In this episode of HTBW, host Shubneet sits down with Lauren Brown and Logan Germain, co-founders of the Queen’s University Biotech Innovation and Consulting group (QUBIC). They share how QUBIC is helping students bridge the gap between academic research and Canada’s biotech industry - turning ideas into impact and research into live ventures. From building entrepreneurial skills to empowering women in STEM leadership, Lauren and Logan reveal what it takes to innovate, collaborate, and make your mark in the future of biotech at Queen’s.
In this episode of How to Be WiSE, host Shubneet sits down with three graduate students from Queen’s University’s Tayade Lab to talk about their research on endometriosis and reproductive health, and what it’s really like to be women leading change in science. From unexpected lab challenges to mentorship, collaboration, and resilience, this candid conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the highs and lows of grad school and the future of women’s health research!
What if the key to thriving in STEM isn’t pushing harder, but learning to pause?
In this episode of How to Be WiSE, host Shubneet sits down with Kim Barthel - a world-renowned occupational therapist, speaker, and author - for a powerful conversation on self-compassion, burnout, and the neuroscience of stress. With over 35 years of experience in trauma-informed care, Kim shares her insights into how high performing students can protect their well-being while still pursuing excellence.
We dive into:
What self-compassion really means (and why it's not fluff)
How chronic stress impacts your brain (and your GPA)
The science behind burnout, flow state, and emotional regulation
Why connection, vulnerability, and boundaries are essential in competitive fields
Reframing failure as feedback, not defeat
If you’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or in need of permission to breathe, this episode is for you. Tune in, take a breath, and let Kim remind you that you are enough - exactly as you are💜
Welcome to Season 8 of HTBW! In our very first episode, host Shubneet sits down with the 2025/26 WiSE Presidential Team including Charlotte, Kaylee, and Lindsay. We discuss their journeys into STEM, their WiSE origin stories, and what this year’s leadership team envisions for the WiSE community. From biggest challenges to proudest STEM moments, quick-fire fun facts, and advice for aspiring women in STEM, this episode sets the tone for an inspiring season ahead.
As our world continues to alleviate the stigma surrounding mental health and mental disorders, we must recognize the scientists that dedicate their lives to learning more about the human brain. Tune in to this week's episode to hear how Gina, a Clinical Psychology MSc student at Queen's, researches the relationship between PTSD and chronic pain in Canadian women veterans. Mikaela and Gina discuss the importance of psychological research, helping us as an audience understand more about how the experiences of others affect them and what we can do to support our friends, peers, and loved ones. 🤍
As undergrads, it can be difficult to decide what exactly you'd like to do after graduation. Some might default to saying that they will get their Master's or PhD, but what exactly do you do during grad school?! Tune in to this week's episode for advice from Angelica and Kristen as they share their stories of their academic journeys. Learn about how rewarding research can be, what challenges can be associated with academia and how to decide what career is really for you.
Without epidemiologists, our world would be at risk for uncontrolled disease outbreaks, uninformed health policies, and ultimately lower life expectancy. So, yeah... we need them! Are you interested in health and disease, but also working with statistics? Public Health and Epidemiology might be the perfect career for you. Tune in to this week's episode to learn all about what the journey to becoming an epidemiologist could look like! Mikaela chats with Penny and Ryann as they tell us exactly how they got to where they are today! 🦠📊
Welcome back to HTBW! As we enter 2025, join Mikaela and Kaylee as they set their intentions for the new year! During the school year, it can feel impossible to set aside time for yourself. Tune in to hear us chat about why it’s crucial to make sure you are balancing personal life with school, and how we plan to do it. Learn about amazing women-in-STEM books, podcasts, and even influencers that will inspire you to challenge yourself this year!
As we approach the end of exam season, mid-December blues are hitting hard and can be difficult to see through. Don't worry! The HTBW Holiday Special is here to brighten your day! Join Mikaela as she interviews the Podcast Team behind Season 7! The team discusses 2024's 'STEM Wrapped', including hot topics in STEM this year and advances in technology such as ChatGPT, biodegradable plastics, reverse genetics, etc! We love a controversial topic. To finish off the episode, Mikaela guides the team through a lighthearted game of Holiday STEM Trivia (we definitely got every question right...) Take a study break, tune in! You deserve it. Good luck and Happy Holidays from the Pod Team!!!🎄⭐️☃️
Have you ever wondered how the universe operates on a fundamental level? Join Mikaela as she chats with Kate and Charlotte about their respective experiences in the fields of physics and computing! Learn how the future of quantum computing may involve development of many complex tasks, such as simulating drug delivery. From the undergraduate level to the doctorate level, explore what kind of opportunities there are in this field of STEM! The scope of possibilities are TRULY endless!!!
