Travelling Science

This week we are discussing Bioactives, the naturally occurring compounds in fruits and vegetables that quietly influence our health in ways we are only just beginning to understand. We explore what these compounds are, where they come from, how they interact with the human body, and why variety and colour on your plate matter more than you might think.  This conversation cuts through the hype of...

Are you addicted to something? This podcast delves into questions such as; What is addiction? What causes addiction? What are the symptoms of addiction? And how can we treat addiction?  Whether you struggle with substance abuse or simply an unhealthy habit, this podcast will explain addiction causes and addiction symptoms so that you can get a better understanding of why you might be dependent on...

This episode of Travelling Science is all about running! What you should be wearing, what you should be eating, how to prepare for a run, how to stretch after a run and most importantly, how to enjoy your run! Watch the video version of the podcast: https://youtu.be/38FK6w3gOF8 Tom Simak is a qualified running coach and co-founder of Wild Blue Performance Running, a company that helps people to im...

This week we are discussing the science of muscles, massage and body healing through a variety of techniques such as; Needling, Lymph Draining, Calibrated Stretching, Cupping and more. Learn all about the science behind Myotherapy and how it can help with various health issues in the body. Check out the video of this episode here: https://youtu.be/XZsbGx60e6c Elyse Zandegu is a myotherapist and re...

Where does our tap water come from, and what does it actually contain? Todays discussion with Katie Vanderespt uncovers how waste water is treated, how drinking water is disinfected, how water filtration works, and how to determine what is actually in your drinking water… Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/w5IgKmdwnCo Katie Vanderespt is a Chemical Engineer who worked in oil, coal and gas ...

Should you get vaccinated against the flu this year? That is the question we are trying to answer in this episode of Travelling Science! We will be discussing how the influenza virus spreads between us and what you can do to protect yourself from getting sick this winter, vaccinated or not. We will also talk about how the flu vaccine works, what it contains, and why we need a new influenza vaccina...

Antarctica is suffering. Temperatures are heating up, the ice is melting, penguins are getting sick, whale numbers are dropping, krill are being overfished…and it impacts us more than we might realise. In this weeks episode of Travelling Science, Dr. Jarrod McKenna shares the good, the bad and the ugly of Antarctica. We discuss the importance of krill, ice albedo, whale babies, avian flu, ocean cu...

Today we’re talking all about epigenetics! What is it, how does it work and how can we use that information to protect our DNA and reduce our risk of diseases such as cancer. Watch the video version here:  https://youtu.be/yJTXCSDGDeE Dr. Amanda Khoury is a Cancer Epigeneticist who is driven by a deep curiosity to work out how our bodies work and how a breakdown in our epigenetic processes can giv...

This episode shares some valuable PhD advice from Dr. Eva Lantsoght, host of the podcast “PhD Talk”. Our discussion focuses on the benefits and challenges of doing a PhD, and why you might consider doing (or not doing) a PhD. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/Fjb3xKDEmns Dr. Lantsoght is a Professor of Structural Engineering at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador and a part-ti...

I recently travelled to India and participated in a 10-day Vipassana meditation course. In this episode I’m going to discuss what it involved, how it worked and the results that I observed after taking the course.  Topics covered include: -Noble Silence, 10 days without speaking to another human -giving up all personal electronic devices -waking up at 4am every morning -meditating for 12 hours eve...

How can we use microbes to improve our world? This is the kind of research that Dr. Taylor Szyszka lives for! Taylor is currently working on improving the process of photosynthesis in order to promote plant growth and improve crop yields, and she is also working on building novel nano-reactors that can do chemistry at a femtoliter scale. You can watch the video version here:  https://youtu.be/MCgf...

What’s more appealing; Biochemistry and molecular biology…or patent law? For Chloe Kirk, the answer is…both! This week, we are chatting with Chloe the Scientist about transitioning from the world of science to law. She shares her research on Amyloid proteins, why she is fascinated with patent law, and why things like science communication and diversity in STEM are so important.  You can watch the...

