alpha

Dr. Catharine Young

Named for the beginning, the first, alpha elevates the voices of women in STEM: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the fields shaping what comes next.From early-career scientists and engineers to founders, researchers, and policy leaders, alpha features women who are asking harder questions, sharing what they’ve learned, and clearing the path for those who follow.Each episode goes beyond the achievement and into the story behind it: the choices, risks, failures, breakthroughs, and moments of becoming that shape a career at the edge of discovery.This podcast is for the firsts. The onlies. The originals. And the women rising next.Welcome to alpha.

Episodes

  1. Aug 12

    The Universe Belongs to Everyone with Dr. Renée Hložek

    Meet Dr. Renée Hložek. She's an astrophysicist, cosmologist, professor, and bridge-builder. From studying the universe’s earliest light to its possible ending, to applying astronomy techniques to brain imaging, Renée spends her days asking some of the biggest questions imaginable, and making sure more people get the chance to ask them too. As a young girl growing up in South Africa, Renée's mother wasn’t concerned with perfect grades. Instead, she supported Renée with whatever she set her mind to. Only limited by her imagination. That encouragement gave Renée permission to be curious before she knew exactly where that curiosity would lead. Today, it shapes how she mentors the next generation of scientists. This is a conversation about dark matter, the fate of the universe, why uncertainty is one of science's greatest strengths, and how curiosity, not accolades, is what makes someone a scientist. What Renée wants you to know: “A lot of the time we have doubt about am I good enough, brave enough, strong enough, smart enough to be a scientist. And a lot of people will tell you a lot of things about being a scientist: ‘you’re a girl’ or ‘you’re not confident enough’ or ‘loud enough’. And to me, I would say, the thing to remember is, being curious about how the world works makes you a scientist.” Rapid fire: A cosmic fact that sounds fake but is actually true: “I can tell you the fate of the universe after about 10⁻³⁷ seconds in its lifetime.”The most underrated object in the universe: PhotonsOne person that has made her braver: A high school teacher who didn’t let her wiggle out of doing something, but pushed her to see her own capacity. Going beyond the episode: Renée on LinkedIn For all resources and links mentioned in this episode, read the full guide here: https://www.alphapodcast.studio/renee-hlozek With gratitude to the organizations whose archival materials and recordings helped bring alpha to life: New Mexico PBS, Critical Mass: Women in Science (audio)NASA Image & Video LibraryAmerican Archive of Public Broadcasting

    The Universe Belongs to Everyone with Dr. Renée Hložek

  2. Jul 29

    The World Needs Scientists with Dr. Gretchen Goldman

    Meet Dr. Gretchen Goldman. She’s been the student, the scientist, the watchdog, the White House advisor, and now she’s the President of the Union of Concerned Scientists. 30 years ago, Gretchen was presented with a question by her 11th grade chemistry teacher: Where would science be if we changed data? This is a conversation about what happens when the facts become inconvenient, who pays when science is under attack, and Catharine presents Gretchen that very same question again. What Gretchen wants you to know: “We need you. The world needs scientists. We need truth tellers. We need people that see hard problems and run toward them.” Rapid fire: One book all non-scientists should read: Doubt is Their Product by David MichaelsScientist everyone should know by name: Veronica O. Davis / LinkedInGretchen’s small ritual that keeps her steady: Going hard on the Peloton! Going beyond the episode: Gretchen on LinkedInUnion of Concerned ScientistsScience Rising For all resources and links mentioned in this episode, read the full guide here: https://www.alphapodcast.studio/gretchen-goldman With gratitude to the organizations whose archival materials and recordings helped bring alpha to life: New Mexico PBS, Critical Mass: Women in Science (audio)NASA Image & Video LibraryAmerican Archive of Public Broadcasting

    The World Needs Scientists with Dr. Gretchen Goldman

  3. Trailer

    Trailer: Welcome to alpha

    You're about to hear from the women building what comes next. In cancer research and climate engineering. In AI, space exploration, public health, biotech, policy, and every room where the future is being shaped. This is alpha. A podcast about women in science, technology, engineering, and math - the fields defining our future, and the women redefining what leadership inside them looks like. I'm Dr. Catharine Young: a scientist, an immigrant, a mother, and a builder. For years, I've sat across from extraordinary women changing their fields from the inside:  leading labs, building companies, shaping policy, asking hard questions, and carrying more than most people will ever see. These are the conversations behind the breakthroughs. The choices that shaped a career. The rooms that tested a voice. The moments that changed how someone understood her own power. The failures, risks, reinventions, ambitions, and turning points that rarely make it into the official story,  but shape everything that comes after. Because this isn't about giving women a voice. They already have one. This is the platform their voices were always meant for. The one we're building together. Welcome to alpha. Listen, meet the women of alpha, and learn more at alphapodcast.studio. Coming up on season one: Ep 1: Dr. Gretchen Goldman, Science Advocacy Ep 2: Dr. Renée Hložek, Astrophysics Ep 3: Dr. M Jackson, Glaciology  Ep 4: Dr. Shohini Ghose, Quantum Physics Ep 5: Dr. Paule Valery Joseph, Sensory Neuroscience Ep 6: Dr. Asha de Vos, Marine Biology Ep 7: Dr. Michelle Monje, Cancer Neuroscience Ep 8: Dr. Beth Cameron, Pandemic Preparedness Ep 9: Dr. Sara K. Yeo, Science Communication  Ep 10: Dr. Arati Prabhakar, Science & Technology Policy  With gratitude to the organizations whose archival materials and recordings helped bring alpha to life: New Mexico PBS, Critical Mass: Women in Science (audio)NASA Image & Video LibraryAmerican Archive of Public Broadcasting

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Named for the beginning, the first, alpha elevates the voices of women in STEM: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the fields shaping what comes next.From early-career scientists and engineers to founders, researchers, and policy leaders, alpha features women who are asking harder questions, sharing what they’ve learned, and clearing the path for those who follow.Each episode goes beyond the achievement and into the story behind it: the choices, risks, failures, breakthroughs, and moments of becoming that shape a career at the edge of discovery.This podcast is for the firsts. The onlies. The originals. And the women rising next.Welcome to alpha.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Catharine Young
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dr. Catharine Young
  • Show Website
    alpha