Dr. Cindy Van Dover - First female pilot of the Alvin deep-sea submersible
Dr. Cindy Van Dover is a pioneering deep-sea biologist and explorer whose career took her to some of the most extreme habitats on Earth. In 1990 she became the 49th person — and first woman — certified to pilot the deep-submergence vehicle Alvin, ultimately logging nearly 100 dives to the ocean floor, a mile and a half or more beneath the surface. Her research on chemosynthetic ecosystems, the communities of giant tube worms, mussels, shrimp, and bacteria that thrive around hydrothermal vents by living off chemical rather than solar energy, helped define an entirely new field of ocean science, and her graduate work revealed that scalding "black smoker" vents actually glow, uncovering a hidden source of light in the deep sea. She went on to direct the Duke University Marine Laboratory and later served as Harvey W. Smith Professor of Biological Oceanography at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, where her focus expanded into deep-sea conservation and environmental management, especially the challenge of balancing seabed mining with protecting fragile vent ecosystems. Now retired as professor emeritus, she remains one of the most influential voices in deep-sea exploration.
In this episode, Annika is joined by brand-new co-host Lacy Walker, a high school sophomore with her own passion for marine biology, to talk with Dr. Van Dover about her journey from poking around New Jersey tide pools as a kid to piloting a submarine on the seafloor. She shares the story of persistence that got her into the Alvin pilot program after early rejections, describes what it's like to watch tube worms and swarming shrimp thrive beside a 350°C black smoker, and speaks candidly about facing harassment and self-doubt as one of few women in a male-dominated field. The conversation also touches on her mentors, her recent love of CrossFit, and the advice she'd give any young woman chasing a dream in science: stay curious, learn to communicate your ideas, and don't be afraid to just ask.
26 Jul 2026
Hilary Hahn - 3x Grammy winning violin soloist
Hilary Hahn is a three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist widely recognized as one of the greatest violinists of her generation. Since beginning violin at age four in Baltimore, she has built a career as a touring soloist, chamber musician, and teacher, performing with the world's leading orchestras and conductors. In this candid conversation, Hilary opens up about her childhood immersed in music, navigating imposter syndrome, what practice and progress really mean for a professional musician, the emotional relationship between a player and their instrument, and the on-stage breakthrough that changed how she performs. She shares advice for young women pursuing ambitious careers, reflects on mentorship and being a role model to her own students, and closes with a hard-won lesson on the difference between compromise and sacrifice. Whether you're a musician, an aspiring artist, or just chasing a dream of your own, this episode offers wisdom for anyone learning to trust their own instincts.
23 Dec 2025
Alyssa Whitcraft PH.D - Executive Director NASA Acres, Executive Director Harvest Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture Initiative
Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft is a Research Professor at the University of Maryland and the Director of NASA ACRES, NASA's US-focused agriculture program. She helped found NASA Harvest in 2017 and has dedicated her career to applying satellite data, machine learning, and geospatial tools to benefit agriculture worldwide. Her work sits at the cutting edge of space technology, earth science, and sustainable food systems—proving that NASA is about much more than just space exploration.
In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, Alyssa shares her unconventional path from pre-med student to leading NASA's agriculture programs. She opens up about struggling with anxiety and depression in college, the pivotal geography course that changed her life, and her ongoing battle with imposter syndrome even at the height of her success. Alyssa discusses the realities of being a woman in male-dominated STEM fields, the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career, and how she created systemic change by establishing a dependent care fund at her university. Above all, she emphasizes the importance of following your curiosity, believing in yourself, and remembering that it's never too late to try something new. Whether you're interested in technology, agriculture, or simply learning how to navigate life's challenges with grace and determination, this episode offers wisdom and encouragement for dreamers of all ages.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 13 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
14
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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