Persistently hard Days: Recent Episodes

Emma

Trying my best to cut through the noise. I want everyone to feel like they can be a part of the science world! I am a Molecular Biology PhD student in the UK. I noticed there was a huge gap between those that work in scientific fields and those that don't. I want to close that gap and bring everyone together. Website: https://pharddays.wixsite.com/website Disclaimer: I'm not here to tell you want to think! I want to give you the tools you need to make informed and educated choices.

View Details

Hellooooo

I can't believe series 1 is over?! 

I have had the best time every being able to create this for you. I am very excited for series 2. 

In this episode, I reflect back on why I started and the series 1 guests. I then tell you a little bit about why series 1 is ending. Finally, I tell you what to expect next series!

NEW WEBSITE - SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE 
https://pharddays.wixsite.com/website

^ This is what you will need to submit questions and feedback! 

View Details

Helloooo

Back again for the final guest episode of series 1!

This week, we have the girls from Stay You Boo. A wonderful podcast you can find here:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSeQvAPdEPs3AH3AiqJyG?si=nPRsCDTpRkqNzSYuKawiiw

I was lucky enough to guest on their podcast and we were having so much fun I invited them on here!
We speak about the always important topic of diversity, and discuss quotas as well as equity vs equality. 

NEWS:
Subscribe to my email chain!! Never miss an update!
Click the link below  to go to my new website 

My details:
NEW WEBSITE! https://pharddays.wixsite.com/website
(Subscribe here and contact me to leave feedback/ask questions)

Insta: @p.h.days
Twitter: @pharddays

View Details

Hello everyone! I hope you are all well :)

This week, we have Dr Natércia Rodrigues Lopes. She is a brilliant scientist who has an interest in science communication & the relationship between science and the public.

We have a great convo around the topic of science and trust. 

We talk about the importance of science communication, especially in times like these. How can we engage people with science? How can we narrow that gap between the public and science? Why do some people not trust science? Do scientists truly trust each other?

Nat's twitter:
https://twitter.com/NatRodLopes1


My deets:
pharddays@gmail.com
Twitter: @pharddays
Insta: @p.h.days

View Details

Hello everyone! Back again for episode 7. What a special episode it is too!

This week we have Katie on the pod. She is the FOUNDER of a sustainable activewear company called, KAMI. 
The fashion industry is one of the major contributors to pollution. Fast fashion brands are those that encourage the swift changing of trends which invites people to buy something to wear once or twice, and throw it away. Not only is it an environmental issue, but fast fashion industries are often associated with the unfair treatment of garment workers. 

In this episode, Katie talks about how she has ensured her brand is sustainable, as well as the negatives of fast fashion and how to make your life a little more eco-friendly. 

Info:
https://www.kamiactivewear.co.uk/
@kamiactivewear - Instagram

My info:
pharddays@gmail.com
insta: @p.h.days
Twitter: @pharddays 

View Details

Back again! This time, I have another great guest! Professor Rick Lewis was one of my lecturers at university. We talk all about antimicrobial resistance, a very pressing problem in the science world. 

I couldn't miss the opportunity to talk to Rick about his new role at the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds. They do such incredible work! Make sure you check their twitter out:
@Natures_Voice

LOL about a minute into the introduction I make a mistake. I said 12 years when I meant 12 months :) 

My deetz:
Twitter: @pharddays
Insta: @p.h.days
Email: pharddays@gmail.com

View Details

Hellooooo we are back! Wow I have such a great guest for you. Kicking things off with the AMAZING Holly Leslie. She is a fabulous researcher in Glasgow who has a really lovely blog that you can find here: https://mindfulscience.blog/  and she is also on instagram here: @mindfulscientist_

In this episode, we speak about how the past 12 months has impacted scientists. Academic mental health is a big problem that we need to address. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to sit down with such a lovely human and chat about this. I felt so nourished after that conversation, and I hope you do too!

I approached this one differently. I wanted to keep it raw so that you could feel like you were in this with us! Lemme know how you find this style.

Sorry about the explicit note, I drop an S bomb (oooooh) about halfway through. That's it though! Holly is an angel throughout 

My deets:
pharddays@gmail.com
Insta: p.h.days 
twitter: @pharddays 

View Details

Well, this lockdown is slowly taking away my ability to talk properly! 

How is everyone doing? I hope you are all staying safe and sane. My inbox is always open if you need to chat.

Anyway, I thought it was about time to do a happier episode. So, I picked out my fave science stories from 2020 that we all probably (definitely) missed. This is slightly longer so feel free to skip between the stories, the times are listen below.
I have a few very exciting guests lined up soon, so stay tuned for that! 

Make sure you give me a follow so you keep up to date with the episodes. I am quite active on instagram, I make little videos and posts about science. Give me a follow on there if that is something you'd like to see! 

Email: pharddays@gmail.com 
Twitter: @pharddays 
Instagram: @p.hard.days

Stories:
Dogs noses can sense heat  01:10 - 06:24
Cervical cancer could be eradicated in the US  06:25 - 13:20
DeepMind's AlphaFold ft. Elise 13:21 - 29:19
Henrietta Lacks makes it into the US National Women's Hall of Fame 29:20 - 42:00

View Details

GOODBYE TRUMP! Well, it is the 20th January 2020. Biden is being sworn in. Trump is OUT. So, I thought it would be fitting to go through the damage Trump has done to the science community.
pharddays@gmail.com
Insta: @pharddays
Twitter: @pharddays

WARNING: This episode is a bit sweary.

Disclaimer: sometimes I get things wrong. I am only human. If I have, please email me: pharddays@gmail.com

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/climate/what-is-climate-change.html
  2. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02814-3
  3. https://www.nature.com/news/how-scientists-reacted-to-the-us-leaving-the-paris-climate-agreement-1.22098
  4. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01165-3
  5. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02706-6
  6. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2099977-what-donald-trump-has-said-about-science-and-why-hes-wrong/
  7. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19032020/denial-climate-change-coronavirus-donald-trump/
  8. @KizzyPhD on twitter - Moderna vaccine
  9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_water_crisis

View Details

In this episode I go through questions I was sent in on vaccines, covid transmission and variants. I also talk through some tweets I was sent in. 
Can you tell lockdown is sending me loopy? There are a couple of mistakes and fluffs, but we are only human! 

View Details

In this episode:
- I go over questions I was sent in about the new covid vaccine 
- I react to some tweets I was sent in
- I touch on the new covid variant

I wanted this to be from scientists to non-scientists to try and cut through the noise. As scientists, we get desensitised to all the jargon and forget that what we talk about sounds like nonsense to a lot of people. The science world can be a bubble. 

These podcasts are pre-recorded. In these unprecedented times the news may well have moved on from the time of recording. please keep that in mind.