Two Cultured

Share ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠guest suggestions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with us!Give us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on our episodes!On today's episode, we have a conversation with two special guests: twins! Paris and Sophie are twins pursuing their PhDs in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP) here at UNC. Through the episode, we learn about their background and experiences in science and discuss what the first year of a PhD program looks like. We will take a deep dive into the process of rotating in different labs and making the most important decision of graduate school - what lab to join! Cover art: Lauren SapienzaOriginal theme: "Stranded" by Moavii

What does it look like when cutting‑edge research and accessible STEM education grow side by side? Marissa Hughes joins us to share her work on remote sensing hydrology (a way to measure water without touching it!) and how she is using this technology to better understand the water on our changing planet. She also talks about her leadership in WinSPIRE, a program expanding access to research for high school students. Together, we explore how her scientific path and outreach work are helping create a more inclusive future in STEM.Share ⁠⁠⁠⁠guest suggestions⁠⁠⁠⁠ with us!Give us ⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback⁠⁠⁠⁠ on our episodes!Cover art: Lauren SapienzaOriginal theme: "Stranded" by Moavii

What does it take to build a life in science when the path isn’t exactly smooth?In this episode of Two Cultured, we sit down with neuroscience graduate student Micaela Murcar, whose road to grad school included challenges, detours, and plenty of learning along the way. We talk about what it actually feels like to grow into being a scientist — developing confidence, finding your footing in research spaces, and staying motivated when progress is slow and the learning curve is steep. Micaela shares how passion and persistence shaped her path, and what keeps her grounded in the middle of it all.This episode is about steady determination, personal growth, and the real, human side of becoming a scientist.

How can scientists shape the world beyond the lab? In this episode, we sit down with Johnna Bingham, a PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill whose journey spans field biology, environmental biochemistry, and structural biology. As president of UNC’s Science Policy and Advocacy Group (SPAG), Johnna bridges research and policy, showing how science can inform decisions that impact us all. Tune in for a conversation about discovery, advocacy, and the future of science in society. Cover art: Lauren SapienzaOriginal theme: "Stranded" by MoaviiShare ⁠guest suggestions⁠ with us!Give us ⁠feedback⁠ on our episodes!

What happens when developmental biology, philosophy, and clinical medicine converge in one person’s journey? In this episode, we meet Lizzy Thomas, an MD-PhD student at UNC whose academic path has taken her from Harvard to Oxford and now into the heart of cardiovascular epidemiology. Lizzy shares how her background in applied ethics and embryology informs her research on heart disease and her clinical work in a heart failure clinic. It’s a conversation about science, compassion, and the power of interdisciplinary thinking.WHMC websiteCover art: Lauren SapienzaOriginal theme: "Stranded" by Moavii

What makes kombucha more than just a trendy drink? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Rachel Dumez-Kornegay, a postdoctoral researcher who studies how kombucha affects host metabolism. We also get to hear about her life and training to be a scientist and about what it means to “publish a paper” in the academic world. Whether you are a kombucha fan or just curious about the science in your glass, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective about what is bubbling beneath the surface.Rachel's paper in PLOS Genetics: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011003Cover art by Lauren SapienzaOriginal theme: "Stranded" by Moavii