Project Hail Mary's SciComm Strategy

How Martial Arts Can Aid Your SciComm with Samantha Yammine

How can Jujutsu, Muay Thai and Kendo teach us communication?! Listen to your favorite martial arts girlies, Rey and Steph, and their superstar guest, Dr. Samantha Yammine, talk about how doing these sports has not only taught them to be better communicators but also kept them sane! Dr. Samantha Yammine, PhD (she/her), is a Neuroscientist-turned-Science Communicator better known as Science Sam. She is the host of Curiosity Weekly, the flagship science podcast for Discovery, founder of Science is a Drag, and a Regular Science Expert on CTV’s award-winning daily lifestyle show The Good Stuff with Mary Berg. Check her work out here: https://www.samanthayammine.com/ [https://www.samanthayammine.com/] Hydroxide IG account: https://www.instagram.com/hydroxide.foodscience/ [https://www.instagram.com/hydroxide.foodscience/] The Astro Stud (Kihana Wilson) IG account: https://www.instagram.com/the_astro_stud/ [https://www.instagram.com/the_astro_stud/] Dr. Mike Confronting Dr. Amen: https://youtu.be/J-SHgZ1XPXs?si=PCqZgcJvJ_8MlFuN [https://youtu.be/J-SHgZ1XPXs?si=PCqZgcJvJ_8MlFuN ] Bowling Alone book: http://bowlingalone.com/ [http://bowlingalone.com/] (Bowling Alone author) Join or Die with Robert Putnam | What Now? with Trevor Noah Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23SwzXdJQDg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23SwzXdJQDg]

Is Your SciComm Persuasive or Propaganda?

Out of fear that their favorite content is propaganda, Rey and Steph go down a rabbit hole to understand what persuasion and propaganda are. Join their spiral to leave the episode even more confused than when you started. You’re welcome.  References  * What Is Propaganda, and How Does It Differ From Persuasion? https://us2.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/11847_Chapter1.pdf [https://us2.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/11847_Chapter1.pdf] * How Hitler’s Propaganda Machine Worked https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uaAms7ZIxYDHxCc5baIbL [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uaAms7ZIxYDHxCc5baIbL] * Difference Between Propaganda and Persuasion https://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-propaganda-and-persuasion/ [https://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-propaganda-and-persuasion/] * Dr. Becky’s post  https://www.instagram.com/p/DXPXX7GjIB6/ [https://www.instagram.com/p/DXPXX7GjIB6/] * Iran’s lego propaganda https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/world/video/iran-lego-propaganda-vrtc-digvid [https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/world/video/iran-lego-propaganda-vrtc-digvid]

Project Hail Mary's SciComm Strategy

There is lots of content out there about the science of the Hail Mary Project movie, but not much really about the science communication side of the movie! Listen to Rey and Steph talk about (some unexpected) SciComm ideas that showed up in the movies, from emotional flow and trust-building principles to the importance of bad science!  References  * Listen to our friend from opinion Science talk to Dr. Robin Nabi about emotions and emotional flow: https://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/persuasion-via-emotion-with-robin-nabi/ [https://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/persuasion-via-emotion-with-robin-nabi/] * What are you assessing when you measure “trust” in scientists with a direct measure? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09636625231161302?casa_token=k3EXyLiapGkAAAAA%3A4WppvSLj0WU9uK3Q9mzbv9UuGud-gCmJWpFfb_N8rOC0UaY7sLHBJRkFofPK3u5IwZLIuJkom4I [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09636625231161302?casa_token=k3EXyLiapGkAAAAA%3A4WppvSLj0WU9uK3Q9mzbv9UuGud-gCmJWpFfb_N8rOC0UaY7sLHBJRkFofPK3u5IwZLIuJkom4I] * Ryan Gosling says Project Hail Mary is ‘a reminder of what we’re capable of’ https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/ryan-gosling-talks-project-hail-mary-hopeful-science-fiction-and-the/ [https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/ryan-gosling-talks-project-hail-mary-hopeful-science-fiction-and-the/] * Ryan Gosling chats to an astrophysicist | Project Hail Mary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj_AbV1Ph90 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj_AbV1Ph90] “Science and Entertainment: How Astronomers Use Pop Culture References for Science Communication” Rey’s very old presentation that she hates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUxolp4A1A&t=411s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUxolp4A1A&t=411s] SciComm Updates  * SciComm Bite Article “Can AI Make Science More Trustworthy? [https://substack.com/redirect/81eb98b4-cff9-4042-a22d-1f55baa2a869?j=eyJ1IjoiZWlwcm4ifQ.ocBOZMBfbkVwCTZAfvzZWNFqjwf-Z2HcvKglGYcEmF4]” https://substack.com/redirect/81eb98b4-cff9-4042-a22d-1f55baa2a869?j=eyJ1IjoiZWlwcm4ifQ.ocBOZMBfbkVwCTZAfvzZWNFqjwf-Z2HcvKglGYcEmF4 [https://substack.com/redirect/81eb98b4-cff9-4042-a22d-1f55baa2a869?j=eyJ1IjoiZWlwcm4ifQ.ocBOZMBfbkVwCTZAfvzZWNFqjwf-Z2HcvKglGYcEmF4] * The Science of SciComm e-summit, May 3, 8-4 ET https://www.theecowell.com/science-in-science-communication-esummit [https://www.theecowell.com/science-in-science-communication-esummit] * Artistic Expression of Original Research: Art based science communication improves the public's relationship to science and scientists https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2026.1794106/abstract?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email [https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2026.1794106/abstract?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email] * Examining science and art collaborations through a social psychology lens reveals the need for Third Spaces https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2405_2025_Y01/ [https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2405_2025_Y01/]

Why are academics creepy at conferences?

In this candid conversation, hosts Reyhaneh and Stephanie explore the complex issues of creepiness, harassment, and boundaries within academic and social settings. They share personal stories, analyze social dynamics, and offer advice on handling uncomfortable situations with humor, assertiveness, and support.

Being Strategic When Navigating Difficult Conversations

The deficit model of communication, strategic messaging, and “THE EVIL BIG APPLE INDUSTRY” are all things Steph and Rey talk about in this episode. Listen to them discuss examples of how communicators could strategize to have impactful messages and break down strategic SciComm principles.     * Deficit model of communication * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_deficit_model [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_deficit_model] * Strategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagement * https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Science-Communication-Objectives-Engagement-ebook/dp/B09QNSGDTY [https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Science-Communication-Objectives-Engagement-ebook/dp/B09QNSGDTY] * http://strategicsciencecommunication.com/stratscicomm-comics/ [http://strategicsciencecommunication.com/stratscicomm-comics/] * Science Audience Engagement: An Audience Research Collaboration Guide for Media Professionals, Evaluators and Communication Researchers * https://www.kqed.org/crackingthecode [https://www.kqed.org/crackingthecode]