The science intersection

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From a career in pharmaceuticals to life on a ranch, from the fashion runway to the speaker’s stage, Andrea’s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this powerful conversation, she shares her experience of coming out as transgender later in life, navigating family and workplace dynamics, and finding the courage to live authentically. With warmth, candor, and hard-earned insight, Andrea challenges us to look beyond labels, confront fear, and embrace the humanity we all share.

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What happens when advanced technology meets a strained healthcare system?

In this compelling episode of The Science Intersection, we sit down with Dr. Marshall Runge (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marschallsrunge) Dean of the University of Michigan Medical School and health innovation expert to explore the deep challenges and emerging breakthroughs in healthcare. From wearable tech and AI to health inequities and bold public health proposals, this conversation is packed with insight.

Dr. Runge also shares stories from his own health journey and introduces his fiction thriller Coded to Kill (out on amazon), offering a unique perspective on data privacy and medical ethics. His other book The Great Healthcare Disruption is also out on amazon.

If you've ever asked how healthcare can serve more people more fairly—or what it means to age well—this episode is for you.

👉 Got thoughts or a story to share? Message us or leave a review. Let’s keep the conversation going.

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I’m taking a little time out from the podcast to rest, reflect, and prepare for what's next. New episodes will be back at the start of August, and I can’t wait to share them with you. Thanks for sticking with me — see you soon!

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In this urgent and deeply human interview, HIV and LGBTQ+ advocate Simon Collins speaks about the devastating impact of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act — one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world.

Originally recorded and released in 2024, its being re-published this month in line with the upcoming pride parade — because the law is still in force, and LGBTQ+ people in Uganda continue to face violence, persecution, and isolation.

Simon shares the law’s chilling effects: collapsing HIV services, forced evictions, mass arrests, and the silencing of activists. He also traces its international roots — from US evangelical funding to failures in the UK’s asylum system.

This is a story about criminalised identities, global complicity, and what it means to offer real solidarity.

For more info visit:

https://i-base.info/htb/46384

🎧 Warning: contains references to state violence, healthcare neglect, and LGBTQ+ persecution.

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In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked world of almshouses — centuries-old charitable housing that continues to support older people in need today.
 Our guests, Simon and Carmel, share their unique perspectives on the Finchley Charities, from its rich historical roots to its modern role in tackling housing insecurity, loneliness, and food poverty.
We hear how these homes offer more than shelter — they foster community, dignity, and a renewed sense of belonging.

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In this deeply moving episode, we speak with Marina — a Ukrainian-born photographer, graphic designer, and visual storyteller — about her powerful project Local Foreigners. Based in the UK since 2014, Marina shares how her personal journey and academic research inspired a nationwide exploration into the lived experiences of immigrants in Britain.

From challenging stereotypes in mainstream media to co-creating portraits and narratives that empower individuals, Marina brings attention to the diversity, normalcy, and humanity behind every migration story. We talk about representation, media ethics, domesticity, and the quiet power of being seen.

✨ Featuring real stories, including that of her grandmother, Marina invites us to reconsider how we define belonging, identity, and home.

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With thanks to Jade Davies

In this episode, we speak with Jade, a PhD researcher at the University of Manchester, whose work explores social media use and adolescent mental health. Drawing on her experience in autism research and employment studies, Jade offers powerful insights into the realities autistic people face at work — from masking and burnout to discrimination and unmet support needs.

We discuss the structural barriers in diagnosis, the problem with “just getting people into any job,” and why organizational culture must change to foster true neuroinclusion. Jade also reflects on the value of meaningful employment, the diversity of autistic identities, and why assumptions about communication and social skills need challenging.

If you're interested in neurodiversity, workplace inclusion, or the human side of research, this conversation offers both depth and clarity — and practical ideas for how we can all do better.

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With thanks to Dr Paolo Gaudiano.

Forget unconscious-bias bingo. In this episode, Dr Paolo Gaudiano—a former computational-neuroscientist and aerospace engineer who now leads DEI-analytics firm Aleria—explains why companies keep aiming at the wrong target. Diversity, he argues, is the thermostat reading, not the temperature; the real heat comes from the hidden processes that decide who gets promoted, heard or paid.

Paolo walks us through:

• how he utilise the computer-simulation tools he once used to model retinal neurons and rocket trajectories into frameworks that predict retention, revenue and morale;
• the industry-wide cybersecurity study that uncovered over 90 cases of technical skills being dismissed—91 of them aimed at women and just 2 at men;
• why “inclusion is what you do; diversity is what you get,” and how measuring day-to-day experiences (not feelings) cuts backlash while saving millions;
• practical fixes—from tracking who’s invited to meetings to cost-ing out the productivity drag of skipped performance reviews.

If you’ve ever wondered whether DEI can be both humane and data-driven, buckle up: the rocket scientist has run the numbers.

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What happens when global promises fall short — and who picks up the slack? In this episode, we reflect on the legacy of the Paris Agreement, the power struggles at COP, and the everyday choices that shape our climate future. With sharp insight and grounded urgency, our guest explores the shifting politics of hope, the hidden cost of digital expansion, and why real change might begin in your kitchen — not a conference hall.

If you’ve ever felt climate fatigue or wondered whether small actions matter, this conversation offers both clarity and cautious optimism.

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What does it mean to be a neurodivergent scientist in a system built for conformity?

In this episode of The Science Intersection, we sit down with Professor Sarah Rankin — regenerative pharmacologist, educator, and advocate — to explore how being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia later in life reshaped her understanding of learning, communication, and her own research strengths.

We talk about:

• Why visual learning and storytelling aren’t just personal quirks — they’re powerful scientific tools
• The hidden barriers for neurodivergent minds in academia
• How industry is (surprisingly) outpacing universities in embracing cognitive diversity
• The importance of role models, inclusive teaching, and rewriting outdated norms in science education

Whether you're a student, researcher, or just curious about how diverse minds shape discovery, this conversation is full of insight, humour, and quiet rebellion.

🎧 Listen now to rethink how we define intelligence, success, and innovation in science.

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