SciComm Hotline

Reyhaneh Maktoufi and Stephanie Castillo
  • 4.0 (4)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Best friends and SciComm researchers, Reyhaneh Maktoufi and Stephanie Castillo, gossip about all the cringeworthy and exciting ways science is communicated in real life.

  1. APR 13

    Project Hail Mary's SciComm Strategy

    There is lots of content out there about the science of the Hail Mary Project movie, but not much really about the science communication side of the movie! Listen to Rey and Steph talk about (some unexpected) SciComm ideas that showed up in the movies, from emotional flow and trust-building principles to the importance of bad science!  References  Listen to our friend from opinion Science talk to Dr. Robin Nabi about emotions and emotional flow: https://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/persuasion-via-emotion-with-robin-nabi/ What are you assessing when you measure “trust” in scientists with a direct measure? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09636625231161302?casa_token=k3EXyLiapGkAAAAA%3A4WppvSLj0WU9uK3Q9mzbv9UuGud-gCmJWpFfb_N8rOC0UaY7sLHBJRkFofPK3u5IwZLIuJkom4I Ryan Gosling says Project Hail Mary is ‘a reminder of what we’re capable of’ https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/ryan-gosling-talks-project-hail-mary-hopeful-science-fiction-and-the/ Ryan Gosling chats to an astrophysicist | Project Hail Mary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj_AbV1Ph90 “Science and Entertainment: How Astronomers Use Pop Culture References for Science Communication” Rey’s very old presentation that she hates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUxolp4A1A&t=411s SciComm Updates  SciComm Bite Article “Can AI Make Science More Trustworthy?” https://substack.com/redirect/81eb98b4-cff9-4042-a22d-1f55baa2a869?j=eyJ1IjoiZWlwcm4ifQ.ocBOZMBfbkVwCTZAfvzZWNFqjwf-Z2HcvKglGYcEmF4 The Science of SciComm e-summit, May 3, 8-4 ET https://www.theecowell.com/science-in-science-communication-esummit Artistic Expression of Original Research: Art based science communication improves the public's relationship to science and scientists https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2026.1794106/abstract?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Examining science and art collaborations through a social psychology lens reveals the need for Third Spaces https://jcom.sissa.it/article/pubid/JCOM_2405_2025_Y01/

    57 min

  2. APR 6

    Why are academics creepy at conferences?

    In this candid conversation, hosts Reyhaneh and Stephanie explore the complex issues of creepiness, harassment, and boundaries within academic and social settings. They share personal stories, analyze social dynamics, and offer advice on handling uncomfortable situations with humor, assertiveness, and support.

    55 min

  3. FEB 27

    Being Strategic When Navigating Difficult Conversations

    The deficit model of communication, strategic messaging, and “THE EVIL BIG APPLE INDUSTRY” are all things Steph and Rey talk about in this episode. Listen to them discuss examples of how communicators could strategize to have impactful messages and break down strategic SciComm principles.     Deficit model of communication https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_deficit_model Strategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagement https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Science-Communication-Objectives-Engagement-ebook/dp/B09QNSGDTY http://strategicsciencecommunication.com/stratscicomm-comics/ Science Audience Engagement: An Audience Research Collaboration Guide for Media Professionals, Evaluators and Communication Researchers https://www.kqed.org/crackingthecode

    50 min

  4. FEB 9

    Is it A fact or MY fact?

    The world is chaotic; there is grief and heartbreak. And in the midst of it all, we’re dealing with misinformation and conflicting perceptions. Listen to Steph and Rey trying to make sense of the world based on their identities as immigrants, science communicators, and weirdos. Learn about confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, motivated reasoning, and tools that can help you understand your audience better. Learn more about Rey and Steph here:https://scicommhotline.comSubmit your gossip or questions to drama@scicommhotline.comMentioned in the episode: For Hamid, the brave firefighterhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DQl9DAFDno6/Ethan Zuckerman on Truthinesshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8AiWoJLJj0Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Communityhttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bowling-Alone-Revised-and-Updated/Robert-D-Putnam/9781508230595Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism―Understanding the Social Science of Cult Influencehttps://www.amazon.com/Cultish-Language-Fanaticism-Amanda-Montell/dp/0062993151Irony of satire: Political ideology and the motivation to see what you want to see in The Colbert Reporthttps://www.instagram.com/p/DUbNhYziXWH/https://journalistsresource.org/politics-and-government/irony-satire-political-ideology-colbert-report/Festinger, End of the world, and cognitive dissonancehttps://www.instagram.com/p/DUWFHOLCQ4M/SNL Sketch: Mom Confessionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wQhY5CMMl4Harmony Lab’s Narrative Observatory:https://narrativeobservatory.org/

    52 min

  5. 12/19/2025

    Rey & Steph are getting vulnerable...again.

