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Human Angle

Human Angle

By Kenna

We explore the hidden side of scientists, and what makes them human. Looking at their struggles, depression, mental illness, survival, war, scandal, and success, we go further than ever to see just who these scientists were.

Music: Half Mystery by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5026-half-mystery
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
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Leonardo da Vinci

Human AngleSep 23, 2021

00:00
13:09
Barbara McClintock

Barbara McClintock

Perhaps one of the most well-known female scientists, Barbara McClintock's work on genes earned her a Nobel prize. Join Kim and Kenna as they discuss Barbara's work, her awards, and her impact on society. This is the last episode for Human Angle, thank you for staying with us. 

May 09, 202217:31
Avicenna or Ibn Sina

Avicenna or Ibn Sina

Avicenna or Ibn Sina was an Islamic Golden Age philosopher, writer, and scientist. In one of the last episodes of the podcast, Kim and Kenna discuss Avicenna's impact on medicine, as well as his political enemies and his weird medical experiments. 

Apr 22, 202212:20
Anandibai Joshi

Anandibai Joshi

Being the first Indian woman to get a medical degree in America, Anandi Joshi faced community criticism, health problems, and a society that was against her from the start. Follow Kim and Kenna as they tell Anandi's story and show her courage. 

Mar 02, 202208:57
Bertha Parker

Bertha Parker

Bertha "Birdie" Parker was a Native American actress and archaeologist. From being kidnapped to finding evidence of ancient giant sloths, Parker's life was filled with adventure and glamor. 

Feb 13, 202213:36
Alice Ball

Alice Ball

In this episode, Kim and Kenna discuss Alice Ball, an African American chemist who found a cure for leprosy, saving thousands of lives. 

Jan 31, 202212:40
Tu YouYou

Tu YouYou

Season 4 is here! And it's the last season of Human Angle. We're kicking off the podcast with a powerful female scientist: Tu YouYou, who discovered a cure for malaria. She won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for her work. 

Jan 16, 202211:34
Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin

Perhaps one of the most beloved animal scientists and conservationists on television, Steve Irwin inspired an entire generation. This podcast does its best to honor his legacy, discussing his impact on conversation, his journey to becoming the Crocodile Hunter, and his cultural image. After this episode, Human Angle is taking a break for the holidays, and won't return until January. See you in 2022!

Nov 21, 202114:16
Mary Agnes Chase

Mary Agnes Chase

Under 5 feet her whole life and weighing less than 100 lbs, Mary Agnes Chase made herself a force to be reckoned with. Her work on studying grasses and plants around the world helped advance crop science. She was able to work in the USDA and fight for women's rights at the same time. Follow Kim and Kenna as they discuss Chase's life, her work, and her impact on our society. 

Nov 10, 202118:05
Guglielmo Marconi

Guglielmo Marconi

His invention is probably one of the most important in the world: the radio. Guglielmo Marconi worked hard to patent his device, and the consequences of his tinkering saved thousands of lives. Follow Kim and Kenna as they discuss Marconi's early life, his work on the radio, the Titanic, and his later life. 

Oct 15, 202116:30
Ellen Ochoa

Ellen Ochoa

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we're releasing an episode on Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina woman in space, the first Latina director of the Johnson Space Center at NASA, and the second woman director. From playing the flute to logging over 1,000 hours in space, Ochoa's story is incredible. 

Oct 03, 202109:44
Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous artists in history, but also made significant contributions to science. Follow Kim and Kenna as they discuss da Vinci's work to advance science through chemistry, engineering, and even art. 

Sep 23, 202113:09
Bonus Episode: Interview with Indian Neuroscientist Dr. Shubha Tole

Bonus Episode: Interview with Indian Neuroscientist Dr. Shubha Tole

Dr. Shubha Tole is an Indian Neuroscientist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Here in this bonus episode, Kenna interviews Dr. Tole about her work as a neuroscientist, as well as her inspirations for becoming a scientist. 

