WISterhood

This week, Natalie and Rachael continue our ongoing series with the Courage Campaign to discuss pay inequity and how we can empower ourselves and our communities. Please join us in an upcoming event, "Brave Voices from Women in Science" on April 24, 2025 in this continued conversation. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org or find us on Instagram at @women_in_science_pdx.

This month, Rachael and Natalie interview Zoe Chernova, science communicator extraordinaire about her background in biochemistry, re-introducing playfulness into our lens on science, and navigating scientific communities that may be—at times—unwelcoming or unkind. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org, and follow us on Instagram, x, and Facebook.

As we open the fourth season of WISterhood, Natalie chats with Allison Fritts-Penniman, Career Exploration Programs Manager at Saturday Academy. Together, they discuss the rewarding nature of both sides of the mentor-mentee relationship--one that all members of the WISterhood can take part in at the summer Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering (ASE) program held by Saturday Academy. To apply to be a mentor, see more information here: https://www.saturdayacademy.org/be-mentor. Any questions about becoming a mentor? Email Allison: allison@saturdayacademy.org. Get in touch with us! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org, or follow us on Instagram @women_in_science_pdx or find us on Facebook or x.

This week, Rachael sits down with Dr. Deva Chakraverty to discuss her research on impostor phenomenon. Join us as we unpack the roles of language and culture in impostor phenomenon, how men and women may describe it differently, and the importance of institutional responsibility in addressing it. Get in touch! Contact us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram and Facebook.

This week, we are joined once more by Astrid and Sarah from the Courage Campaign to discuss the book Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy. Listen to the first part of our discussion of this book as we discuss key takeaways, including the challenges of women in finance, the lack of unionization in STEM, and key case studies in pay equity and gender discrimination. Get in touch! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or X.

This week, we talk about the Pink Tax: what it is, why some argue that it doesn't exist, and why we should care. Get in touch with us! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org, or find us on Instagram, X, or Facebook.

This week, we are back with the WIS Courage Campaign to discuss a recent event with Leila Wall, the head of the Civil Rights Division at the Bureau of Oregon Labor and Industries, and Sonia Montalbano, an employment lawyer representing both employers and employees. Together, we discussed the avenues available to keeping employers accountable for pay equity. Get in touch! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

This week, we discuss the social perceptions of aging for women, and Natalie unpacks the rewards and challenges of her work with older adults. Get in touch! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and x (formerly known as Twitter).

August 1, 2024 marked the day when humanity's demand on nature exceeded Earth's biocapacity for the year. This week, Natalie and Rachael discuss what this means, how Earth Overshoot Day is calculated, and break it down by country. Get in touch! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and x (formerly known as Twitter).

This week, Rachael and Natalie take a moment to unpack the many news stories that have broken this summer thus far, and discuss how electoral politics fits into our lives as advocates for equity in STEM. Get in touch with us! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

We're bringing you another mini episode! This week, Rachael and Natalie chat about the recent push back towards in-person work, and how this might affect those with disabilities, or those who are caregivers for children or older adults. Get in touch! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Rachael and Natalie unpack what degrowth theory is. Join us as we cover how a battery-powered future relies on exploitation of the Global South, why we cannot buy our way to a sustainable future, and how Portland's thrifting culture might fit into this context. Get in touch! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

This week, Natalie and Rachael chat about when, and how, Earth Day was created. What were the political conditions that allowed for the environmental movement of the late 20th century, and importantly: did it succeed? Get in touch! Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In part two of our ongoing series with Women in Science Portland's Courage Campaign, we chat with Astrid and Lilli about the gendered language surrounding women's pay. We recount personal experiences being told to be more likable in the workplace, and unpack what that means in the context of the struggle for equitable pay. Please join the Courage Campaign for a three-part evening seminar series dedicated to empowering women to confront systemic injustices. This season's theme, 'Mind the Gap: Paving the Way for Equal Opportunities and Fair Compensation', kicks off with a talk by Zhou Fang, founder of Intersectional Group LLC. Join us Thursday, April 18  from 6:00-8:00 pm at Experiment PDX as we delve into Pay Transparency movements in the U.S., examining its impact on states like New York, Colorado, Washington, and California. Discover whether it's a fleeting trend or a future necessity for Oregon, and understand why pay transparency matters for individuals and businesses alike.  Get in touch! You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