    Another episode of Rey and Steph oversharing. You’re welcome. Listen to the two catch up after a mini-hiatus, chatting about all things from TMI health updates and science communication of taboo topics, to relieving grad school trauma and lessons learned. *Correction: it wasn’t an award, it was Sagan’s nomination rejection to the National Academy of Sciences. Check out these resources they mentioned in the episode: Naomi Koh Belic: Hot Girls Have IBShttps://www.instagram.com/reel/CgOZxNVjfd3/The Hello PhD podcast with Josh Hall and Daniel Arneman, interview with Mónica feliu Mójerhttps://hellophd.com/2018/05/092-making-time-science-communication-monica-feliu-mojer/The Carl Sagan Effecthttps://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/36/7/2077.full.pdfThank you for joining us for this experiment of a podcast and for tuning in to our creative outlet. Just two friends talking crap about all things science and how it's communicated. Hope you join us next year as we try to explore more areas of SciComm with professionals.

    50 min

  6. 11/12/2025

    What Does it Mean to be Authentic?

    In this conversation, Reyhaneh and Stephanie discuss the importance of authenticity and self-awareness for personal and branded science content. We emphasize the need to recognize and embrace one's true values rather than projecting a false image. The discussion highlights how individuals can leverage their unique traits, such as humor and vulnerability, to create a genuine connection with others. And how the rules change when you're representing a large science organization. Learn more about Rey and Steph at: http://scicommhotline.com Submit your creep story to drama@scicommhotline.com Studies mentioned:Assessing the Credibility and Authenticity of Social Media Content for Applications in Health Communication: Scoping Review https://www.jmir.org/2020/7/e17296/ Constructing and influencing perceived authenticity in science communication: Experimenting with narrative https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0226711Link in Bio Substack: https://www.milkkarten.net/

    47 min

  7. 10/17/2025

    Two Bros Talking About AI

    AI: Rey and Steph are a bit embarrassed to admit they use it, but they do. Listen to them talking about all the ways AI comes in handy in media production, research, and job search. They also talk about the dark side of AI, some of the pitfalls and philosophical thoughts around it!  Learn more about Rey and Steph at: http://scicommhotline.com Message your hot takes to drama@scicommhotline.com  More about the Jackson Summit here; https://www.jacksonwild.org/ Follow Rey’s 30-day ChatGPT “Going Viral” plan https://www.instagram.com/p/DPTuSgIADFN/ Measuring AI Ability to Complete Long Tasks https://metr.org/blog/2025-03-19-measuring-ai-ability-to-complete-long-tasks/  Palisade Research (AI whistleblower org) https://palisaderesearch.org/  More Perfect Union: On AI and energy consumption https://www.instagram.com/p/DPTv9Mkjrgu/?img_index=1 The Oatmeal: Let’s Talk About AI https://theoatmeal.com/comics/ai_art Instagram Reel on the ChatGPT exchange https://www.instagram.com/p/DPeshTAgdNm/ The white paper for The National Academies of Sciences “Sustained Public Engagement in Science and Engineering via Digital Spaces and Communities” here: https://overdeck.org/portfolios/spotlight/nasem-sustained-public-engagement-in-science-and-engineering-via-digital-spaces-and-communities/ NotebookLM https://notebooklm.google/

    59 min

  8. 09/20/2025

    Is it the humor or the reaction to humor?

    Steph and Rey go down a rabbit hole of their comedy grievances. With lots of examples from social media, they dissect what it is that annoys and worries them about how we consume comedy, while also discussing what they hope for in comedy.

    49 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Best friends and SciComm researchers, Reyhaneh Maktoufi and Stephanie Castillo, gossip about all the cringeworthy and exciting ways science is communicated in real life.

Information

  • Creator
    Reyhaneh Maktoufi and Stephanie Castillo
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Reyhaneh Maktoufi and Stephanie Castillo
  • Show Website
    SciComm Hotline