Sep 12, 202116:34
Alice Hamilton

Alice Hamilton

Alice Hamilton was a woman who defied barriers at every stage of her life. From first being homeschooled by her parents, having to remain "invisible" to finish her studies, becoming a doctor, and eventually becoming the first woman professor at Harvard University, Alice Hamilton fought hard for her success. Listen as Kim and Kenna discuss her life and her impacts on workplace safety. 

Aug 30, 202117:38
Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is probably the creepiest American poet in history. His life was plagued by tragedy, mystery, and adventure. But he also contributed to astronomy, describing the big bang and other ideas. Follow Kim and Kenna as they discuss Poe's contribution to modern science. Featuring an introduction with a reading by James Earl Jones. 

Jul 27, 202122:07
Fred Begay

Fred Begay

Born on a Navajo reservation in Colorado, Fred Begay's life seemed to be a series of perfect timed accidents. Listen as Kim and Kenna talk about Begay's early life of being taken away from his family, his accidental success becoming a physicist, and his later work with the Navajo Nation. 


Jul 11, 202114:54
Andrea Reid

Andrea Reid

An ecologist from the Indigenous Nisga'a Nation in British Columbia, Dr. Andrea Reid studies the interaction between Indigenous fishers and fish around the world. This episode also includes an interview with her discussing her work and background. 

Jun 29, 202118:24
Nanibaa' Garrison

Nanibaa' Garrison

Nanibaa' Garrison is an Indigenous Geneticist who focuses on health conditions and genetic testing within Navajo communities. Her work has helped push government policies to help boost the Navajo Nation's health as a whole. Listen as Kim and Kenna examine her work. 

Jun 15, 202107:58
Cross-Over Week! From the Bibliofiles Episode: Deborah Blum

Cross-Over Week! From the Bibliofiles Episode: Deborah Blum

This week is Cross-Over week on Human Angle, as we showcase the new podcast "From the Bibliofiles," a science writing book club of sorts. This episode features an exclusive interview with popular science writer and director of MIT's Knight Science Journalism Program, Deborah Blum. 

May 13, 202120:37
Valerie Thomas

Valerie Thomas

If you like 3D movies, you can thank Valerie Thomas for that. A NASA engineer in the 1980s, Valerie found a way to develop 3D technology. Listen to Kim and Kenna discuss Valerie's work and impact on us today. 

Apr 29, 202112:00
Ernst Chain

Ernst Chain

From fleeing the Nazis in Germany to winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering penicillin, Ernst Chain's story is full of suspense, danger, and success. Follow Kim and Kenna as they discuss Chain's life and his impact on society. 

Apr 15, 202111:45
Elizabeth Campbell: Special Episode!

Elizabeth Campbell: Special Episode!

On this exclusive episode of Human Angle, host Kenna interviews Ph.D. student Elizabeth Campbell, who is researching Amazon river dolphins in Peru. Listen to Elizabeth's story and what her work looks like. 

Mar 19, 202107:05
Arnold O. Beckman

Arnold O. Beckman

Arnold O. Beckman was a chemist and inventor that started Silicon Valley. Through his invention of the pH meter, Beckman was able to create an industry empire still in power today. Join Kim and Kenna as they discuss Beckman's life, charity, and inventions, as well as give an exclusive interview with Scott Nesheim, who used to work with Beckman personally. 

Mar 01, 202135:06
Dr. Joseph Bell

Dr. Joseph Bell

Joseph Bell was a Victorian Scottish surgeon and doctor, and a mentor to the great author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Bell was the inspiration for Conan Doyle's literary detective, Sherlock Holmes. Join Kim and Kenna as they discuss Bell's early life, his investigations, and his later years. 

Feb 17, 202109:60
Andrea Delgado-Olson

Andrea Delgado-Olson

Andrea Delgado-Olson is the founder and chair of Native Women in Computing, an organization that encourages indigenous women to pursue careers in computer science. Join Kim and Kenna as they discuss Delgado-Olson's groundbreaking work and the struggles she faced in order to inspire indigenous peoples to enter scientific fields. 

