WeAreSTS

About WeAreSTS

Science and Technology Studies (STS) combines a wide range of subjects, including: history of science, philosophy of science, sociology of science, science policy, and science communication. WeAreSTS is an official podcast of the Department of Science and Technology Studies at University College London (UCL), hosted by Professor Joe Cain | ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

Publisher

Joe Cain

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Feb 2021

Latest episode

21 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

48 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Aug 2025

   #210 Esports Management and Data Analysis – Sociology and Politics BSc Careers TALK | WeAreSTS

   What can you do with a degree with a BSc in Sociology and Politics of Science? Joe talks with Isobel Lim (Sociology and Politics of Science BSc 2022) about life after her UCL degree with us here in STS. She wrote a unique dissertation on Pokemon Go. That influenced her to take up a post with a Indonesian tech startup. There, she gained valuable experience in the collectibles and esports sector. With a long-standing passion for computer games, Isobel transitioned into the rapidly growing esports industry. She highlights Pokemon's entry into esports in 2022 with Pokemon Go and Pokemon Unite. The industry has been growing rapidly, now with immense demand, rapid ticket sell-outs, and global events. Esports have transformed from a niche hobby into a major spectacle. Isobel finds many ways to apply her interdisciplinary interests to the eSports universe. Data analytics was an important start for her. She finds her studies in understanding human behaviour and identifying patterns to be invaluable for navigating the industry's complexities. Her science communication training has been vital for understanding how to expand engagement with fans and identify patterns for monetising this booming market. Interdisciplinary is one of the skills developed during her degree that she covets. Featuring Interviewee Isobel Lim (Sociology and Politics BSc 2022) Host Professor Joe Cain https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain (https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain) Music credits "Rollin at 5" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast (https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast)

2. 

   12 Aug 2025

   #209 Youth Suicide Myths: Talking to Save Lives| WeAreSTS

   Talking about suicide and its myths can save lives. Easha Kapur (UCL Politics and International Relations BSc, 2025) takes on the critical issue of youth mental health, aiming to debunk prevalent myths that often hinder young people from seeking vital support. She interviews her father, Professor Navneet Kapur, Professor of Psychiatry and Population Health. He’s a leading expert on the subject of self-harm and suicide. This podcast makes complex academic insights accessible, addressing the rising psychological stress among youth. It’s important listening for young people, teachers, and caregivers hoping to understand and support mental wellbeing. The episode directly challenges common misconceptions, revealing that talking about suicide generally does not increase its likelihood. It corrects the notion that suicide rates surged during the pandemic, noting they actually fell due to social cohesion. A key focus is men's mental health, dispelling the myth that men don't seek help by highlighting that 90% of men at high suicide risk had indeed sought assistance. The discussion also debunks the idea that suicidal thoughts are merely attention-seeking or exclusively linked to diagnosed mental illness, emphasizing underlying issues and broader societal factors. Finally, the podcast explores the dual impacts of social media on mental health, offering guidance on navigating online information and highlighting the roles of educators, parents, and legislators. It advocates for sensitive language like “died by suicide” to reduce stigma. Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with self- harm or suicide, help is available 24/7 via the Samaritans helpline on 116 123. Featuring Episode producer Easha Kapur (Politics and International Relations BSc, 2025) https://www.linkedin.com/in/easha-kapur-102087184/?originalSubdomain=uk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/easha-kapur-102087184/?originalSubdomain=uk) Interviewer Easha Kapur (Politics and International Relations BSc) https://www.linkedin.com/in/easha-kapur-102087184/?originalSubdomain=uk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/easha-kapur-102087184/?originalSubdomain=uk) Interviewees Professor Navneet Kapur, Professor of Psychiatry and Population Health https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/nav.kapur (https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/nav.kapur) Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain (https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain) Music credits Inside Easha’s episode “Windows Night Celeste Loop” By Liecio, public domain, https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/windows-night-celeste-loop-132289/ (https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/windows-night-celeste-loop-132289/) Episode introduction and exit "Rollin at 5" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com)) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http:// Podcast information Episode information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast (https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast)

3. 

   18 Jul 2025

   #208 When Fieldwork Goes Wrong Go Public: Adventure in Venezuela | WeAreSTS

   Today, an experiment: can Generative AI replace this podcast? We’re asking because there’s a new feature in the GenAI service, Google Notebook LM. It creates an audio conversation based on documents you simply upload to it. Just give it a few minutes. The output is a conversation featuring two voices and it sounds… well….that what we’re testing. The experiment today is to upload an academic paper, ask it to generate a conversation, then press play. Is it any good? For this, I’m choosing a paper I wrote that I really want to talk about on the podcast. It was published earlier this year. It’s titled, “When Fieldwork Goes Wrong, Go Public: George Gaylord Simpson and Anne Roe in Venezuela, 1938-1939”. It’s a story of fossil hunting, and a bunch of twists and turns on, during on specific expedition. The essay appears in a published by UCL Press and edited by Chris Manias. The book is called Palaeontology in Public: Popular Science, Lost Creatures and Deep Time, pp. 221-253. Because it’s UCL Press, it’s available free as open access, just like all their books. Book: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.9781800085824 (https://doi.org/10.14324/111.9781800085824) We’re splitting today’s episode into two parts. In Part 1, you hear the conversation generated by the AI software, Google Notebook. It’s unedited and straight from the processor. In Part 2, I’ll be interviewed about the paper and about the conversation. Our guest interviewer is our producer, Capri Huffman. Capri’s an expert digesting academic work like this. She can spot main points and subtle ones. In one way, we’ll be treating treat Google Notebook as just another reader: What does it take away when processing the paper? What does it claim are the main points, the strengths, and the weaknesses? In another way, I wonder if this approach is a way to identify some of the strengths and weaknesses of generative AI for something we teachers can use in the classroom. Featuring Interviewer Capri Huffman, MSc Science, Technology and Society Interviewee Professor Joe Cain Also featuring Google Notebook LLM voices Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS). https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain (https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain) Music credits Entry and Exit Music "Rollin at 5" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com)) CCBY4.0 Music in the Break "Sweeter Vermouth" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com (http://incompetech.com)) CCBY4.0

Who has been a guest on WeAreSTS

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Emily Emott
• Taylor Enoch
• Charlotte Rogers
• Fatima Ismail
• JJ Laws

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

351

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

13

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

32

Contact WeAreSTS

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.