Join Mikaela as she chats with Aranya and Rachel from FREED (Field Research in Ecology and Evolution Diversified), a field work association focusing on providing hands-on learning opportunities for BIPOC students. Are you a nature lover? Learn about the importance of gaining experience in the field, and the scope of possibilities that are available to those interested in the conservation of our environment. From land to water, there is so much to explore within the realm of ecology and conservation. Tune in to hear about what field work ecologists are focusing on today and what you can do to get involved!
Exploring the field of medicine can be daunting after learning that you might have to write a 7 hour exam... Tune in to hear how Ayesha and Claire from QUEMA, Queen's University Exploring Medicine Association, conquered the MCAT! Learn the scope of studying hacks and resources that are available, and that it's not as scary as it may seem. From reading scientific articles to help you get into the studying groove, to how to practice the timing of your CARS section, there are so many amazing ways to prepare for this exam!
Make sure to follow QUEMA on Instagram for more pre-med related content!!
@qupremed
Have you ever considered dentistry as a career? Join Mikaela as she chats with Anya, a third year Dental Surgery student at Queen's University Belfast! The two of them discuss what drove Anya to pursue dentistry, what was required for the application process, and the importance balancing school with personal life. Did you know you can study to become a Dentist AND travel the world? Tune in to learn what kind of options you have, the possibilities are endless!!!🌎🦷✨
Introducing How To Be WiSE Season 7! Please welcome our incredible new host, Mikaela, as she interviews our WiSE 2024/25 Presidential Team including Ariana, Ellie, and Kya! Tune in to hear about life at Queen's, QUIP, WiSE, and all the amazing things they have learned through those experiences. The girls play a STEM-related Jeopardy game and share lab horror stories (Mikaela started a fire?!). Talk about starting the year off with a BANG!
The episode you've all been waiting for!! HTBW x ThinkTwice
We collaborated with Elena & Eve, two PhD neuroscientists at Queen's University from the ThinkTwice Podcast, to bring you an episode analyzing social media consumption from a neuroscience perspective. Learn about neuroscience as Fizza, Elena and Eve explore how social media impacts the brain's reward system, influences decision-making processes, and shapes our perceptions of self and others!!
Check out ThinkTwice on Social Media!
IG: @thinktwice_podcast
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/15FqUC1wc2CiCj3aQPcwM5?si=090e1352055e4fc4
Sit down, grab a cup of Joe (or an 8$ latte @ Cogro!) & be a fly on the wall as Fizza and Ellie (HTBW's DoC) chat about their lives as women in STEM students at Queen's University.
Listen to conversations about the important of female friendships in STEM, the struggle of getting internships, the race against our biological clock, and an extensive overview on hygiene in the STEM atmosphere. (don't worry, Fizza has gum!)
Climate change.🔥 You've heard about it, Greta Thunberg is worried about it, Hank Green is talking about it...even your mom knows what it is! As the tides rise and the temperatures increase, it is vital more than ever that as a society, we must take an urgent call to action. Join Fizza as she interviews geological engineering students, Mackenna and Maddy (Sci'25) as they talk about geoengineering, carbon capture, making sustainable choices and understanding the impacts of climate change on our planet! 🌍
Have you ever wondered, what does an engineer...actually do? Find out with us and join Fizza as she interviews Kristy Tu (Sci'16, P.Eng) and Samantha Zareski (Sci'18, the OG creator of HTBW <3 & currently a junior engineer!!) as they talk about life after graduation, obtaining your P.Eng and advice about engineering jobs & internships!
Happy Holidays from the HTBW Podcast Team to YOU! Thank you for an amazing year of podcasts - from women in various STEM fields, interesting topics & tons of amazing conversations, we are able to continue providing a platform for ALL women in STEM!
As a thank you, we have prepared an extra *silly* special episode for our viewers! <3 Join our S6 Podcast Team, including Fizza, Lauren, Kaylee & Ellie, as they chat about their semesters & tier rank the elements of the periodic table!
We decided to put our own twist on the classic 'Reading Reddit Stories', where we read stories from Reddit based on women in STEM! Join Fizza, Izzah and Kya as they share their thoughts, opinions and experiences on these stories about microaggressions, the importance of allyship, collaboration and equal representation in STEM!