Feb 01, 202115:16
Flossie Wong-Staal

Flossie Wong-Staal

A Chinese-American scientist, Flossie Wong-Staal was the first person to clone HIV and discover how it works. Follow hosts Kim and Kenna as they discuss Wong-Staal's early life, her discovery of HIV, and her later fame and influences on society. It's a story you won't want to miss! 

Jan 19, 202112:45
Thomas Stevenson

Thomas Stevenson

Thank you for your patience listeners! Our latest episode is finally here! Thomas Stevenson is the father of famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson. Follow Kim and Kenna as they walk through what little detail we have on Thomas Stevenson, as well as the engineering of lighthouses back in the Victorian period. 

Dec 06, 202017:51
Chieng-Shiung Wu

Chieng-Shiung Wu

Chieng-Shiung Wu is called the "First Lady of Physics," after she worked on the Manhattan Project during WWII. Her story is one of bravery and fire, as she was educated during the Chinese Revolution, came to America, worked on the Manhattan Project, and was later passed over for a Nobel Prize, because she was a woman. But if there's one thing to learn from Wu's story, it's to never give up! 

Nov 10, 202024:09
William Buckland

William Buckland

From mummified cats to eating toasted mice, William Buckland has done it all. He's a Victorian scientist and theologian who ate his way around the animal kingdom, as well as started the field of corpology (the study of fossilized poop). While Buckland's eccentricities have made him memorable to us, he also added great contributions to science, such as finding the Megalosaurus, one of the first dinosaurs ever discovered, as well as the first full dinosaur dig account. Our Halloween episode on Buckland is sure to delight and terrify you! 

Oct 26, 202033:15
Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper

One of the unsung bad-asses of science, Grace Hopper helped invent COBOL and other computer languages. She also helped popularize the term "debugging" when a literal moth stopped a computer relay. Without Hopper, we wouldn't have computers. Follow cohosts Kenna and Kim Castleberry as they discuss Hopper's rise to discovery while serving in the U.S. Navy. 

Oct 06, 202019:13
Stephanie Kwolek

Stephanie Kwolek

Stephanie Kwolek is one of the world's most bad-ass chemists, as she worked in the 1960s at DuPont to create Kevlar, one of the strongest fibers in existence. Kevlar has saved thousands of lives with inventions such as bulletproof vests and parts of spaceships. Kwolek's journey was not an easy one, as she was continually passed over for a man. However, she is one of our unsung feminist heroes as she continued to pursue her career in science. 

Sep 20, 202024:31
Michael Cricton

Michael Cricton

One of the most famous science writers, Michael Crichton is responsible for Jurassic Park and other amazing works, such as the Andromeda Strain and ER. Trained as a Harvard Doctor, Crichton rebukes practicing as one to become a Hollywood director, travel the world, and write some of the best-selling books in history. Join Kenna Castleberry, Matthew Dale, and guest star Austen Hughes as they discuss Crichton's work and legacy. 

Sep 06, 202031:34
Percy L Julian

Percy L Julian

Ever wonder where hormones like testosterone or estrogen first came from? Thanks to African American chemist, Percy L Julian, mass production of these chemicals happened in the 1950s and 1960s. Julian himself fought tirelessly for his work throughout the racist eras of his childhood and adult life, facing lynching, discrimination, rejection, and even firebombing. Listen to the investigation of Julian's life, and why he should be given more credit in American history for his work. 

Aug 21, 202031:47
Gladys West

Gladys West

Gladys West was one of the first human "computers" in the 1960s, and her work helped to model the surface of the Earth. She also contributed to the invention of GPS and was chosen as one of the Women of 2018 by the BBC.
Aug 07, 202027:31
Human Angle Trailer

Human Angle Trailer

Welcome! This is the Trailer for our Podcast! 

Jul 24, 202001:01
Emmet Chappelle

Emmet Chappelle

One of the most well-rounded researchers in history, Chappelle made monumental discoveries in bioluminescence and about life on Mars. He worked on the Viking Projects in the 1960s for NASA and helped develop methods of feeding astronauts and keeping them alive. 

