Divergent in STEMM

Being a high school student wanting to be a journalist and not seeing herself in science, becoming a science communicator is not what Dr Kira Hughes ever anticipated. Tune in to hear host Dr Chris Freelance talking with Kira about her journey from aspiring author to laboratory to research grants officer, how an adult Autism diagnosis helped her better understand herself, her passion for making sci...

While circuits provide common ground between electrics and brains, going from electrician to trade school teacher to educational neuroscience is an uncommon career journey by most measures! Tune in to hear host Dr Chris in conversation with Dave Brebner about: Dave's experience of being an unlikely electrician with Tourette's Syndrome to finding his way into educational neuroscience, how h...

IT worker to qualified healthcare practitioner to education researcher to CEO of a social enterprise: a non-traditional career path for sure, but one Jess Rowlings wouldn't change. Tune in with host Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with Jess about her career journey, her experience being a speech pathologist with AuDHD working with AuDHD school students, being CEO of the spin-out social ente...

Most people who do a science PhD don't intend to be a high school science teacher. But for Dr Matt Bird, the pull of science education drew him back. Matt has done a lot of science jobs: overseas postdocs, traveling Australia doing science "magic tricks" with the Questacon Science Circus, classroom science teacher, and now a science educator at the Gene Technology Access Centre which...

You may have heard her on ABC Radio, seen her talking all things birds on channel 7's Sunrise, or read her popular science books on birds. And now you'll hear her on the Divergent In STEMM podcast too! This episode, host Dr Chris Freelance is joined by wildlife ecologist Dr Grainne Cleary. Tune in to hear Grainne share how her passion for wildlife drove her to persist through the challenge...

What do you do if you struggled to stay on track at school and later find out it was ADHD? For Dr Matt Harrison, eventually the answer was become an Associate Professor in Learning Intervention and, later, a co-founder of the University of Melbourne's Neurodiversity Project! Tune in to hear about Matt's experience with school and work, how a late ADHD diagnosis changed how he interacts with the wo...

Season 2 is finally here - launching tomorrow, to be precise! While I already have some fantastic guests, I am always looking for more - tune in to find out how you can come on the podcast if you're a neurodivergent STEMM professional!

The roles have reversed! After a season of interviewing some fellow neurodivergent STEMM professionals, one of them now gets to interview our host Dr Chris Freelance! Tune in to hear guest interviewer (and Episode 1 guest) Dr Ollie Thomas chatting to Chris about about balancing the push and pull of Autism and ADHD, his journey from researcher to research infrastructure facility manager, STEMM stre...

What do cosplay and research science have in common? This episode, host Dr Chris is joined by PhD candidate Jordan Clarke from The University of Melbourne. Tune in to hear about Jordan’s research bringing stem cell biology to the study of neuropsychiatric disorder, her experience of neurodiversity-friendly work practices in STEMM, and how aspects of her ADHD have made her a successful scientist. (...

What do you get if you cross two science communicators come comedians with ADHD? This podcast episode! Join host Dr Chris in conversation with science communicator Emily Groves about their shared experience of an adult ADHD diagnosis and burnout, Emily’s varied experience working in science communication with hands-on science centres and a national program for high school students, and creating ne...

A school reunion on a very small scale! Join our host Dr Chris in conversation with high school friend and environmental engineer Dr Ray Trevorah about reforming the Australian organic waste sector into organic resource recovery, the power of in-person interactions to influence behavioural change, and how Ray has leveraged technology and strong oral communication skills to reduce some of the barri...

Many people with Autism have special interest topics, but what's it like for an Autistic neuroscientist whose special interest is neuroscience? Join our host Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with neuroscientist Steph Olliff about her research using brain-infecting viruses to find new treatments for neurodegenerative disease, the struggle to 'switch off' when your work is one of your Autistic spe...

Join host Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with laboratory manager and neuroscience PhD candidate Elyas Arvell. From ongoing efforts to unravel the molecular mysteries of Parkinson's disease to a love for lab work, microscopy as mindfulness, and the importance of curiosity and humility, tune in to hear two adult-diagnosed AuDHDers exploring how neurodivergence and science are a core part of...

Host Dr Chris Freelance is joined by biostatistician A/Prof Karen Lamb . Tune in as they discuss Karen’s experience in the inaugural cohort of STA’s Superstars of STEM program, the benefits of mentoring, and how she has navigated her “chaotic” brain and ADHD to transform an interest in mathematics into a flourishing academic career supporting dozens of health & epidemiology research projects.

Join host Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with science educator and researcher Dr Ollie Thomas . With a successful career spanning over two decades, explore Ollie's non-traditional path with science and how he believes it is the learned approach to communication he developed because of, not in spite of, his Autism that has enabled him to flourish as a science educator.

Welcome to Divergent in STEMM! In this trailer episode, host Dr Chris Freelance introduces himself, and the motivation for and format of the podcast. Follow Divergent in STEMM on LinkedIn, X (@DivergentSTEMM), and BlueSky to stay up to date, or for additional information and resources visit https://drchrisfreelance.com/divergent-in-stemm-podcast/