Department of Biology, Adjunct Professor in Department of Earth & Space Sciences, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Burke Museum, and Director of the DIG Field School at the University of Washing... more

YouTube

Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres is Director of the Center for Plant Cell Biology and Distinguished Professor of Genetics at the University of California, Riverside. She also holds the University of California John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Cha... more

YouTube

Dr. Alan Cohen is Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Chair of Biological Complexity and Healthy Longevity, and Co-Director of the Science of Health Program in the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center at Columbia University. In hi... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres
Director, Center for Plant Cell Biology; Distinguished Professor of Genetics, UC Riverside
University of California, Riverside
Episode: 878: Researching Flood Resistance in Rice and Other Plants - Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres
Dr. Alan Cohen
Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Chair of Biological Complexity and Healthy Longevity, Columbia University
Columbia University
Episode: 877: Studying How Dynamic Biological Systems Shape Health and Aging - Dr. Alan Cohen
Isaac Harris
Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, McMaster University (recently moved from Rochester)
McMaster University
Episode: 876: Uncovering the Hidden Roles of Antioxidants in Health, Cancer, and Other Diseases - Dr. Isaac Harris
Dr. Mariana Byndloss
Assistant Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Episode: 875: Investigating How Disruptions in the Gut Microbiome Impact Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Lead to Disease - Dr. Mariana Byndloss
Dr. Amy Williams
Astrobiologist; Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences and Assistant Director of the Astraeus Space Institute, University of Florida
University of Florida
Episode: 874: Searching for Signs of Life on Mars and Beyond - Dr. Amy Williams
Dr. Simon Sponberg
Dunn Family Professor and Assistant Professor in the School of Physics and the School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology; Adjunct Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering
Georgia Tech
Episode: 873: Finding Out How the Brain Controls Movement in Moths During Flight - Dr. Simon Sponberg
Dr. Martha Muñoz
Evolutionary biologist
Yale University
Episode: 872: Uncovering the Mechanisms Underlying Uneven Rates of Evolution Across Organisms - Dr. Martha Muñoz
Steve Platt
Wildlife biologist focused on crocodiles and turtles with WCS
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Episode: 871: Committed to Conserving and Reintroducing Crocodile and Turtle Species - Dr. Steven Platt
Dr. Sharlene Santana
Integrator of functional biology and evolutionary studies; Associate Professor and Curator of Mammals at UW
University of Washington
Episode: 870: Determining the Drivers of Diversity in Bats and Other Mammals - Dr. Sharlene Santana

Host

Dr. Marie McNeely
Host of the show; guides conversations with scientists about their careers, research, and human experiences in science.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 356 ratings
  • Boring

    Talk about science and not about how brilliant your guest are.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    johnfivethousand
    United States3 months ago
  • scientists talk about t their research and careers. interesting behind the scenes look at science đź”­đź§Ş

    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 đź”­đź§Ş

    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 States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality production and thoughtful questions keep complex topics approachable.
Guests are consistently impressive and topics span a broad scientific spectrum.
Engaging host with a clear, accessible interview style that draws out human stories behind rigorous science.
Listeners appreciate the balance of career guidance and science deep-dives, though a few reviews note the depth can be dense for casual listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#189
Australia/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#65
Saudi Arabia/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#207
New Zealand/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#233
Brazil/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#241
Denmark/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#246
South Korea/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

878: Researching Flood Resistance in Rice and Other Plants - Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres
Q: What is the best advice you would give to aspiring scientists?
Think through a hypothesis or technology before acting, plan and anticipate challenges, and maintain curiosity about nature and its systems as a guiding principle for careful, thoughtful research.
878: Researching Flood Resistance in Rice and Other Plants - Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres
Q: Can you share a story of a failure or challenge and how you turned it into a learning moment?
She notes many challenges with controls and hypothesis failures, likening science to Snakes and Ladders and stressing the importance of collaboration and persistence in turning challenges into progress.
878: Researching Flood Resistance in Rice and Other Plants - Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres
Q: What is the most exciting project in your lab right now and why?
The lab is integrating years of work on plant responses to flooding with path from cell biology to farmer fields, focusing on gene networks that enable survival and exploring both natural variation and genome editing approaches to enhance flood resilience.
878: Researching Flood Resistance in Rice and Other Plants - Dr. Julia Bailey-Serres
Q: So Julia, are there particular people who really stick out in your mind as those who've had a big impact on you in your career?
She cites Barbara McClintock for deep, careful study of a system, Sarah Haake for balancing scientific rigor with family, and Natasha Reichle for instilling the value of having a vision with impact.
876: Uncovering the Hidden Roles of Antioxidants in Health, Cancer, and Other Diseases - Dr. Isaac Harris
Q: Can you describe your current research focus and any recent exciting findings?
The conversation centered on glutathione metabolism, how cancer cells can break down glutathione to obtain cysteine and other amino acids, and how blocking this pathway can slow tumor growth.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

A science-interview series centered on the people behind research, revealing how scientists think, choose their paths, and navigate careers in academia and industry. Episodes showcase a wide range of disciplines—from aging, microbiology, and neuroscience to astrochemistry, conservation, and materials science—while emphasizing human stories: mentorship, funding challenges, collaboration, fieldwork anecdotes, and the balancing act between work and life. Listeners can expect accessible explanations of complex topics, practical career advice, and candid reflections on setbacks and successes. The show often highlights how research ideas evolve, the role of mentorship, and the human side of science, making it valuable for aspiring scientists, edu... more

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1. Money Girl
2. Hidden Brain
3. On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
4. TED Radio Hour
5. Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta

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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. Julia Bailey-Serres
2. Dr. Alan Cohen
3. Isaac Harris
4. Dr. Mariana Byndloss
5. Dr. Amy Williams
6. Dr. Simon Sponberg
7. Dr. Martha Muñoz
8. Steve Platt

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