We're bringing you a mini-episode, where we chat about a mini topic! This week, Natalie and Rachael discuss the lack of accessible third spaces where people can hang out and meet--without the need to spend money. Get in touch! You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Rachael and Natalie discuss the frustrating and difficult reality that many STEM careers to expect hires to pick up and move on a whim. From positions straight out of college, to residency and fellowships for those working in medicine or academia, we unpack what this demand reflects about who these industries were built for. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, we chat with one of Rachael's childhood best friends, Nora Ali! Listen as we chat about the problem-solving nature of her job, self-doubt and perfectionism, and her experience growing up as an Arab-American in a predominantly-white town. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, we have an exciting collaboration with Closing the Gap, a podcast by the Mid-Valley STEM-CTE Hub. Listen as we chat about the art of listening, art and science, and more! Thanks to Kacey Montgomery from the Closing the Gap podcast for providing editing technical support and for being so generous with your time!

Sure, we say everyone needs a therapist... but what does that really mean? This week, we chat with Genevieve Torricelli about her job as a behavioral therapist in schools, the role of her family in influencing her decision to work with kids, and how to exercise empathy for yourself and others. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can find Genevieve on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/genevieve_______________?igsh=ZDU5OWd6OGcwNGhi⁠

This week, Rachael and Natalie chat about their favorite STEM content makers and what makes these forms of science media so compelling! Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/@SciShow https://www.youtube.com/@kurzgesagt https://radiolab.org/

This week, Rachael and Natalie chat about the recent FDA approval of a new CRISPR gene editing technology for sickle cell disease. Tune in to hear a discussion of the patient narratives that are often overlooked in the biotech discourse, and the exorbitant costs of healthcare in the US. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Why is it that math is such a contentious subject in early school? Why do memories of math class seem to stand out for so many? This week, Natalie and Rachael talk about the ways that math can be inherently emotional, and maybe even beautiful. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, we chat with Astrid Kurniawan and Natasha Fowler, WIS volunteers who are spearheading our Courage Campaign. In the first part of a multi-episode series, we talk through the ways that the gender pay gap and sexual violence are intimately intertwined in a larger, unjust framework. The Courage Campaign is providing education and actionable tools here: https://www.womeninsciencepdx.org/courage-campaign Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Rachael and Natalie discuss the gendered dynamics of emotional labor: where it happens (spoiler alert: everywhere), how it develops, and the ways it creeps into our lives in unexpected ways. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, we chat about gender and sexuality studies in combination with STEM, institutional change to bring about diversity, and the role of advocacy in the sciences. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

After our hiatus, we're back for season 3 with a new co-host, Rachael Cleveland! Listen as we chat about forest fire prevention, ecosystem services, and the importance of ice cream and mentorship in STEM. Email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Being called "difficult" in the STEM workplace is a common experience for many women and marginalized folks. This week, Natalie and Tiffany talk through their own experiences of being called or perceived as difficult, discuss the parallels in national politics, and brainstorm survival strategies to manage these reductive labels.  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, we break down the measures in the Inflation Reduction Act passed this summer to help move towards climate resilience, and what that can mean for us as individuals!  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

It's been more than four months since the Supreme Court ruled that there is no constitutional right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. While the Dobbs decision has somewhat disappeared from the headlines, millions have had to live with its dangerous consequences. We talk with Dr. Carolyn Kay, obstetrician-gynecologist, to unpack what the last months have meant for people with uteruses, healthcare providers, and the country as a whole.  Dr. Carolyn Kay is an obstetrician-gynecologist with a focus on cervical pre-cancer and cancer, racial disparities in cervical cancer screening, and the use of digital technology to address unmet needs in women’s health. She is a contributor to the global movement to eliminate cervical cancer while working to move the needle on physician education and health literacy in historically excluded communities. She majored in mathematics and biology at Bryn Mawr College and earned her medical degree at the SUNY Upstate Medical University in New York. You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Natalie and Tiffany chatted with Susan Holveck, Portland-area STEM educator extraordinaire, to learn more about the intricacies of curriculum design in STEM in Oregon.  Dr. Susan Holveck began her science career with a BS in Genetics from The Ohio State and continued to earn an MS in Genetics and Cellular Biology from Washington State. After graduating, while living in Ithaca and raising a family, she had many pursuits: director of a low income day care center, founding a sewing cooperative for low income women, starting a baking business, and developed a children's line of clothing. Upon moving to Portland, Dr. Holveck pursued a Master’s in Teaching through Pacific University. She was a teacher at Conestoga Middle School, a founder of the Summa program (for highly gifted children in Beaverton), and received her Doctorate in Educational Methodology. She became a Science Specialist for the Beaverton School District, and a Program Administrator for K-12 Science in Portland Public Schools. She is continuing to work with the Portland Metro STEM Partnership on the Statewide High School Science Curriculum known as the “Patterns Approach.” You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

