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Karen Pierce, former UK Ambassador to the United States, and Juliet Gerrard, former Chief Science Advisor to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, joins the Scientista Podcast for a live recording from the Johns Hopkins Science Diplomacy Summit.   From COVID and AI to trust, leadership, and women leading with science, this episode explores how evidence becomes action on the global stage. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

What happens when a song written decades ago suddenly feels like it was written for today? In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Monica Medina and Sweta Chakraborty sit down with singer and interpretive artist Maxine Linehan to talk about music, meaning, and timing. The conversation centers on her stripped-down reinterpretation of Sunday Bloody Sunday—and why its lyrics are resonating in a new way right now. They explore how songs evolve across time, the role artists play in shaping how we process current events, and how Maxine builds performances that combine music, storytelling, and lived experience. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

This week on the Scientista Podcast, Monica and Sweta speak with Isabel Klee, author of Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About and the storyteller behind @simonsits. They talk about foster dogs, rescue storytelling, her unexpected partnership with Oscar de la Renta, and why fostering can change lives, both canine and human. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

What does it mean to defend science in Washington? On this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Monica Medina and Dr. Sweta Chakraborty sit down with Gretchen Goldman, President and CEO of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Goldman has spent her career working at the intersection of science, policy, and public accountability—ensuring that evidence informs the decisions that shape people’s lives. In this conversation, they discuss the role scientists play in protecting democracy, the pressures federal scientists can face when their research intersects with politics, and why scientific integrity matters for everything from public health to climate policy. Goldman also reflects on the mission of the Union of Concerned Scientists, an organization founded more than 50 years ago to ensure science serves the public good. At a moment when evidence is often contested in public debates, Goldman explains why defending science is not just about protecting researchers—it’s about protecting the systems that allow societies to make informed decisions. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

On this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Monica Medina sits down with Lauren Sullivan, co-founder of REVERB, to explore how climate change is already reshaping the live music industry. From extreme weather canceling tour dates to the growing footprint of fan travel, the conversation unpacks what happens when global climate risk meets life on the road. Lauren shares how REVERB works with artists, venues, and festivals to reduce environmental impact through initiatives like the REVERB EcoVillage and the Music Decarbonization Project—including powering stages with solar-powered hybrid battery systems. Drawing on insights from a concert travel study with roughly 35,000 data points, Lauren explains why fan transportation can account for a footprint many times larger than artist and crew travel—and what that means for the future of sustainable touring. As climate-related disruptions become more frequent, this episode looks at how data, music, and community can come together to support real-world action at scale. Fans can also get involved directly by volunteering with REVERB at shows across the country. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and Monica Medina speak with ecologist Marielle Anzelone and urban forester Georgia Silvera Seamans about the overlooked biodiversity of New York City. As leaders of the New York City Biodiversity Task Force and co-authors of Oaks, Our City and Us, they discuss how native plants, wildlife, and neighborhood green spaces support both urban ecosystems and mental health. From monarch butterflies to piping plovers, this conversation reframes New York as more than a concrete jungle — highlighting the essential role of local nature in everyday city life. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

Sarah Kapnick is the Head of Global Climate Advisory at J.P. Morgan—and before that, she spent more than a decade as a climate scientist in government, including serving as Chief Scientist at NOAA. In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and Monica Medina talk with Sarah about what it means to translate climate science into real-world decision-making. Drawing on her experience across government and the private sector, Sarah explains how institutions think about climate risk, why uncertainty doesn’t stop action in financial markets, and how signals like insurance costs, infrastructure stress, and food systems are already reflecting climate impacts. The conversation spans climate risk in everyday life, housing and insurance, agriculture and soil health, extreme weather, and how long-term risks begin to shape near-term choices. It’s a grounded look at how climate knowledge moves—or fails to move—into systems that shape our future. A practical, clear-eyed discussion about risk, uncertainty, and why paying attention now matters. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

