The Plasticity Podcast

Hi, it's me, that girl that you met at a bar, hoping to learn about natural health and ended up being held hostage by her after as she went on and on about her own research, Santina. After attending an event that was openly critical of alternative and traditional medicine, I’m diving into the bigger question: who gets to decide what counts as “real” medicine? In this episode, I explore the tension...

Hi, it's me, Santina, a 20-something-year-old woman who forcibly took you away from your cat parents and brought you into a tiny, cold apartment, and you kind of like it because she gives you churus. This week, we're talking impostor syndrome because oh boy do I (and most people I know) have it. Imposture syndrome is everywhere in academia, but it’s rarely talked about honestly. In this episode, w...

Hi, its me, Santina, that girl in your class who shows up just to work and pay 0 attention to the lecture itself. In this episode, we break down how peer review works, why it exists, and how decisions get made behind the scenes. From editors to reviewers to revisions, we unpack the process that shapes what science gets published—and what never sees the light of day. It's publish or perish, baby, a...

Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective treatments we have for obesity—yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we break down what bariatric (metabolic) surgery actually does, why it works, and why the “easy way out” narrative is scientifically wrong. Using evidence from neuroscience, endocrinology, and long-term clinical outcomes, we explore how bariatric surgery chan...

Obesity is one of the most misunderstood—and most stigmatized—medical conditions we treat. In this episode, we dismantle the idea that body weight is simply a matter of willpower, discipline, or personal responsibility and replace it with what the science actually shows. Using evidence from neuroscience, endocrinology, and metabolism research, we explore how the brain regulates weight, why the bod...

Hi, it's me, Santina... actually Sequoia now, according to some random man who compared me to a tree when he tried to pick me up at a grocery store. In this episode, we unpack the neuroscience and psychology behind what many women recognize immediately: male audacity. From unsolicited grocery-store pickup lines to dating app overconfidence, we explore why men are more likely to initiate, overestim...

Hi, it's me, the girl who tried to wash her duvet in her apartment washer/dryer and ended up going to bed with 50 blankets to stay warm because it wasn't dry, Santina Duarte. Since last week was all sex, I wanted to talk a bit about the gaps in women's research and why we are currently in the girliest scientific renaissance known in existence. In this episode, I dive into the dumpster fire that is...

Hi, it's me, your cousin, who was recommending gay hockey shows to the whole family on Christmas, Santina Duarte. Since we finished off last year pretty rough, I want to start this year off a little more fun. We are going to talk about sex, ladies! Specifically from the lens of women, sex, and neuroscience, health, and all things biology. In this episode, I dive into what happens in the brain duri...

Hi, it's me, Santina, your older sister in science and in this episode of The Plasticity Podcast , we explore the complex neurobiology of Parkinson’s disease — a progressive movement disorder rooted in the brain’s dopamine networks and neural plasticity. We’ll break down what happens in the nervous system, how scientists are studying its mechanisms, and what living with Parkinson’s really feels li...

Hello, it is I - Santina Duarte - reporting live from Calgary for a change of pace. I have officially survived my first semester of grad school, everyone. We made it. And listen… it almost broke me. Daily crash-outs, so many cockroaches , fighting with admin, learning how to live alone... and yet, here we are. Still standing. Mostly. So after desperately needing a more chill episode, this week I’m...

This week, we’re talking about that strangely heavy feeling you get when you go home after a significant life change — the “everything is the same, but I’m not” moment. We’re unpacking the neuroscience and psychology behind growing apart from people, outgrowing old versions of yourself, and why returning home can feel like stepping into a past life. We’ll break down how your brain processes major...

Hi, it's me, Santina Duarte, the girl in your lab who has like 800 pets and is quite literally a crazy cat lady, and this week we are talking pets. Have you ever thought about how your pet all of a sudden hates your ex when you break up? Or how can they pick out your friends in a crowded room, even if they have never met them before? In this week's episode, we explore the neuroscience of the human...

Hi, it is me your older sisters ex best friend thats also your ex best friend who now lives in a city where it rains in November, Santina Duarte. This week I am talking about how PhD's actually work and the realities of academia. If you are thinking about grad school and dreaming of that “Dr.” title then this episode is for you. This week, we’re ripping the academic band-aid off. I break down the...

Hi, it's me, the mother of cats, your older sister in science and the girl in your lab who is trying to learn everything and anything in a super short amount of time for some reason, Santina Duarte. Have you ever wondered how we study the brain? (Spoiler: it’s more than just fMRI scans and lab mice.) Neuroscience involves a broad ecosystem—from glowing neurons in petri dishes to stressed graduate...

Hey, it's me, the 20-something-year-old girl who moved in across the hall, who spends most of her day talking to her cat, Santina. This week, I talk about seasonal depression and why we have all had a horrible week. From circadian rhythm disruptions to serotonin mysteries to the messed-up hurricane of responsibilities that occur in November and December, this time of year really is the perfect sto...

Hey again, it's me, Santina Duarte, reporting for duty. This week has honestly been filled with the nightmarish experience of crushing on someone now and it has made me s p i r a l like the most unhinged conversations with my friends over the most disgusting feelings. So, anyway, I wanted to talk about some of the neuroscience behind crushes and why love is such an important aspect of human health...

Hi, it's me, Santina, the human who feeds and takes care of the hippo. It really is his world, and we are all so lucky to just be living in it. This week, I discuss the dark history of neuroscience, a rabbit hole I recently fell down as I learned just how much has actually taken place at McGill. Since I will be discussing dark topics, viewer discretion is advised. We will be talking about horrific...

Hi, it is once again my favourite time of the week, where we play the best game: count how many times Santina says "um" or "and so" while talking about science. Also, the words "and so" look like a fish on my audio editing platform, thanks to Audacity. This week, I talk about some of my previous work looking at cerebral (brain) blood flow: specifically, two processes known as neurovascular couplin...

Hello, and welcome back to the plasticity podcast where you listen to me spiral while fighting with my cat to get off the key board. This week I discuss what its like being a women in STEM, from the history behind my leading ladies in the lab, current issues that we face in the field and what you can do to promote more girls looking at graphs. This episode does discuss sensitive topics like sexual...

Hello! Welcome to the Neuroplasticity podcast, where I discuss how neuroscience research changed my life, all while my cat knocks things over and meows in the background in an attempt to ruin my life. Today's episode focuses on the importance of effective science communication at the academic, government, and social levels. Here, I delve into the realities of grant writing (especially in another l...

Hello! Welcome to the Neuroplasticity podcast, where I discuss how neuroscience research changed my life and brought me to Quebec of all places (cue that clip of Frank Ghallager saying "how did I end up in Canada, I hate Canada"). On a side note, I can't stop watching Shameless; it is an issue. Today's episode focuses on my academic journey and how I ended up conducting research at McGill Universi...