We wanted to take a quick pause in our regular content to bring you some updates! Listen as we chat life updates, coping with change, and traveling abroad.  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Natalie and Tiffany chat with Rose Marie Haynes, microscopist at the Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-EM and Chair of Professional Development here at WISPDX! We talked about the gradual change we see in inclusivity in STEM, how physics is made cool, and how our relationships with science should grow and evolve as we do.  Rose Marie Haynes uses she/her pronouns and works as a microscopist, where she works at the intersection of physics, chemistry and biology to use advanced instrumentation to determine biological structures. In 2019 she graduated with an MS in Applied Physics with a specialization in optical materials and devices. When she's not playing with microscopes or working on programming and events for WIS, she enjoys competitive dancing and knitting matching clothes for her dog and cat. You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week on the pod, Natalie speaks with Alex Berry and Dyllan Elizabeth Cabiles. They work at CMD LLC, an organization that empowers underserved and untapped communities to tell powerful career narratives. Listen as we talk through the role of code-switching in the narratives that are told, and what it means to tell truth to power.  Alex is a Technical Program Manager within Intel’s Global Supply Chain. A technologist by day and a social entrepreneur by night, he incorporated CMD LLC. Alex graduated from Georgia Tech with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and dual minors in Business/Mandarin. Dyllan Elizabeth is a multi-disciplinary creative who is passionate about individual and community empowerment. Dyllan Elizabeth has honed her skills through branding, marketing, graphic design, and website creation; with these skills, she creates inclusive stories that bring people together. https://chocolatemilkdiplomacy.com/ You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Natalie and Elizabeth chat with Sarah Foster, founder and president of local nonprofit STEM Like A Girl. We talk about the nitty gritty of nonprofit work, what it means to diversify STEM in Portland, and how to include parents and guardians in kids' STEM journeys. Originally trained as an engineer, Sarah is passionate about making STEM activities and skills more accessible.  https://stemlikeagirl.org/ You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Elizabeth and Tiffany interviewed Victor Villegas, who henceforth will be known on this podcast as our very own modern Leonardo da Vinci! Tune in as we discuss how to get kids engaged in STEAM as well as the barriers that prospective teachers face in accessing the education field.  Victor provides technology and media support services and training to OSU Extension faculty and staff across Oregon. However, most people know him online as DroneSinger, the “Weird Al” of drones, world’s #1 creator of parody songs about drones. Victor leverage this “fame” to do K-12 STEAM outreach and engagement, heavily leaning on the arts to reach under-served, under-represented youth and encourage them to pursue STEAM careers. He is fully bilingual (Spanish/English), fully bicultural, a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter/composer of STEAM songs, a puppeteer, storyteller and sometimes poet, and loves the intersection of the Arts and Technology. You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

WISPDX turns 5 years old: a veritable toddler! This week, we have a quick message from our co-hosts with our gratitude to you in this amazing community. With love, we look forward to a 6th year with you. 

Many of us are advocates in a variety of contexts, whether it be in the context of education, climate, or healthcare. How can we do that crucial, sometimes-heartbreaking work while also attending to balance in our lives and our mental health? This week, Natalie, Elizabeth, and Tiffany chat about what it means to advocate in a sustainable and healthy way. 

This week on the podcast, Elizabeth and Tiffany talk about the lifting of the mask mandate here in Oregon, and what that means for a variety of populations: school-age children, parents, and immunocompromised folks (and apparently, people with a true crime obsession!).  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week on the podcast, Elizabeth, Tiffany, and Natalie chat about the gender pay gap, and what that means for women of different races and ethnicities. Join us as we discuss how to discuss pay with coworkers, paying off student debt, and changing workplace cultures.  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Elizabeth and Natalie chat with Dr. Carolyn Kay about her journey to her current role as an OBGYN and advocate for cervical cancer eradication. Graduating from an all-female college, majoring in math, and finally finding her way to medicine, Dr. Kay has forged her own unique path to arrive at her current role working in the field of diagnostic medical technologies. Along the way, we discuss the stigma surrounding reproductive health and the coming Roe v Wade decision. 

