Curious Careers

Titilola (Lola) Falasinnu: Solving Health Mysteries at Stanford with Data

In this episode, Ava speaks with Dr. Titilola (Lola) Falasinnu, a professor at Stanford who studies diseases like lupus — and also happens to be my neighbor!  Dr. Falasinnu is kind of like a real-life detective, but instead of solving crimes, she uses data and science to figure out why people get sick and how to help them feel better. They talk about what lupus is, how it affects people differently, and how new technologies like AI and social media are helping scientists learn more than ever before. She also shares her personal story of how she became interested in lupus, what it’s like to teach and mentor students, and why being curious, patient, and resilient is so important in her work. This episode is perfect if you love science, solving problems, or just asking big questions about the world. It really shows how curiosity can turn into something that helps a lot of people.

Jana Lam: Bringing Aloha to Life Through Art

In this episode, Ava talks with Jana Lam, artist and founder of her colorful lifestyle brand based in Hawaii. If you’ve ever seen her bright, happy prints, you know they totally feel like sunshine and endless summer. 🌞 Jana shares how growing up in Hawaii inspires her designs, how she collaborates with big companies like Target and Hawaiian Airlines, and how sometimes inspiration comes from the most unexpected places (even a Beatles song!). She also talks about how she discovered screen printing by accident, how it actually helped her realize she could draw, and what it’s really like balancing being an artist and running a business. Jana is super honest about the hard parts too - like tough years, creative doubts, and not always knowing what comes next. This episode is all about creativity, trying new things, and trusting that your path will unfold - even if you don’t have it all figured out yet. 🌈

Justine Tiu: Weaving Purpose, One Stitch at a Time

In this episode, Ava gets to chat with Justine Tiu, co-founder of The Woobles [thewoobles.com] — the beginner-friendly crochet company that’s all about helping people try something new (and believe they can actually do it!). Before starting The Woobles, Justine worked at Google as a design lead for Google Classroom. But when she realized she didn’t love managing, she started crocheting just for fun — and that hobby turned into a business that now helps thousands of people learn to crochet for the very first time. She talks about where the name “The Woobles” came from, how her husband helped invent Easy Peasy Yarn, and what it’s really like to start a company from scratch. Justine also shares what she’s learned about creativity, confidence, and never giving up — even when things get tricky (or tangled!). It’s such a fun and inspiring conversation, especially if you’ve ever wanted to make something new or start your own business someday. You can check out Justine’s adorable kits and learn to crochet at thewoobles.com [https://thewoobles.com]

Jack Muir: Journaling with Wonder

In this episode of Curious Careers, Ava sits down with the amazing Jack Muir — also known as “Jack the Nature Guy”! Jack is a scientist, artist, and teacher who LOVES exploring nature and teaching others how to see the world with new eyes. 🐦🌿 Jack shares how nature journaling isn’t about making perfect pictures — it’s about paying attention and discovering cool mysteries all around us! From fog that changes color, to fish with funny-shaped mouths, to drawing butterflies before they flutter away, Jack tells us how he uses his journal to ask questions, learn more, and even be “a little less wrong” every day. ✏️🦋 You’ll also hear about his underwater sketchpad (yes, that’s a real thing!), his magic binoculars, and how he helps others fall in love with nature by just noticing it more. ✨ What would happen if the whole world nature journaled for 30 minutes? Tune in to find out — and get inspired to start your own adventure with paper, pencil, and curiosity!

Nancy Duarte: Telling Stories That Stick – Slide Queen to NASA

Ava interviews Nancy Duarte — writer, speaker, and the storytelling wizard behind presentations for NASA, Apple, Google, and more! Nancy shares how powerful slides are made, why emotion matters in business, and how the best speakers (even Jesus!) masterfully move between “what is” and “what could be.” They even dive into the power of love, legacy, and what it means to lead with passion.