Born and bred in North London, Dr Yewande Pearse completed her PhD in Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, London in 2016. She is now based in Los Angeles, where she works as a Research Fellow, developing a stem cell therapy treatment for a rare childhood brain disease. Outside of the lab, Yewande is a writer for Massive Science – an online science media platform, and a TEDMED Research Scholar for this year’s Stage Programme.

Born of a mutual love of science and music, Yewande believes that science is for everyone. Sound Science is a monthly podcast about the science stories that affect our lives and in some way relate to music. With the help of guest experts in the field and a carefully selected sound track curated to the theme of the scientific topic, Yewande brings you stories that will make you hear science differently.

Yasmin Shamir: A natural-born creative with a passion for communication, Yasmin expresses through many mediums. Thanks to a career in music, traveling became a big part of Yasmin’s story, leading her to co-found Trippin alongside Kesang Ball and Sam Blenkinsopp in 2017. Trippin has since become a leading travel and culture platform focused on amplifying local voices and creating powerful content that inspires its audience to travel more purposefully. Yasmin relocated to Mexico in 2018 and has been involved in various community projects from health and fitness, to music, art, and spirituality, pursuing her passion to connect people with things that make them feel good. As a person of dual heritage, Yasmin explores cultural practices with sincerity. Celebrating the diversity of human experience and seeking common threads that unite us all, she sees Roots & Ritual as an opportunity to take listeners on a journey, introducing them to people, places, and practices that have much to teach us, if we’re willing to listen.