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Scientista
The Scientista Podcast spotlights women (and allies!) reshaping business, politics, and culture.
Hosted by behavioral scientist Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and former Assistant Secretary of State Monica Medina, this show brings you candid conversations with changemakers and thought leaders from around the world.
Subscribe for behind-the-scenes stories of how some of today’s most inspiring leaders have faced challenges, made tough calls, and turned vision into real-world impact.
Episodes
24 episodes
Ruth Marcus: Why I Left The Washington Post After Bezos Blocked My Column
After four decades at The Washington Post, Ruth Marcus made a decision few journalists ever face: she resigned after her column — critical of Jeff Bezos’s editorial policy — was blocked from publication.In this episode, Ruth ope...
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26:04
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Katharine Hayhoe: Climate Communication That Works
As we welcome new listeners to the Scientista Podcast, we’re highlighting some of our most popular conversations from the archive.In this timely episode, climate scientist and bestselling author Katharine Hayhoe shares what it rea...
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21:02
Leticia Carvalho: Meet the Woman Fighting to Regulate Deep Sea Mining
The deep sea is one of Earth’s last frontiers—and the battle over who gets to mine it is heating up. This week on the Scientista Podcast, host Monica Medina sits down with Leticia Carvalho, Secretary-General of the International Seabed...
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41:27
Bill Nye The Science Guy: “Defense Wins Games, Diversity Wins Wars”
Win a signed Bill Nye The Science Guy Quote Poster!
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45:32
Ashish Jha: What Happens When Women Are Left Out of Public Health
Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown School of Public Health and former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, joins the Scientista Podcast to talk about what happens when women are left out of health research and policymaking—and why fixing t...
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38:01
Kathi Vidal: Who Gets to Invent and Why It Matters
Kathi Vidal has spent her career at the heart of American innovation — first as an engineer, then as Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. But as she explains in this episode, the system that fuels invention and economic growth is f...
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41:09
Jane Lubchenco: The Ocean Is Too Important to Ignore
Former NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco joins the Scientista Podcast to talk about her lifelong love of the ocean, what’s threatening its future—and why she still has hope. From marine protected areas to blue carbon, she shares ho...
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37:05
Sylvia Earle: A Lifetime Underwater and the Fight to Save the Sea
Her Deepness: Sylvia Earle on a Lifetime Underwater and the Fight to Save the SeaIn this special World Oceans Day episode of the Scientista Podcast, we dive deep with legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle. Fro...
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45:51
Elizabeth Gray: Birdwatching Is for Everyone
What do pigeons, volcanoes, and climate change have in common? For Dr. Elizabeth Gray, they’ve all been part of her unlikely journey from bird nerd to CEO of the National Audubon Society.In this episode of the Scientista Podcast...
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24:54
Dr. Nikki Romanik: RFK Jr., Vaccine Misinformation, and the Consequences for Public Health
As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reverses his stance on COVID-19 vaccines for children and pregnant women, the stakes of vaccine misinformation have never felt higher. In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Nikki Roman...
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50:26
Sally Ann Ranney: How a Tree Taught Me Everything
Conservation leader Sally Ann Ranney joins the Scientista Podcast to share the surprising story that started it all—napping inside a tree as a child—and how that deep connection to nature led her to spearhead a bold international campaign: a 10...
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27:09
Whitney W. Strauss: Why Healthy Kids Need Healthy Communities
Dr. Whitney Strauss, Executive Director, AdvoCare Foundation; Philanthropist, Food Systems Expert, and Author, joins us to talk about food systems, health equity, and what it takes to drive real change. From the fight for healthier food access ...
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21:29
Adam Met: How Taylor Swift (and you) Can Help Power the Climate Movement
Musician, activist, and climate advocate Adam Met joins the Scientista Podcast to talk about using the power of music—and the influence of artists like Taylor Swift—to mobilize fans for climate action. From street performances in Central Park t...
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35:23
Jennifer Klein: Fighting for the 28th Amendment and a More Equal Future
Jennifer Klein, Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia SIPA and former Director of the White House Gender Policy Council, joins the Scientista Podcast to talk about fighting for the 28th Amendment, confronting the global backlash agains...
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30:26
Charlotte Clymer: Service, Identity, and Speaking the Truth
From enlisting in the Army at 19 to becoming one of the nation’s most powerful voices for LGBTQ rights, Charlotte Clymer has never taken the easy path. In this episode, she joins the Scientista Podcast to reflect on her journey, what service ta...
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34:06
Gina McCarthy: The EPA, the White House, and the Fight for Our Future
On this episode of the Scientista Podcast, we sit down with Gina McCarthy—former EPA Administrator and the first-ever White House National Climate Advisor—for a candid, urgent conversation about what’s at stake for science, health, and...
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29:42
Astro Teller: Why Pippi Longstocking Is My Role Model
Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots at X (Alphabet’s Moonshot Factory), joins the Scientista Podcast to talk about bold ideas, big failures, and why Pippi Longstocking is still his role model. From AI to innovation culture, Astro shares what it ...
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32:32
Katharine Hayhoe — How to Talk About Climate So People Listen
Climate scientist and communicator Dr. Katharine Hayhoe joins the Scientista Podcast to break down the most powerful climate solution we have: our voice. In this episode, she shares how to make climate conversations more effective—and more huma...
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21:02
How One Bird Changed Everything: Patricia Zurita on Her Path to Global Conservation Leadership
What does a bright-red bird have to do with global conservation? For Patricia Zurita, Chief Strategy Officer at Conservation International, it was the Andean cock-of-the-rock that first sparked her passion for protecting nature. In this episode...
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27:21
Inside the Climate Fight: Lora Snyder on Defending Progress and What’s Next
How do we protect the climate policies that shape our future? Lora Snyder, former Staff Director for the House Natural Resources Committee, joins The Scientista Podcast to break down the fight for renewable energy, coastal restoration,...
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25:25
A Life of Service: Tamara Wilds Lawson on Leadership and Impact
How does representation shape leadership? In this episode of The Scientista Podcast, Tamara Wilds Lawson, President & CEO of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, shares how growing up around strong women in leadership shaped her...
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24:09
Behind the Scenes of Pandemic Response: Dr. Nikki Romanik on Science, Policy, and Trust
How do you stop the next pandemic before it starts? Dr. Nikki Romanik, former Deputy Director and Chief of Staff for the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness, has spent her career answering that question. In this episode of The Scien...
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29:58
From Mom to Movement Builder: Ebony Twilley Martin’s Fight for Environmental Justice
What happens when the air your child breathes makes them sick? For Ebony Twilley Martin, it sparked a journey from concerned mother to climate justice leader. In this episode of The Scientista Podcast, the former Executive Director of ...
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26:15
The Godmother of Climate and Security: Sherri Goodman on the National Security Risks of a Warming Planet
Sherri Goodman: The Godmother of Climate and SecurityClimate change isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a national security risk. In this episode of The Scientista Podcast, Sherri Goodman, the expert who coined the ter...
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24:27