In this episode we are discussing how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to improve your life, and how can you utilise AI, TODAY, to live smarter, happier and healthier! AI is revolutionising our world! We hear about it in the news and online…but are YOU taking advantage of this new technology? Maybe, after this episode, you will be. We’re going to be talking about how Artificial intelligenc...

In this episode we chat with Dr. Aaron Dingle, a visionary in the field of tissue engineering and limb transplantation. From the University of Wisconsin, Aaron unravels the complexities of developing artificial limbs and neuroprosthetics, sharing how advancements in this area can drastically improve the lives of those with lost limbs. Fueled by impactful personal experiences and a fascination with...

This week we are trying to solve nature conservation problems using social psychology. Humans are a part of nature, and we need to be responsible for protecting it rather than potentially irreversible damage. During our conversation, we discuss topics such as animal control, green prescriptions, Australian Dingoes, Canadian super wolves, spying on other animals and what we can do as individuals to...

This episode looks at the science of addiction; What is addiction, what causes addiction and how can we treat addiction? We also discuss mental health issues and how they can have a huge impact on ones tendency to struggle with addiction problems. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/hGUEoRSbYjQ Manny Nsien is a Master of Health Care Administration and the CEO of Ripple Ranch Recovery Ce...

Antioxidants are good for you…that’s all you need to know right? WRONG! This episode looks into the research behind antioxidants. What are Antioxidants? Where do Antioxidants come from? How do Antioxidants work? And is it possible the Antioxidants could be bad for you?  To check out the Video Version:  We are also investigating related molecules like free radicals, reactive oxygen species and proc...

DISCLAIMER: This episode involves conversations around suicide. If this could be triggering for you, please contact your local support service. Suicide can affect all of us. That is why this week I’m talking all about mental health and suicidality with lived experience practitioner Victoria Lynne Carrier. We discuss ideas like rumination, doom scrolling, self care, mindfulness, lived experience, c...

This week we are discussing; autoimmune disease, innate versus adaptive immunity, inflammation, psoriasis, eczema, asthma, acne, sweet syndrome, gut health and how to engineer an optimal microbiome. To watch the video version: https://youtu.be/HzjkN4SIYe8 Kellen Cavagnero is an immunologist and a Ph. D. candidate at the University of California in San Diego. His work focuses on understanding the i...

In this episode we are focusing on felines! Why do cats have whiskers? What should you do if you are allergic to cats? How to tell if your cat is too fat! We are talking all about the science behind cats, the health benefits of living with cats and how they evolved from the giant feline predators of the savanna desert into the little fluff balls curled up on our beds. To watch the video version: ...

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it difficult to sleep. In this episode, I discuss the research behind insomnia, looking at the science of this sleep disorder and what causes it. I’m also going to share a number of science-based techniques that you could apply to reduce the severity of insomnia and improve your sleep. To watch the video version of this episode:  https://youtu.be/P...

In this episode, we talk about donating organs and tissue to save lives, working in the endocrinology laboratory of a fertility clinic and being a beer scientist, all while being in a highly successful band. Zoe Catterall is a Biomedical Science graduate from UTS as well as the lead singer of Sydney band The Buoys. Zoe has worked in a range of fields including organ and tissue donation, fertility,...

How can algae be used to brew carbon negative beer? Or reduce methane emissions from livestock? Could Algae potentially capture and store carbon emissions? What about new biological plastics made from algae? Or Algal building materials? Perhaps Algae could even supply us with a sustainable source of crude oil? And most of us have probably forgotten that algae is already supplemented in various pro...

In this episode, we discuss ideas like malware, password hacking, phishing scams, sharenting, spam, scams, spam scams, smart devices, the internet of things (I.O.T) and what to do if the prince of Nigeria emails you… You can watch the video version of the podcast here: https://youtu.be/JdjBHsh9X5E Asha Rao is a Professor of Mathematics at RMIT, a cyber security expert and a STEM enthusiast, inspir...

Cortisol is our stress hormone, but it is extremely important, both for our health and our survival. In this episode, I will explain what Cortisol is, how Cortisol works, why Cortisol is important and I will share a few tips and tricks that you can use to master your Cortisol levels and improve your life! Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/WojVBo4Yd58 Get guest updates and submit your...