Scientista

Scientista Currents: Debunking the Ebola Myths — Inside the Congo's Most Dangerous Outbreak

A deadly Ebola outbreak is tearing through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo — and alongside the virus, something almost as dangerous is spreading: disinformation. False claims that the outbreak was engineered by NGOs chasing funding, that Ebola is a hoax, that doctors are the ones doing harm.  In this Scientista Currents episode, Monica Medina sits down with infectious disease expert Dr. Nikki Romanik to separate fact from fiction, and to explain why the rumors aren't just noise — they're a matter of life and death.  Nikki breaks down why this strain is different, why there's no proven vaccine, and why the most dangerous moment in Ebola transmission is an act of love: burying someone you've lost. Monica, who has worked on the ground in this region, reflects on what America's retreat from global health leadership is costing — in lives, in trust, and in the kind of country we choose to be.  A sobering, clarifying conversation about science, compassion, and the stakes of looking away. Listen and learn more at scientista.world. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

It's Not About the Fish, It's About the People — Inside WWF's Ocean Work

Most people think saving the ocean is about counting fish. Sarah Glaser and Gabby Ahmadia spent years learning it's about something harder: people.  On World Ocean Day, the two WWF vice presidents join Sweta and Monica to unpack what's really threatening the ocean — industrial fishing, marine heat waves, and a warming climate that's pushing fish toward the poles and conflict in their wake.  Sarah, who runs WWF's blue foods and Ocean Futures work, explains why fisheries are now a question of peace and security, and how the same fish that spark disputes off Somalia and in the South China Sea can also bring rival communities to the table. Gabby, who oversees ocean conservation across the Arctic, the Pacific, and the Western Indian Ocean, makes the case against "parachute science" and for putting local experts — especially women — at the center of every solution.  They also get candid about academia's power dynamics, the careers that nearly didn't happen, and why hope is a strategy. A conversation about what the ocean gives us, and what it asks in return. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

We Had a Plan for Viruses Like This. Then We Dismantled It. Dr. Nikki Romanik on Hantavirus

Nikki Romanik helped build America's pandemic preparedness infrastructure from inside the White House. She's watching it come apart from the outside. In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Sweta and Monica sit down with Dr. Nikki Romanik, Former White House Pandemic Preparedness Deputy Director and Chief of Staff, as hantavirus makes global headlines and the systems designed to respond to exactly this kind of outbreak are operating at a fraction of their capacity. Nikki explains what hantavirus is, what the Andes strain means for transmission, and what the public actually needs to know—versus what's driving fear. Then the harder conversation: 20,000 HHS employees gone, 3,000 CDC staff departed, laboratory testing paused for thirty infectious diseases. Nikki names what's been lost, who is stepping in, and what it would take to stabilize what remains.  Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

Science Communication in a Polarized World (Recorded at EarthX 2026)

Trust in institutions is eroding. Climate action is more polarized than ever. And somewhere along the way, the environmental movement may have lost the plot on how to tell its own story. In this special live recording of the Scientista Podcast from EarthX 2026, host and behavioral scientist Dr. Sweta Chakraborty is joined by Whitney Strauss, Executive Director of the AdvoCare Foundation, and Dr. Elizabeth Gray, CEO of the National Audubon Society, for a candid conversation about what's broken in science communication — and what's worth rebuilding. Together, they dig into how polarization is reshaping public understanding of climate and environmental issues, and why the path forward isn't more data — it's better connection. That means meeting people where they actually live: in their children's health, in their local green spaces, in hobbies like birdwatching that quietly build a relationship with the natural world. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

ABC News Chief Meteorologist on Why Forecasting Is Harder Than Ever

Weather forecasting is more accurate than ever—and at the same time, getting harder. In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, we sit down with Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist at ABC News, to go inside how forecasting actually works—and why it’s becoming more complex. From storm chasing to live national broadcasts, Ginger explains how meteorologists translate raw data into decisions people rely on every day. We talk about what extreme weather is—and isn’t—telling us, why trust in science has become so complicated, and how gaps in data can quietly undermine even the best forecasts. The conversation also explores the role of communication—what scientists get right, what they get wrong, and why clarity matters more than ever. Along the way, Ginger shares how she navigates public scrutiny, breaks down misinformation, and approaches one of the most visible roles in science. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world