Look, I’m not a STEM girlie. But, I almost was one when I was studying to be a nurse many years ago. To this day, I still find all things science extremely interesting—math, not so much. So, when I heard about actress (and my birthday twin!) Alisha Wainwright (she/her) coming out with a science podcast, I knew I had to give it a listen. In When Science Finds a Way, Alisha meets trailblazing scientists and researchers changing the world, alongside the people who have inspired and contributed to their work. From discussing topics like community-led climate change solutions, to cutting edge tech that’s redefining disease, and fresh approaches to treating mental health disorders, the podcast shows creative solutions from people at the heart of the greatest health challenges of our time.

But if you’re wondering why the actress is talking with these kinda experts, it’s because she is one. “I actually went to school for Botany before pivoting and becoming an actor,” she says. “But it ended up being the best thing for me, and coming full circle to host a science podcast really feels serendipitous.”

And before I hear any science slander, or even thoughts that a podcast about it could be a bore, Alisha wants to set the record straight (with some facts, ofc): “Did you know heat is responsible for more deaths than any other meteorological phenomena? It disproportionately affects outdoor and manual workers, poorer communities, and women! Women are disproportionately impacted by heat, for physiological and cultural reasons. For that episode, we spoke with Kathy Baffman McLeod over at Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center about her initiative electing women as chief heat officers in countries where the disproportion to women are the most extreme. In Sierra Leone, they empower local women to erect sustainable shade covers over the market they work out of. These are simple elegant solutions that are empowering people at the local level and that’s the sort of stuff we get into on the podcast.”

You can’t tell me that’s not interesting! And that’s only the start of what Alisha has discussed so far. “In future episodes, I’d like to talk about the intersection between climate and infectious disease,” she says. “It’s relevant to us all, given diseases are expanding to new areas with warming and environmental change. Things like deforestation also contribute to bringing animals closer in contact with humans, which also contributes to infectious disease. That’s at least a taste of what’s on my mind looking ahead.”

After you give When Science Finds a Way a listen, Alisha says to tune into Ologies with Alie Ward and Huberman Lab, too. “They have very different tones, but both are super interesting and informative.” On an unrelated note, we both inhaled the latest season of The Bear and can’t recommend it enough.

Ok, C U later ⚛️,
Chloe Trout, associate editor