In this episode of Discovery Dialogues, neuroscience PhD candidate Soren Emerson shares how personal experiences and a passion for helping others led him to study addiction and brain function at Vanderbilt. He explores how cocaine changes the brain and how his research could uncover new paths for treating substance use disorders. Along the way, Soren reflects on the challenges, collaboration, and resilience that define life as a graduate researcher. 

Go beyond blueprints and into the human side of engineering as PhD candidate Joshua McDuffie explores how people make life-changing decisions in the face of disasters. From personal experiences with flooding to groundbreaking research on risk perception and trust, this episode reveals why the biggest challenges aren’t always technical—they’re human. It’s a powerful story of resilience, community, and discovering the impact you can make when you understand both systems and the people within them. 

For more information about Discovery Dialogues and show notes from this episode, visit the Discovery Dialogues website.

Copyright 2026, Vanderbilt University.

This podcast was recorded in Studio 608 at Vanderbilt University, with the assistance of JT Spangler. This podcast is produced by Anna Thomas, Nick Hyer, and Stacey Satchell in the Graduate School at Vanderbilt University, with audio editing by Ben Hill. The perspectives shared in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Vanderbilt University.

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Step into the fascinating intersection of religion, politics, and mental health as PhD candidate Caleb Kobosh uncovers how “madness” was understood in early modern England. Through the gripping story of George Tross, this episode explores how personal crisis, faith, and identity collide—and what that reveals about how we still think about mental health today. It’s a thought-provoking conversation about research, resilience, and the courage to follow where curiosity leads. 

For more information about Discovery Dialogues and show notes from this episode, visit the Discovery Dialogues website.

Copyright 2026, Vanderbilt University.

This podcast was recorded in Studio 608 at Vanderbilt University, with the assistance of JT Spangler. This podcast is produced by Anna Thomas, Nick Hyer, and Stacey Satchell in the Graduate School at Vanderbilt University, with audio editing by Ben Hill. The perspectives shared in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Vanderbilt University.

Follow the Vanderbilt Graduate School on Social Media.

From chaotic double pendulums to the mysteries of the brain, PhD candidate Jose Zepeda shares his journey into neuroscience and addiction research at Vanderbilt University. He explores how tiny, little-understood neural circuits may hold the key to understanding motivation, behavior, and the roots of addiction. Along the way, he reflects on mentorship, failure, and the curiosity-driven science that fuels discovery. 

For more information about Discovery Dialogues and show notes from this episode, visit the Discovery Dialogues website.

Copyright 2026, Vanderbilt University.

This podcast was recorded in Studio 608 at Vanderbilt University, with the assistance of JT Spangler. This podcast is produced by Anna Thomas, Nick Hyer, and Stacey Satchell in the Graduate School at Vanderbilt University, with audio editing by Ben Hill. The perspectives shared in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Vanderbilt University.

Follow the Vanderbilt Graduate School on Social Media.

Go beyond the research and into the real-life journey of Vanderbilt University PhD candidate Ebony Pearson as she navigates the twists of graduate school, from pivoting away from medical school to finding her passion in psycholinguistics. She shares candid insights on building confidence, finding mentorship, balancing independence with community, and developing unexpected skills like coding and data analysis. It’s an honest, inspiring look at the challenges and growth that have shaped her as both a scholar and a person. 

For more information about Discovery Dialogues and show notes from this episode, visit the Discovery Dialogues website.

Copyright 2026, Vanderbilt University.

This podcast was recorded in Studio 608 at Vanderbilt University, with the assistance of JT Spangler. This podcast is produced by Anna Thomas, Nick Hyer, and Stacey Satchell in the Graduate School at Vanderbilt University, with audio editing by Ben Hill. The perspectives shared in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Vanderbilt University.

Follow the Vanderbilt Graduate School on Social Media.