The CDC Scientist Who Writes Sci-Fi: Outbreak Tracking & Protecting Your Dreams | Dr. Ashley Payne

What happens when a top-tier global health scientist steps out of the lab and into the world of pure fantasy and science fiction? 🧠✨In this episode of The Obehi Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ashley Payne—a PhD-trained epidemiologist who works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While her day job involves auditing complex research protocols, protecting human subjects, and tracking global disease surveillance, her passion lies in an entirely different realm: creative sci-fi and fantasy writing.Dr. Payne opens up about her inspiring journey from an underserved community in Houston, Texas, to the frontlines of public health. We explore the critical mechanics of global disease tracking, the profound importance of protecting your biggest dreams from projected doubts, and her fascinating future vision of becoming a top science consultant for TV and film.This is a deeply human-to-human conversation about breaking out of standard professional boxes, overcoming academic burnout, and stepping into a "soft life" filled with grace, balance, and imagination.