What happens when 1.6 million moms decide clean air is non-negotiable? In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, we speak with Dominique Browning, founder of Moms Clean Air Force, about building one of the most powerful parent-led environmental movements in the country. From fighting methane pollution and plastic burning to defending the Clean Air Act, Dominique explains why protecting children’s health should be Mompartisan — beyond politics. We talk about how moms have become some of the most effective climate and public health advocates, why local action matters, what recent wins in states like New Mexico reveal about what’s possible, and how parents can get involved right now. This conversation is about clean air, kids’ health, and the growing power of parents who refuse to stay silent. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, we’re joined by former Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and her senior advisor Karen Skelton for a wide-ranging conversation on energy, national security, and how policy actually gets made. We spend time on a lesser-known detail shaping the Greenland conversation: a 2021 law that restricts mining of ore linked to uranium, effectively limiting access to many critical minerals. Granholm shares insight into how this legal context may help explain recent political interest in Greenland—an angle largely missing from mainstream coverage. The conversation also explores clean energy affordability, utility regulation, global supply chains, and the importance of strong teams behind major policy decisions. Granholm and Skelton offer a candid look at what’s lost when complex energy and security debates get reduced to headlines—and why paying attention to the details matters. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

Fear has dominated the way we talk about climate change for decades. But fear doesn’t motivate most people to act—it overwhelms them. In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Sweta Chakraborty and Monica Medina are joined by Anne-Therese Gennari, known as the Climate Optimist, for a conversation about why fear-based climate messaging fails—and what works instead. Drawing on behavioral science and lived experience, we talk about how motherhood reshapes the way people think about risk, responsibility, and the future, and why mothers can be powerful drivers of climate action in their own communities. The episode explores climate communication through a human lens: how people make decisions under uncertainty, why proximity matters more than abstraction, and what changes when climate action starts close to home. This conversation is about communicating climate in ways that reflect how people actually think—and act. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

Scientista: Highlights from 2025 brings together moments from conversations across the year with leaders, decision-makers, and cultural figures shaping what happens next. Hosted by Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and Monica Medina, the Scientista Podcast explores how people navigate power, responsibility, and judgment in complex systems — from policy and climate to culture and economics. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, hosts Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and Monica Medina reflect on their journey with Scientista, discussing their vision for empowering women in science and the importance of community support. They share personal stories, insights from their favorite guests, and outline future initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity and leadership among women in STEM fields. The conversation emphasizes the need for allies and the significance of building a supportive network for women facing challenges in their careers. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

Do we actually need billionaires? On this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Dr. Sweta Chakraborty speaks with Abigail Disney about extreme wealth, hoarding, and the cultural narratives that allow inequality to persist. Abigail has been outspoken for years about the harm caused by concentrated wealth, and in this conversation she explains why accumulation at the highest levels stops serving human needs and starts distorting systems meant to support society. They discuss how extreme wealth is often shielded from scrutiny, why philanthropy doesn’t resolve the underlying problem, and how stories about success and merit have been used to normalize levels of inequality that would once have been unthinkable. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

Abby Hopper spent nearly a decade leading the solar industry’s most influential advocacy organization — and now, she’s stepping into a new chapter. In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Dr. Sweta Chakraborty sit down with Abby to reflect on her path from big-law attorney to clean-energy leader, and the turning points that reshaped her career along the way. She shares how becoming a mother of three young kids forced a major pivot, what she learned about navigating demanding industries as a woman, and why leaving at the top isn’t a retreat — it’s a choice to grow. Abby also talks about the culture shift she’s helped drive in clean energy, the work still ahead, and how she’s approaching a future that’s wide open. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

Ann Drake and MarySue Barrett are creating the Women’s Leadership Center at Williams Bay, a new hub where women leading in technology, infrastructure, business, and space can come together to tackle real-world challenges. They join Sweta and Monica to talk about the power of convening women, the importance of building networks early, and why evidence-driven solutions must lead the way. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world