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

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

What Science Diplomacy Looks Like in Practice (recorded at the Johns Hopkins Science Diplomacy Summit)

Karen Pierce, former UK Ambassador to the United States, and Juliet Gerrard, former Chief Science Advisor to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, joins the Scientista Podcast for a live recording from the Johns Hopkins Science Diplomacy Summit.   From COVID and AI to trust, leadership, and women leading with science, this episode explores how evidence becomes action on the global stage. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world

When Old Songs Start to Sound Like Breaking News

What happens when a song written decades ago suddenly feels like it was written for today? In this episode of the Scientista Podcast, Monica Medina and Sweta Chakraborty sit down with singer and interpretive artist Maxine Linehan to talk about music, meaning, and timing. The conversation centers on her stripped-down reinterpretation of Sunday Bloody Sunday—and why its lyrics are resonating in a new way right now. They explore how songs evolve across time, the role artists play in shaping how we process current events, and how Maxine builds performances that combine music, storytelling, and lived experience. Thank you for listening! Learn more about Scientista here: www.scientista.world