B.S.: The STEM Podcast

IB and GC

A podcast that takes an in-depth look at different scientific and social phenomena and innovations, and how they tie back to broader societal perspectives.

  1. FEB 28

    SOC 204: Media or Medicine - GLP-1s

    With groundbreaking medical advancements and the the rise of fatphobia and intolerance, GLP-1s feel like the awkward elephant in the room. This infamous medication has bounced around Super Bowl commercials and social media advertisements, leaving a trail of hot takes and misinformation. Today, Ilyana and Gold explain the real function of the drug and discuss the historical background of weight marginalization and the social implications of GLP-1 medications. Get settled, it’s a long one.  Listen To Us Anywhere:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q  Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com  Music: William Pleasant Design: Matheus Lago Required Reading: GLP-1 Agonists: What They Are, How They Work & Side Effects GLP-1 and health: Beyond weight loss in the Ozempic era How does Ozempic work? Understanding GLP-1s for diabetes, weight loss, and beyond - Harvard Health New GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are coming—and they’re stronger than Wegovy and Zepbound | Scientific American GLP-1 obesity drugs and eating disorders are not well understood yet : NPR Comparing the Impact of GLP-1 Agonists vs. Lifestyle Interventions and Weight Controllability Information on Stigma and Weight-Related Cognitions | International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Springer Nature Link WHO issues global guideline on the use of GLP-1 medicines in treating obesity Addressing weight bias in medicine - Harvard Health Comparative safety and side effects of semaglutide and tirzepatide: Implications for clinical decision-making in obesity management GIP as a Therapeutic Target in Diabetes and Obesity: Insight From Incretin Co-agonists GLP-1 diabetes and weight-loss drug side effects: "Ozempic face" and more KFF Health Tracking Poll May 2024: The Public’s Use and Views of GLP-1 Drugs Where does fat phobia come from? The History and Faults of the Body Mass Index and Where to Look Next: A Literature Review The societal implications of using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of obesity Dangers and Opportunities of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Impact of weight bias and stigma on quality of care and outcomes for patients with obesity Opinion Pieces:  I’ve Had 2 Weight-Loss Surgeries And Now I’m On Wegovy. None Of It Made Me Any Healthier. | HuffPost HuffPost Personal #stem #glp1 #fatphobia #research #medicine

    1h 12m
  2. 2025-11-15

    BIO 203: Dementia with Toby the Neuroscientist

    Dementia is famously complicated and misunderstood. Due to the recent developments in research, the knowledge neuroscientists have gained on dementia has risen greatly, but public understanding has not grown as quickly. Today we have on Toby Curless, aka Toby the Neuroscientist on to discuss what dementia is, the neurological and social effects of dementia, and the current research and treatment options.  Toby is a second year PhD student at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. He uses new techniques to investigate the MAPT locus in dementia. He did his undergraduate degree in cellular and molecular biology at Newcastle university, and a masters degree in Dementia neuroscience and UCL. He graduated top of his class in his master’s degree and then worked for 2 years on a global collaborative project investigating Parkinson’s disease and other Lewy body disorders.  Toby’s grandfather passed away with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016 and since then, Toby has sought to be able to make a difference in the world of dementia. For just over a year he has been making tiktok videos, using his passions for fashion and cooking to explain dementia to his audience in a friendly and approachable manner. Toby’s Socials:  Instagram: curlesstoby Tiktok: tobytheneuroscientist Listen To Us Anywhere:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q  Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com  Music: William Pleasant Design: Matheus Lago Required Reading: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia Alzheimer's disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Stages - Early, Middle, Late Dementia Symptoms | alz.org About Alzheimer's | Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia | CDC Type Three Diabetes and It’s Role Implications in Alzheimer’s Disease Multifaceted Roles of APOE in Alzheimer’s Disease

    1h 15m
  3. SOC 203: Climate Change and Food Policy with Kfesteryga

    2025-11-08

    SOC 203: Climate Change and Food Policy with Kfesteryga

    Food insecurity is an internationally pressing issue. As climate change continues to progress, headlines discussing failed harvests, natural disasters, and clean water shortages leave us concerned about the current and future impacts of climate change on food accessibility. Today we have Kfesteryga on to give clarity on the how climate change influences both food policy and accessibility. Katherine Festeryga holds nearly a decade of experience in both the public and private sector, helping to shape policy and advocate for policy priorities in Canada. Katherine recently launched agricultural technology startup, Edie Farming, building Ontario’s first commercial rooftop greenhouses which won the City of Toronto’s Women4Climate award in 2024. Previously, Katherine was on the policy and communications team at Sidewalk Labs - a landmark Google company that applied forward-thinking urban design and cutting edge technology to the world’s biggest challenges. Prior to Sidewalk Labs, Katherine led legislative and strategic policy communications for NAFTA negotiations and Buy American tariffs for the Province of Ontario at the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth. Katherine holds her Master’s of Public Policy, specializing in climate impacts on food supply at Northwestern University and is a University of Western Ontario graduate with a BA in History and double major in Political Science, as well, she currently sits on the board of North York Harvest Food Bank. You can find Katherine on TikTok educating millions about the intersection of climate, food and culture. Katherine's Socials: TikTok: kfesteryga Listen To Us Anywhere:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Bf6Gk-SuKnWK0zI0i3M3Q  Contact Us: bspodcast79@gmail.com  Music: William Pleasant Design: Matheus Lago Required Reading: Food: The United Nations  Hunger numbers stubbornly high for three consecutive years as global crises deepen: UN report Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply Where does our food come from? Here’s why we need to know | World Economic Forum Origin of crops | CIAT Blog Reducing risks to food security from climate change - ScienceDirect Severe climate change risks to food security and nutrition - ScienceDirect Climate Change Regulatory Actions and Initiatives | US EPA How Americans View Climate Change and Policies in 2024 | Pew Research Center Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures | Council on Foreign Relations The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List FDA to Revoke 52 Obsolete Standards of Identity for Food Products

    1h 20m

About

A podcast that takes an in-depth look at different scientific and social phenomena and innovations, and how they tie back to broader societal perspectives.