This week, we highlight one of WIS's ongoing advocacy initiatives: the Courage Campaign. On our website, we feature anonymous accounts from courageous women within the local STEM community. This campaign is a safe space, free of judgment, where women can share their story, speak their truth, and process their personal trauma. It's a place where we can process collective trauma and begin to heal. Astrid Kurniawan joins us on the podcast to discuss her story. Courage Campaign: https://womeninsciencepdx.org/category/courage-campaign/ Contribute your story anonymously here: https://tinyurl.com/couragecampaignwis

Eliseo Flores is currently the Youth Development Program Manager for the education department at Centro Cultural. This week on the podcast, listen as we discuss his journey and relationship in STEM, how he finds ways to make STEAM connections for his students with their daily lives, and why Elizabeth hates marshmallows.  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week on the podcast, we interviewed Michelle Alvarado about her experience as an EMT during COVID. She's been working at an urgent care site specializing in COVID-19 testing - listen as she gives us the rundown on how it works, and how she communicates the science to patients. Michelle is on the road to becoming a Registered Nurse, and she discusses her journey to realizing that healthcare was the field she's passionate about.  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Sam and Natalie chat with Melissa Mudd about her roles as the WIS Fundraising Chair, advocate for early-stage researchers at OHSU's Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (OCTRI), and mom of two daughters. As a woman in healthcare with a passion for public health policy, Melissa discusses what it means to her to be authentic in the workplace.  This holiday season, please consider donating to WISPDX to support the work that we do in our community. Your donation will go directly back to our scholarship programs, Negotiation Bootcamp instructors, and more. Tune in to hear more about where you can expect WISPDX to put your dollars to support women and minority communities in STEM. Go to our website or find our social media for information on how you can contribute. You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

This week, Elizabeth and Natalie chat with Tiffany Windle-Hanson, NGSS Consultant and Professional Development Specialist for the Portland Metro STEM Partnership, STEM Beyond Schools, and a number of other statewide STEM Hubs. She is also the editor of the Oregon Science Teaching Association publication TOST and the Education Coordinator at Oregon MESA. We talk about her background in political campaign management what it means to change weed-out culture, and fostering students' creativity.  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

If you don't know what chingona means, listen to this episode to find out! This week, we sit down with América Rodríguez, a student working in structural engineering. In this episode, she shares her story as a first-generation Latina in engineering, and the ways that mentors have inspired her to forge her own path in a white and male-dominated field. We also discuss what residential and industrial engineering looks like, how Latinx voices are left out of decision-making rooms in the construction industry, and how to make smart career choices by finding fulfilling work experiences.  You can find America and her incredible work here: @chingonasinstem // @wildlatina on Instagram  https://chingonasinstem.com/ http://americarodriguez.com/ You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

If you were in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2021, you'll know that it was one for the record books. Wildfires and heat waves are projected to be part of the new normal as temperatures rise globally. This week on the pod, we discuss what that means for Portlanders. Tune in as we discuss the narratives told about Portland as a climate haven, how to talk about climate change with kids, and more, on this week's episode of WISterhood.  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

For all of us out here who struggle to keep their plants alive: it has nothing to do with how much STEM training you have! This week on the pod, we talk about how STEM, and STEM training, affects our lives outside of our actual careers. We discuss how the content we learn can be useful in cooking or during a pandemic, and how all the negative effects have to do with the industry, and not the lifelong pursuit of learning and curiosity of STEM.  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

You might be familiar with an Internet meme that puts your expectation of something right next to the reality. This week on the pod, we do a little reality-check on what a STEM career might mean. Does your resume have to be industry-specific? How many part-time jobs should you expect to hold down while in school? How much should you expect to be paid for your skills and experiences? You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

It might seem like the STEM education pipeline favors those who are naturally more inclined to plan (obsessively) ahead. In this episode, we talk about the role that personality, and personality tests, play in STEM spaces. Listen as we discuss how our responses to internal and external pressure can be both healthy and unhealthy, and whether some personality traits might be coded as "feminine" or "masculine."  You can email us at podcast@womeninsciencepdx.org and follow us @women_in_science_pdx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.