Unpeeled with Dr. Banana

Fernando Garcia-Bastidas

Unpeeled with Dr Banana (English & Español) is a podcast where we peel back science, art, and food to meet the humans behind the work. Through relaxed conversations with scientists, artists, chefs, and creatives, we explore process, curiosity, failure, and the stories that live beneath titles and results.

  1. May 30

    Ep 16| Mejoramiento Genético del Banano - Resistencia a Fusarium TR4 y Sigatoka|Yelloway| by Fernando Garcia-Bastidas| Dr Banana

    🍌 Unpeeled with Dr. Banana – Seminar Series | Episodio 16 En este episodio especial, Dr. Banana comparte el seminario presentado durante el Congreso Bananero Colombiano organizado por ASBAMA: 🧬 “Mejoramiento genético del banano frente a Fusarium TR4 y la sigatoka negra: desafíos, logros y herramientas moleculares.” Una conversación científica sobre: Fusarium TR4 y sigatoka negraRetos del mejoramiento genético del bananoDiversidad genéticaHerramientas moleculares aplicadas al breedingResultados y avances del programa de mejoramientoEl futuro sostenible del cultivo del bananoUn episodio dedicado a la ciencia aplicada, la innovación y la necesidad de colaboración global para proteger el futuro del banano. “El futuro del banano dependerá de nuestra capacidad de combinar ciencia, diversidad genética y colaboración global.” 🍌 Esto es Unpeeled with Dr. Banana, donde pelamos la ciencia con calma, con rigor y con un poco de banano.

    47 min

  2. May 10

    Episode 15|Sebastien Carpentier|🍌 Listening to Plants: Can Biodiversity Save Banana? Unpeeled with Dr. Banana - Seminar Series

    This week, we return to bananas. In this episode of Unpeeled with Dr Banana: Seminar Series, Dr. Sebastien Carpentier explores one of the biggest questions facing global agriculture: Can biodiversity save the future of banana? We discuss climate change, Fusarium TR4, innovation, genomics, resilience, and the future beyond Cavendish, connecting cutting-edge science with the realities of farmers and food systems. A deep and timely conversation on the future of one of the world’s most consumed fruits. 🎙️ Featuring:• Scientific seminar• The Banana Questions and the Peel List 🍌

    1h 1m

  3. Apr 27

    Episode 14| Daria Chrobrok| From Scientist to Sci-Artist & Building my own path outside academia

    What happens when you don’t choose between science and art… but combine them? In this episode of Unpeeled with Dr Banana, I sit down with Daria Chrobok, founder of DC SciArt, scientific illustrator, and technical editor. Daria’s journey started in biology from studying in Germany, working in the US, to completing a PhD in plant physiology in Sweden. But during her PhD, something clicked: scientists are constantly trying to visualize their work… and not always successfully. So she built her own path. Today, she runs her own company, helping scientists communicate their work through powerful, clear, and beautiful illustrations. In this episode, we unpeel: 🎨 The intersection between science and art🧬 Why scientific illustration matters more than ever🚀 The transition from academia to entrepreneurship💡 Creativity, curiosity, and building your own career🤖 The role of AI in art and scientific communication And of course: 🍌 The Banana Questions⚡ The Peel List This is a conversation about freedom, creativity, and designing your own path in science and beyond.

    1h 6m

  4. Apr 13

    Episode 13 – Elke Wenting | Life, Death, and Trusting the Process|Scavengers, carcasess, nutrien cycles and more.

    What happens after life ends? In this episode of Unpeeled with Dr Banana, I sit down with Elke Wenting, a Dutch postdoc working on scavengers, carcasses, and nutrient cycles — exploring how death is not the end, but a crucial part of life in ecosystems. This conversation is also personal. Elke was one of the very first guests on my previous series Coffee Break with Banana Man during the pandemic — and one of the few episodes that still lives on YouTube. Since then, her journey has continued in unexpected ways: from PhD to postdoc, from the Netherlands to Spain, from certainty to embracing the unknown. In this episode we unpeel: 🌿 The science of decomposition and scavenger ecosystems🧬 Why carcasses are essential for nutrient cycles🌍 Moving abroad and building a life as a postdoc💡 Doing things you once said you’d never do📱 Sharing “unusual” science on social media🧠 Mental health, identity, and trust in the process And of course: 🍌 The Banana Questions⚡ The Peel List This is a conversation about science, curiosity, courage, and embracing the unexpected path. 🎧 Available on YouTube and Spotify

