Shows
Square Pegs10: Astrophysics, Autism, Taking Off the MaskOn this episode of Square Pegs, we are joined by Jessica Schonhut-Stasik, a PhD student at Vanderbilt University and the Program Coordinator of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. Jessica brings a unique and compelling perspective to our conversation around neurodiversity. She recounts her struggles to be “normal” prior to her autism diagnosis in adulthood, and the complicated dynamic of masking that most neurodiverse people develop. Jessica details how, in pivoting to astrophysics, returning to university and moving to Hawaii, she learned to de-mask and see herself as neurodiverse.
This path eventually led her to...2023-05-101h 19
AstronomerANDMary Beth Laychak; Maunakea Scholars is the Best Non-Profit in the WorldWelcome to episode 17 of AstronomerAND. Today is the second half of a two-parter with my guest Mary Beth Laychak. Mary Beth Laychak is the Director of Strategic Communications at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on the Big Island of Hawai'i. She runs the Maunakea Scholars program, an innovative astronomy outreach program for Hawaiii public high school students. Mary Beth has an undergraduate degree in astronomy and astrophysics from Penn State University and a masters degree in educational technology from San Diego State. She resides in Waimea, Hawai’i. Today we dive into whether Mary Beth considers herself an astronomer, which is a nu...2023-03-2453 minAstronomerANDMary Beth Laychak; A Migraine Is NOT A HeadacheWelcome to episode 16 of AstronomerAND. Today is the first half of a two-parter with my guest Mary Beth Laychak. Mary Beth Laychak is the Director of Strategic Communications at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on the Big Island of Hawai'i. She runs the Maunakea Scholars program, an innovative astronomy outreach program for Hawaiii public high school students. Mary Beth has an undergraduate degree in astronomy and astrophysics from Penn State University and a masters degree in educational technology from San Diego State. She resides in Waimea, Hawai’i. In this episode we talk about Mary Beth’s origin story and how she now...2023-03-171h 11AstronomerANDKaitlin Rasmussen; An Ode to Dani AtkinsonThis week is my second episode with Dr. Kaitlin Rasmussen, where we dive into what it's like to be in the trans or non-binary community as well as an astronomer. We discuss (the lacking) codes of conduct in astronomy departments, how to navitgate conferences safely, and funding for the LGBT community in astronomy. Of course we end up cascading into a bit of a rant-a-thon, but we end with a nice chat about how much we love thier finacé. I hope you enjoy this episode. A little reminder about Kay: they are an astrobiologist at University of Washington and the f...2023-03-1058 minAstronomerANDKaitlin Rasmussen; In Space No One Can Hear You Say ****This week I am talking to Dr. Kaitlin Rasmussen, this is the first of a two parter where we will talk about being an astronomer and non-binary, as well as an astronomer and writer of science fiction! A bit of background about kay: they are an astrobiologist at University of Washington and the forthcoming author of "Life in Seven Numbers: The Drake Equation Revealed". They also co-edit a speculative fiction magazine "If There's Anyone Left" and parent two unruly cats. Find Kay on Twitter: @toomanyspectra and @C_M_FieldsReach out to AstronomerAnd: Twitter: @astronomerand 2023-03-031h 17AstronomerANDWill Lamb; Go Sports Ball!This week I have Will back on the show, good friend and fellow graduate student at Vanderbilt University. Will is originally from Wales, and moved to the U.S. specifically for graduate school. He works as part of the NANAGrav collaboration, and lives in Nashville, TN. He can also partner dance, which I think is very, very, cool! I hope y'all enjoy the episode! Find Will on Twitter: @LambAstroWill's Email: william.g.lamb@vanderbilt.eduReach out to AstronomerAnd: Twitter: @astronomerand Instagram: @astronomerandpodEmail: astronomerand@gmail.comShow Notes:2023-02-241h 12AstronomerANDWill Lamb; We Think 'Murica is WeirdThis week and next week I will be talking to Will Lamb, good friend and fellow graduate student at Vanderbilt University. Will is originally from Wales, and moved to the U.S. specifically for graduate school. He works as part of the NANAGrav collaboration, and lives in Nashville, TN. He can also partner dance, which I think is very, very, cool! I hope y'all enjoy the episode! Find Will on Twitter: @LambAstroWill's Email: william.g.lamb@vanderbilt.eduReach out to AstronomerAnd: Twitter: @astronomerand Instagram: @astronomerandpodEmail: astronomerand@gmail.com2023-02-171h 06AstronomerANDDon Dixon; A Man Without Social MediaThis week is the second half of my conversation with Don Dixon! Don is an astrophysics PhD candidate attending Vanderbilt University. He is also a member of the Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge program and alumnus of the Cal-Bridge program in California. His research interests are primarily in stellar evolution, particularly on interacting binaries and stellar rotation. Outside of working on his own research Don spends time mentoring and addressing issues of diversity and racial injustice. He currently leads the BLack Academic Support and Advisory gRoup (...2023-02-1050 minAstronomerANDDon Dixon; Student Loans Suck and Wyoming Has No PeopleThis week I talk to Don Dixon in the first of a two parter. Don is an astrophysics PhD candidate attending Vanderbilt University. He is also a member of the Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge program and alumnus of the Cal-Bridge program in California. His research interests are primarily in stellar evolution, particularly on interacting binaries and stellar rotation. Outside of working on his own research Don spends time mentoring and addressing issues of diversity and racial injustice. He currently leads the BLack Academic Support and Advisory gR...2023-02-031h 06AstronomerANDEthan Siegel; You Choose With Whom You RideThis week I am talking to Ethan Siegel in the second of a two-parter where