The She Persists Podcast
by Emma Zurine
She Persists is the an empowering corner of the internet for young women who see themselves in STEM–Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Hosted by a passionate 16-year-old aspiring engineer and public policy advocate, the show focuses on voices that often get overlooked–girls who are just starting out. Most guests are high school and college students who are finding their way, sharing the challenges, wins, and lessons that come with being at the very beginning of their STEM journey. Every now and then, an episode features a woman further along in her career, offering perspective and advice from the other side. Whether you’re studying for your next physics exam, applying to engineering programs, or dreaming of changing the world with STEM, She Persists will keep you company and remind you: you are not alone, and you belong here. 💌 Subscribe now and join our community–and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for behind-the-
Episodes
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Betting on Yourself: Cancer Research, Writing, and Finding Your Own Path with UVA’s Palatin Shaaker
What does it take to pursue cancer research—and trust that you belong in the lab? In this episode, I’m joined by Palantin Shakker, a University of Virginia student, aspiring physician, and author, to talk about her experiences in science and writing and how she learned to bet on herself. From...
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Women of Virginia Tech Rocketry: Building Rockets & Finding Your Voice
What does it take to build a rocket—and find your voice along the way? In this episode, I’m joined by Nancy, Kira, Kailyn, and Mahima from Rocketry at Virginia Tech to talk about their paths into aerospace engineering and the experiences that helped them discover what they love. From NASA flight...
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How Virginia Tech’s Design, Build, Fly Team Built Confidence, Careers, and a Winning Aircraft
Three Virginia Tech engineers reveal how a welcoming team, hands-on projects, and a little stubbornness can change the course of your career. Claudia Pack, Kate Taipale, and Madison Yeatts share how Design Build Fly took them from uncertain freshmen to women leading real aircraft design, testing,...
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Building a Path at the Intersection of Medicine and Technology with Duke’s Aanya Gupta
In this episode, Aanya Gupta shares how her original goal of becoming a doctor evolved as she discovered coding, engineering, and computational public health. She discusses developing agent-based models to study vaccine uptake and disease spread, using synthetic data to estimate chronic disease...
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Engineering Without Limits: Solar Cars, SpaceX, and Sustainable Design with Stanford’s Sofie Roux and Rachel Grant
Sofie Roux and Rachel Grant are Stanford engineers whose work spans solar-powered race cars, sustainable architecture, aerospace, and global education. As leaders of the Stanford Solar Car Project, they helped rebuild a struggling team, transform an aging vehicle into a second-place finisher, and...
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From Bangladesh to UMD: Dr. Fardina Alam’s Journey in AI and Academia
Dr. Fardina F. Alam is the Program Director for Data Science at the University of Maryland, College Park and a researcher working at the intersection of machine learning and computational biology. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering, Dr. Alam began her career…
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Reaching for Space, Creating Space for Others with Purdue’s Anastasia Lesniewski
Anastasia “Sasha” Lesniewski is an aerospace engineering student at Purdue University pursuing a minor in Global Engineering Studies. After discovering aerospace through a TikTok rabbit hole during high school, Sasha transformed a newfound fascination with space into a path that took her from...
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The Women of Monash Motorsport Building Formula SAE Race Cars in Australia
What does it take to build a Formula SAE race car from the ground up? In this episode of the She Persists Podcast, I sit down with Christina, Lillian, Monica, and Yeheni from Monash Motorsport—one of Australia's leading Formula SAE teams. Together, we explore what goes into designing, testing…
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Kerry Love & Sunflower Therapeutics: Innovating Biomanufacturing for Global Health Equity
Join Dr. Kerry Love, CEO of Sunflower Therapeutics, as she unveils how innovative biotech systems are revolutionizing vaccine access in underserved regions. Discover her journey from scientist to biotech leader, tackling global health issues like vaccine inequity and cervical cancer, while...
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University of Michigan's Mars Rover: How 2 Women Are Building Robots for International Competition
Most engineering students are told to focus on grades and internships—until they step into a competition and realize real innovation happens under chaos. Isabel Boncher and Riya Desai, leaders of the University of Michigan Mars Rover Team, reveal how they manage a 200-person engineering…
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UIUC’s Illini Electric Motorsports: How 3 Women Are Changing Motorsports and STEM Spaces
Emma, Ariella, and Dhriti are building the electric race cars of the future. This episode takes you behind the scenes of designing a Formula SAE vehicle, highlighting teamwork, innovation, and breaking barriers in male-dominated spaces. Discover how they manage sensors, battery designs, and...
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Physics, Dragons, and Curiosity at MIT with Jaylee Bouwhuis
Jaylee Bouwhuis, a first-year physics enthusiast at MIT, shares her inspiring journey of embracing uncertainty and exploring diverse passions. From astrophysics to storytelling, Jaylee's story is a testament to the power of curiosity and community. She candidly discusses transitioning to MIT’s...
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Girls of Steel Robotics: Redefining Leadership and Innovation in High School STEM
In this episode of She Persists, Sophia and Viana from the Girls of Steel robotics team share what it’s really like to lead one of the most impactful student-run robotics programs in the country. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Girls of Steel is an all-girls robotics organization that goes far...