Jul 24, 202024:30
Shirley Ann Jackson

Shirley Ann Jackson

Season 3 of Human Angle is starting strong with the story of Shirley Ann Jackson, the first African American woman to her a Ph.D. from MIT and the second African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics. Join Matthew and Kenna as they discuss Jackson's early life, her struggles with racism, and her successes as a leader. 

Jul 10, 202021:45
Clara Barton

Clara Barton

Clara Barton was an amazing Civil War nurse who often had brushes with danger, but survived and founded the American Red Cross. Her skills in nursing saved thousands of lives. 

Jun 12, 202025:01
Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov

Asimov is known for his science fiction novels, but his life story includes getting his degree in chemistry, having a scandalous attitude towards women, and being interested in educating the public about science. Follow Austen and Kenna as we discuss Asimov's struggles to become the famous writer he is today. 

May 30, 202034:00
Sir Bernard Spilsbury

Sir Bernard Spilsbury

Follow us as we look into the life of the father of modern forensics. From murders in cellars to brides in the bath, Sir Bernard Spilsbury's name will go down in history as the "Sherlock Holmes" of forensic science. 

May 15, 202031:30
Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson always wanted to be a writer, that is, until she fell in love with nature. After becoming a writer at the Parks and Wildlife on the East Coast, she realized her writing had to count for more. Her manifesto, Silent Spring, is credited with starting the environmental movement and banning the usage of DDT. 

May 01, 202031:50
Ivan Pavlov

Ivan Pavlov

Ivan Pavlov is one of the most famous psychologists, known for his operant conditioning. However, Pavlov wasn't always this way. Join us as we investigate his struggles to find work, love, and survival during the Russian Revolution. 

Apr 17, 202028:00
Marie Curie

Marie Curie

Marie Curie is a woman science will remember, but her discoveries of radium couldn't have been done without her struggles for her education and to marry the man she loved. Follow us as we talk about one of the most revered female scientists, whose story has never quite been fully told. 

Apr 04, 202045:10
Human Angle Blooper Reel

Human Angle Blooper Reel

From slip-ups to singing, listen to all of your cohosts, Jacqui, Matthew, and Kenna, show what goes on in the radio studio.
Mar 25, 202007:31
Justin Schmidt

Justin Schmidt

Justin Schmidt's methods of research would be considered unorthodox by most scientists. However, in an exclusive interview with Schmidt, we ask why he stung himself by over 150 insects to develop the Schmidt Pain Index. 

Mar 13, 202039:25
Dmitri Mendeleev

Dmitri Mendeleev

Mendeleev's story is both unique and inspiring. While he's best known for creating the periodic table, we focus on what makes him human, his struggles for success, and the race to chart our field of chemistry. 

Feb 28, 202036:00
Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter is one of the most beloved children's authors of all time. But did you know she was also an amateur naturalist and mycologist? She even tried to study at Kew Gardens to further her research but was barred because she was a woman. Follow us as we go on Beatrix's journey from nature lover to writer to scientist. 

Feb 15, 202045:46
Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei is a scientist memorialized by society, but what made him to be so famous? Jacqui and Kenna dig deeper to uncover Galileo's trials with the Catholic church and his attempts to show the Medieval world the importance of the scientific method. 

Jan 28, 202031:30
Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud's life and theories are dissected to discuss his contributions to psychology. What made Freud so famous? Join us as we uncover Freud's dirty addictions to morphine, cocaine, and opium, as well as his weird circles of colleagues and friends, and how he narrowly escaped Nazi invasion in Austria. 

Jan 07, 202047:33
Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla's story is riddled with conspiracy theories. Did he build a laser-weapon known as the death ray? Was he the first to discover aliens? Jacqui and Kenna go deeper into this scientists' life to talk about the mysteries surrounding Tesla, and what made him human. 

Dec 11, 201947:40
 Mileva Maric and Albert Einstein

Mileva Maric and Albert Einstein

Mileva Maric is Einstein's first wife and may have been a contributor to his famous theories. Join us as we follow Mileva's struggles to give up her career and passions in order to allow her husband, Albert Einstein, to have his own. 

Dec 04, 201939:31