    58 min

  5. Apr 5

    Episode 12- Dr. Anke Brüning-Richardson | Stopping Brain Cancer in Its Tracks | Unpeeled with Dr Banana - Unpeeled!: Seminar Series

    In this episode of Unpeeled with Dr Banana – Seminar Series, I speak with Anke Brüning-Richardson from the University of Huddersfield. We explore a powerful idea in cancer research: 👉 What if we stop cancer cells from moving instead of only trying to kill them? We discuss: 🧠 Brain tumours and why they are so difficult to treat 🧬 Cell migration and tumour recurrence 🔬 New approaches using 3D and animal-free models 💡 Curiosity, scientific questions, and research mindset A conversation about science, purpose, and asking better questions.

    1h 12m

  6. Mar 16

    Episode 11 – Dan Koeppel | Bananas, Writing & Creativity

    n this episode of Unpeeled with Dr Banana, I speak with journalist and author Dan Koeppel, best known for his influential book Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World. We talk about: 🍌 The global story of bananas✍️ The process of writing deeply researched books🎙️ Tips for interviews and communicating complex ideas🌍 Agriculture, monoculture, and the future of bananas💡 Creativity, curiosity, and inspiration We finish with the Banana Questions and the Peel List — the signature segments of the show. A conversation about science, storytelling, food, and the people behind the ideas.

    1h 30m

  7. Mar 9

    Episodio 10 - Unpeeled with Dr Banana - Microbiota, bacterias tramposas y ciencia que se comunica con Miryam Valenzuela

    🍌 En este episodio de Unpeeled: Seminar Series conversamos con la Dra. Miryam Valenzuela, investigadora chilena especialista en microbiología y microbiota vegetal. Además de su seminario científico, hablamos sobre su trayectoria, su vida en la ciencia y su reciente inclusión en la Tabla de Mujeres Científicas Chilenas, una iniciativa que destaca a investigadoras que han contribuido significativamente al desarrollo del conocimiento en el país. También conversamos sobre comunicación científica, el desafío de explicar la ciencia al público y el rol de las nuevas generaciones de científicas. Fue una charla muy agradable, llena de anécdotas, reflexiones sobre la vida académica y experiencias dentro del mundo de la investigación. Y por supuesto, la Dra. Valenzuela también pasó por nuestros segmentos clásicos: 🍌 The Banana Questions🍌 The Peel List Un episodio cercano, inspirador y lleno de ciencia.

    1h 25m

  8. Mar 6

    Episodio 9: Antes y Después de TR4: La Marchitez por Fusarium en América Latina y el Caribe - Unpeeled with Dr. Banana - Prof. Luis Pocasangre

    🍌 En este episodio de la Unpeeled Seminar Series conversamos con el Prof. Dr. Luis Pocasangre Enamorado, Director General del CATIE y referente internacional en agricultura tropical. Seminario:“Antes y Después de TR4: La Marchitez por Fusarium en América Latina y el Caribe.” Analizamos el impacto del TR4 en la región, los desafíos que enfrenta la industria bananera y las oportunidades que surgen en este nuevo escenario fitosanitario. Además, hablamos de su trayectoria profesional, su relación de décadas con Fusarium, su experiencia internacional y su nueva etapa liderando CATIE. Y como ya es tradición, lo llevamos al límite en: 🍌 The Banana Questions🍌 The Peel List Un episodio muy esperado, con un profesional profundamente apreciado en América Latina y reconocido en el mundo.

    1h 20m
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About

Unpeeled with Dr Banana (English & Español) is a podcast where we peel back science, art, and food to meet the humans behind the work. Through relaxed conversations with scientists, artists, chefs, and creatives, we explore process, curiosity, failure, and the stories that live beneath titles and results.

Information

  • Creator
    Fernando Garcia-Bastidas
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Fernando Garcia-Bastidas
  • Show Website
    Unpeeled with Dr. Banana