Tea with T-cells

#6 Veronika Tibljas- Imagine Doing a PhD Because You Don’t Trust Whisky Labels 🥃

What do whisky labels, mass spectrometry, McDonald’s, digital minimalism and ice baths have in common? 🧪🥃❄️ In this episode, we sit down with a final-year PhD student in analytical chemistry who made a bold decision to leave Croatia, move to the UK alone, and build her life from scratch, academically and personally. It’s honest, It’s funny, It’s powerful. And it’s full of real talk about what it actually takes to grow. Here’s what we dive into: • Moving countries alone- the chaos & the courage • The real value of working alongside the degree and why job shapes mindset more than we expect • The value of hard work, humility and showing up consistently • How to break into a PhD. Being proactive, speaking to the right people, and creating your own opportunities • What a PhD in analytical chemistry really looks like • The behind-the-scenes reality of publishing scientific papers, the process & persistence • Digital minimalism- protecting your focus in a world that constantly distracts you • Wim Hoff, discomfort and doing hard things on purpose This episode is not just about science. It’s about courage. It’s about discipline. It’s about choosing growth over comfort. If you’re ready for an inspirational yet fun conversation with a student that does not give up – this one is for you. We laughed a lot and we are sure you will do too! 🎙️

#5 Ece Dagtekin - Risk It for a Biscuit: The Reality of Studying Abroad

What happens when you risk it for a biscuit and leave everything you know behind? 🌍 In this episode, we’re joined by Ece Dagtekin, an MSc-qualified pharmacist and current MSc student at Sheffield Hallam University, who did exactly that. Alone, brave, and determined, Ece moved from a Mediterranean country to the UK to start a completely new chapter of her life 🇹🇷➡️🇬🇧 We talk honestly about what it’s really like to move countries for education, how studying and working compare between the UK and Turkey, and what the real-life reality of being a pharmacist in Turkey actually looks like, beyond the job titles and stereotypes 💊 Ece also shares practical tips, personal challenges, and valuable advice for anyone considering studying abroad or making a similar leap of faith. If you’re curious about the human story behind international students, want to understand global differences in healthcare careers, or are wondering whether taking a big risk could be worth it, this episode is for you! 🎧 Tune in and let us know: would you risk it for a biscuit? #InternationalStudents #PharmacyLife #StudyAbroad #WomenInScience #LifeInTheUK #StudentJourney #BehindTheDegree

# 4 Dr. Steven Emegbo - Snoring, Science & Sleepless Nights: Inside the Sleep Lab 🎙️

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Stephen Emegbo, a leading expert in sleep physiology with over 25 years of clinical, research, and academic experience. From hospital sleep labs to elite sports performance, Dr Emegbo’s career path into academia is anything but unusual, and that’s exactly what makes this conversation so fascinating. We explore his journey through clinical sleep medicine, including some of his most memorable patient stories, and unpack the science behind how and why we sleep the way we do. 💤 In this episode, we cover: ·  Dr Emegbo’s unconventional path into academia and sleep science ·  What life is really like behind the scenes as a clinical scientist ·  How he completed a part-time PhD alongside full-time clinical work and family life ·  His most unusual, surprising, and memorable patient stories from sleep clinics ·  How men and women differ in their sleep changes as they age. ·  Sleep apnoea, snoring, and what’s actually happening in your body when you sleep Whether you’re curious about sleep science, struggling with your own sleep, or just love hearing behind-the-scenes stories from clinical practice, this episode is packed with insight, humour, and eye-opening facts. 🎧 Listen now and rethink everything you thought you knew about sleep.

#3 Marta Gillett- From Nowhere to Anywhere: A Story of Leaving, Learning, and Becoming

In this episode I am opening about a chapter of my life that shaped me the most: leaving my home country at a young age, alone, to chase something I couldn’t yet name. I didn’t have a roadmap. I didn’t have a safety net. What I did have was curiosity, an inner pull toward something bigger, something unknown. In this epsiode I talk about - why and how I decided to leave literally everything I had in my home country - what it was really like to land in a foreign country with no family, friends and no idea what came next - gap year that gave me all the skills to leap into the unknown - how studying science abroad became my anchor, and why I changed my degree few times - how running towards the curiosity shaped the person, and scientist, I am becoming This isn’t just a story about travel, education, or career. It’s a reminder to my younger self –the one who had every reason to give up, but chose to believe that tomorrow could be better. About choosing courage over comfort. About trusting the version of you that doesn't exist yet. About building a life from zero and realizing you are capable of more than you ever imagined. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you take the leap instead of waiting for certainty - this episode is for you. Grab a cup of tea, sit with me, and let’s talk about leaving, arriving, breaking, rebuilding… and choosing yourself. Where you can find Marta: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-gillett-086947162/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-gillett-086947162/] We are also on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/teawithtcells/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/teawithtcells/] Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Tea_with_T_cells⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@Tea_with_T_cells] & Apple Podcasts

#2 Dr. Shafqat Jagiridar- When Curiosity Becomes a Career: Inside the World of Immunology

In this episode of Tea with T-cells, we sit down with Dr. Shafqat Jaigirdar, Lecturer in Immunology andnGroup Leader at Sheffield Hallam University. We talk about his fascinating journey into academia- from completing a PhD, to spending five years as apostdoctoral fellow at the University of Manchester, to now leading his own researchgroup. What starts as a discussion about immunology quickly unfolds into something deeper. We explore: ·   the path that led him to immunology career ·   how he became interested in inflammation and immune responses in the skin ·  and how he balances research with teaching. One of the most inspiring parts of our conversation is his ideology of leadership and teaching. Shafqat shares his view on how creating a positive, supportive atmosphere in the lab is essential for good science- and how he strives to make his research group a space where curiosity, collaboration, and well-being matter just as much as results. We also dive into: · what topics in science still fascinate him the most, · typical day of a lecturer (if such exists!), and what are the biggest challenges for him ·    his personal advice for anyone considering a career in research or academia. This episode is about immunology, yes- but it’s equally about passion, leadership, and choosing a path that fits who you are as a scientist and as a person. Grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and enjoy this conversation. Let’s talk science, careers, and what makes a great lab environment. You can find Shafqat on Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shafqat-ahrar-jaigirdar-a1632169/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shafqat-ahrar-jaigirdar-a1632169/ ] Books recommended: Chris vanTulleken ''Ultra-processed people'' Where are we? Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/teawithtcells/ [https://www.instagram.com/teawithtcells/] Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhhcj1vtwOrrhLOISMzA4w [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhhcj1vtwOrrhLOISMzA4w ] & Apple podcasts