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Purdue Engineers Without Borders: Keira Morrin and Eliza Thurs
Join us as we dive into the inspiring stories of Keira Morin and Eliza Thurs, two passionate Purdue juniors who are making waves with Engineers Without Borders. From their first days on campus, Keira and Eliza have been on a mission to change the world, one project at a time. In this episode…
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Formula Buckeyes: How Women at Ohio State Are Revolutionizing Electric Race Cars
Meet the women of Ohio State's Formula Buckeyes, who are transforming the world of collegiate racing with their innovative approach to engineering. From humble beginnings, they've built a powerhouse team that's redefining what's possible in motorsports. In this episode, discover how Haley Krueger...
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The Bold Idea of UT El Paso’s Victoria Mascorro: Transforming Space Manufacturing
Victoria Mascorro is transforming space manufacturing with her startup, Space-CRYO, which began as a high school science fair project. By pioneering in-space 3D printing of metals, she aims to cut costs and timelines, unlocking new possibilities for space exploration. In this episode, Victoria...
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Predicting the Planet with Dr. Yaga Richter
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Yaga Richter, a scientific leader working to advance Earth system predictability across timescales. As a Special Projects Lead to the NSF NCAR Director, Yaga leads the Earth System Predictability Across Timescales initiative, helping shape scientific strategy,...
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Exploring the Universe: UC Berkeley’s Lily Myers and Her Path to Zero-Gravity
In today's episode with Lily Myers, we explore her incredible journey from a YouTube video enthusiast to a NASA researcher. As a freshman at UC Berkeley, Lily has already made significant strides in astrophysics, including leading her school's astronomy club and conducting experiments in...
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Launching Dreams Into Orbit with Melissa Pore
In this episode, we’re talking with Melissa Pore--an award-winning Engineering educator who has helped students literally send their work to space. She’s been behind satellite launches, ThinSat missions, NASA collaborations, and hands-on programs that empower students to do real research and real...
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Reunion Reflections at TJ's 40 Year Alumni Celebration: Life After TJ
When TJ opened its doors decades ago, it became more than a school, it became a shared experience. At the 40th Alumni Celebration, that experience came alive again. Grads from the earliest classes to the most recent came back, filling the halls with old memories and familiar laughter. This…
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How Georgetown’s Isra Satiar Went from Caring in Small Ways to Changing Lives Around the World
Isra Satiar, a senior at Georgetown University majoring in Human Science, has already made an incredible impact in healthcare and global health. From receiving the prestigious Davis International Peace Prize to working as a patient care technician in a surgical ICU, Isra’s dedication to serving...
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How Astronaut Amy Medina Went From Teaching Science to Becoming the First Puerto Rican Woman Astronaut
Amy Medina has spent her life showing students that science isn’t just something you read about, it’s something you experience. As a teacher at Odyssey Academy, she’s led more than sixty student space experiments, some of which have even flown on Zero-G missions. But earlier this year, Amy took…
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How Georgia Tech’s Hope Dickon Follows Her Passion for STEM While Helping Girls Find Theirs
Hope Dickson, a freshman studying Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, has been involved in STEM from a young age. From launching a CubeSat in elementary school to mentoring and building hands-on experiences for young girls in STEM through Rosie Riveters, interning with the...
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From NASA Research and Zero-G Flights in High School to the University of Southern California: Zoe Zlatic’s Journey
Zoe Zlatic, a sophomore Astronautical Engineering student at the University of Southern California, is already making significant impact in the aerospace field. In this episode of "She Persists," Zoe shares her inspiring journey from prestigious NASA internships to conducting her own research...
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The She Persists Podcast: Real Stories from Girls in STEM
Join Emma Zurine, a 16-year-old engineering student, as she shares the stories of girls navigating their paths in STEM. From setbacks to successes, each episode explores what it takes to persist in fields where women remain underrepresented. You’ll hear from high school and college students…
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From High School to UT Austin and Zero-Gravity: Londyn Franklin’s Journey
In this episode of She Persists, host Emma Zurine sits down with Londyn Franklin, an incoming Aerospace Engineering student at the University of Texas at Austin. Londyn shares her incredible journey interning with NASA, Bell Flight, and Southwest Airlines, and the challenges she faced navigating...
About this show
She Persists is the an empowering corner of the internet for young women who see themselves in STEM–Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Hosted by a passionate 16-year-old aspiring engineer and public policy advocate, the show focuses on voices that often get overlooked–girls who are just starting out.
Most guests are high school and college students who are finding their way, sharing the challenges, wins, and lessons that come with being at the very beginning of their STEM journey. Every now and then, an episode features a woman further along in her career, offering perspective and advice from the other side.
Whether you’re studying for your next physics exam, applying to engineering programs, or dreaming of changing the world with STEM, She Persists will keep you company and remind you: you are not alone, and you belong here.
💌 Subscribe now and join our community–and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for behind-the-
Hosted by
Emma Zurine
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