we talk about Ethan's career and we deep diver into mental health and how we can all improve the academy. Ethan Siegel is the world's greatest living science communicator. He has a PhD in cosmology, is a former professor of physics and astronomy, and left that career behind to work full time on communication under the banner Starts With A Bang! He now spends his days writing stories, articles, books, creating podcasts and videos and delivering talks to curious minds all across the world.2023-01-2756 minAstronomerANDEthan Siegel; Half Man, Half Dwarf, with a Mötley Crüe Beard.This week I am talking to Ethan Siegel in the first of a two-parter where we talk about Ethan's career and origin start and begin our long conversation about mental health. Ethan Siegel is the world's greatest living science communicator. He has a PhD in cosmology, is a former professor of physics and astronomy, and left that career behind to work full time on communication under the banner Starts With A Bang! He now spends his days writing stories, articles, books, creating podcasts and videos and delivering talks to curious minds all across the world.CW: We discuss...2023-01-201h 11AstronomerANDAlison Kirkpatrick; Getting Pregnant Super Easy and Other Life LessonsAloha from AAS241!!This week I talk to Allison Kirkpatrick, an assistant professor at the University of Kansas. She is an obervational astronomer, with a focus on supermassive black holes and their effects on how galaxies evolve. She is also the director of the KU Physics & Astronomy department's new NSF REU program, and cares deeply about Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion. I learned so much talking to Allison and she has become a wonderful fountain of information for me. I hope you guys learned from her as much as I did. She is an astronomer, but she is also...2023-01-131h 45AstronomerANDDoug Simons; Powers Whiskey is the Answer to EverythingIn this episode I talk to Doug Simons in the second of two episodes. Doug Simons received his Bachelor of Science degree in astronomy at the California Institute of Technology in 1985, and his Ph.D. in astronomy at the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy in 1990, before working as a staff astronomer at the Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope (CFHT) for 4 years. Doug joined the Gemini 8 m Telescope Project in 1994 as the Systems Scientist, then as the Associate Director for Development managed Gemini's instrumentation program for many years before becoming Gemini Observatory’s Director from 2006-2011. Doug returned to CFHT in 2012 where...2023-01-061h 34AstronomerANDDoug Simons; A Man Who Does Not Like PokémonIn this episode I talk to Doug Simons in the first of two episodes. Doug Simons received his Bachelor of Science degree in astronomy at the California Institute of Technology in 1985, and his Ph.D. in astronomy at the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy in 1990, before working as a staff astronomer at the Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope (CFHT) for 4 years. Doug joined the Gemini 8 m Telescope Project in 1994 as the Systems Scientist, then as the Associate Director for Development managed Gemini's instrumentation program for many years before becoming Gemini Observatory’s Director from 2006-2011. Doug returned to CFHT in 2012 where...2022-12-301h 04AstronomerANDKeShawn Ivory; Going To Bed At 8 Is The New ClubbingIn this episode I talk to KeShawn Ivory for the third and final time! KeShawn is a 2nd year PhD student in astrophysics at Vanderbilt University and a Fisk-Vanderbilt Master's-to-PhD Bridge scholar originally from Garland, TX. KeShawn's personal and professional choices are guided by his firm belief that research is meaningless if it can't be accessed by all who wish to participate, and shared with all who wish to learn. When he isn't working on galaxy mergers, KeShawn loves to write (mostly prose, sometimes music) and sing.Find KeShawn on Twitter @keshawnrantsReach out to KeShawn at...2022-12-2335 minAstronomerANDKeShawn Ivory; Afrofuturism Through the Lens of Star TrekIn this episode I talk to KeShawn Ivory for the second time! KeShawn is a 2nd year PhD student in astrophysics at Vanderbilt University and a Fisk-Vanderbilt Master's-to-PhD Bridge scholar originally from Garland, TX. KeShawn's personal and professional choices are guided by his firm belief that research is meaningless if it can't be accessed by all who wish to participate, and shared with all who wish to learn. When he isn't working on galaxy mergers, KeShawn loves to write (mostly prose, sometimes music) and sing.Find KeShawn on Twitter @keshawnrantsReach out to KeShawn at keshawn.ivory...2022-12-161h 09AstronomerANDKeShawn Ivory; An Ode to Andreas BerlindIn this episode I talk to KeShawn Ivory, a 2nd year PhD student in astrophysics at Vanderbilt University and a Fisk-Vanderbilt Master's-to-PhD Bridge scholar originally from Garland, TX. KeShawn's personal and professional choices are guided by his firm belief that research is meaningless if it can't be accessed by all who wish to participate, and shared with all who wish to learn. When he isn't working on galaxy mergers, KeShawn loves to write (mostly prose, sometimes music) and sing.Find KeShawn on Twitter @keshawnrantsReach out to KeShawn at keshawn.ivory@vanderbilt.eduReach out...2022-12-091h 04AstronomerANDAlexis Acohido; We Were Punks in Middle School.In this first episode of AstronomerAND I talk with Alexis Acohido, who is a Remote Telescope Operator for the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. We discuss Hawai'i astronomy, outreach and education, and Alexis' experience as a part Native Hawaiian woman in Astronomy. Reach out to Alexis at acohido@cfht.hawaii.edu Reach out to AstronomerAnd: Twitter: @astronomerand Instagram: @astronomerandpodEmail: astronomerand@gmail.comShow Notes:Braiding Sweetgrass Book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/braiding-sweetgrass-robin-wall-kimmerer/16712606?ean=9781571313560Websites for outreach discussed:Maunakea Scholars: https://maunakeascholars.comJourney Through the Universe: https...2022-12-021h 24