Trying 2 Learn

Send us Fan Mail Can modern medicine solve chronic disease—or is it solving the wrong problem? In this episode of Trying 2 Learn, I sit down with Dr. Michael Crabtree, Director of Scientific Affairs & Product Development at Bio Energy Life Sciences, to explore one of the biggest debates in healthcare today. Michael's journey is anything but typical. After studying biochemistry, working in...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Joel Fuhrman believes something most people don’t want to hear: Heart disease, cancer, and many chronic illnesses aren’t just “bad luck”… they’re largely preventable. In this episode, we sit down with a physician who’s spent decades studying nutrition—not just as theory, but as a tool to reverse real disease. We get into: Why modern medicine treats symptoms instead of root cau...

Send us Fan Mail  Starting the Nutraceutical Journey: Why We Need to Talk About This  Supplements promise health in a bottle—but behind every label is a web of science, sourcing, and sometimes sketchy shortcuts. In this first episode of our Nutraceutical Series, we lay out the questions that drive the journey: What makes a supplement trustworthy? Who actually ensures quality? And how do consumers...

Send us Fan Mail What if we could simulate the future of farming—and make smarter choices now? In this episode, systems modeler and agroecologist Delphine Derrien breaks down how regenerative agriculture can be scaled intelligently through computational modeling . Her work connects carbon sequestration , regional realities , and global food systems in ways that challenge conventional thinking. We...

Send us Fan Mail We often think of T cells as the body’s defenders—but what happens when they can’t move where they’re needed? In this episode, immunologist Dr. Jessica Lancaster breaks down the overlooked role of fibroblasts —the structural cells that help (or hinder) T cell movement—and how this relationship impacts aging, immune function, and disease outcomes . We explore: Why aging immune cell...

Send us Fan Mail What if we could map the healing signals our bodies already use—and turn them into targeted therapies? In this episode, Dr. Hanadie Yousef, co-founder and CEO of Juvena Therapeutics, walks us through how her team is using stem cell systems biology and protein mapping to develop a new class of regenerative medicines. We explore: How secreted proteins mapping helps identify potentia...

Send us Fan Mail Conservation isn’t just about protecting land—it’s about understanding it. And in this episode, Heidi Peterson from the Sand County Foundation helps us explore how healthy land management starts with local knowledge, long-term thinking, and partnerships that actually work. We talk about: The real-world tension between productivity and sustainability Why the best conservation effor...

Send us Fan Mail From contaminated farm runoff to pulling moisture straight from sea air, hydrologist Dr. Praveen Kumar explores the future of water—how we’re wasting it, how we can reclaim it, and why smarter infrastructure might just change everything. 

Send us Fan Mail We rely on insects more than we realize—until they become a problem. In this episode, entomologist Dr. Christelle Guédot helps us untangle the delicate balance between pests we fight and pollinators we depend on . From fruit crops to backyard gardens, Dr. Guédot breaks down how insect behavior shapes our food system, what happens when we tip that balance, and how farmers and resea...

Send us Fan Mail In a world flooded with headlines, hashtags, and health advice, how do you actually reach people— and help them change ? Dr. Sarah Bass has spent her career studying that question. As a professor of public health communication, she works at the intersection of science, trust, and human behavior—helping health campaigns move from ignored to impactful. In this episode of Trying 2 Le...

Send us Fan Mail  If you're interested in sustainable agriculture, land management, or the intersection of farming and ecology, this episode of Trying 2 Learn is for you. I sit down with Dr. Lisa Norton, a landscape ecologist and agroecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology . Dr. Norton has spent over two decades studying the intricate relationships between agriculture, ecology,...

Send us Fan Mail What if the key to treating disease wasn’t to overpower the body—but to work with its existing systems? In this episode, I sit down with Frank Borriello, founder of Alloplex Biotherapeutics, to explore a new approach to therapy—one that uses natural immune regulation instead of chemical force. We talk through the science behind Alloplex’s platform, how it’s aiming to activate—not...

Send us Fan Mail Deirdre McCarthy is a distinguished researcher with a passion for understanding the complex interplay between environmental exposures and genetic inheritance. In this episode, we explore her groundbreaking work on substance exposure in mice and how it can impact not only the exposed individuals but also their subsequent generations. Join us as we unravel the fascinating discoverie...

Send us Fan Mail Elle Murata has dedicated her career to studying how female hormone cycles influence neural activity, cognition, and behavior. In this episode, she shares her profound insights into the connections between the brain and the fluctuations in hormones experienced by women throughout their menstrual cycles. Join us as we delve into the latest scientific findings, uncovering how hormon...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Why Science Initiative, we are joined by Dr. Ryan Jackson for a discussion on CRISPR gene editing systems. Dr. Jackson not only does a phenomenal job of guiding us through the history, potential, and limitations of CRISPR but also discusses his recent discovery of the novel CRISPR-Cas12 system. Whether you’re a science enthusiast with a full knowledge of the...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Michael Skinner has devoted his career to unraveling the mechanisms behind epigenetic inheritance and its role in health and disease. In this episode, he shares his cutting-edge research on how environmental exposures and lifestyle choices can leave a lasting imprint on our genes, influencing the health of future generations. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of epig...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Why Science Initiative, we are joined by Dr. Rebecca Spencer a cognitive neuroscientist from the University of Massachusetts. We discuss the Universal and often elusive topic of sleep and its impact on our brains. Sleep is a fundamental aspect of our existence and Dr. Spencer’s research sheds light on how sleep affects our cognitive function, especially the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Why Science Initiative, we explore the world of Nano Medicines with Dr. Paul Joyce from the University of Adelaide. Nanomedicines are incredibly small molecules utilized as direct therapeutics or often drug delivery systems. Dr. Joyce describes how these unique medicines utilize biophysical characteristics to increase drug delivery and reduce side effects wi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Why Science Initiative, soon-to-be Dr. David Scieszka tells us about his unexpected finding with extreme distance wildfire smoke inhalation in a mouse field study. David is a Ph. D./MBA candidate with the University of New Mexico focusing on aging processes and cardiovascular health. We discuss the complex mixture of wildfire smoke and the impact it had on h...

Send us Fan Mail The true title of this episode should be Zhao and Randy’s excellent urinal, as we discuss the fluid dynamics that govern splashback in restrooms across the globe. Zhao and Randy are two innovative engineers tackling one of the more pervasive overlooked issues that anyone who uses or cleans up after someone that uses, the modern urinal face. We discuss their design process, which i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Why Science Initiative, we are joined by Dr. Ashley Seifert, a regenerative Biology wizard with the University of Kentucky. Dr. Seifert describes the field of regenerative biology as the study of how organisms can not only heal wounds but regenerate true tissues and even limbs. Throughout the episode, we explore the potential applications of regenerative bio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Why Science Initiative, we discuss with Dr. Vincent Pasque Epigenetic Reprogramming and its applications in stem cell research. This may seem like a daunting subject but Dr Pasque, with the University of Leuven, does a fantastic job of explaining the basics and how his research has led to some remarkable opportunities in understanding early embryo developmen...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Why Science initiative where we explore the reasons why life science researchers and industry professionals are driven to do the work they do and why the general public should understand and care about their discoveries and breakthroughs. I’m your host Kyle Valgardson and in every episode, we will strive to unravel the motivations behind science and try to inspire y...