STEMming in Stilettos w/Dr. Toshia

About Alex Noel: Alexandra Noël received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, her master’s in occupational and environmental health, as well as her PhD in Public Health, with a specialization in Toxicology and Risk Assessment, all from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal (Quebec, Canada). She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at Louisiana State University (LSU) and the Director of the LSU Inhalation Research Facility. She conducts in vitro and in vivo inhalation toxicology studies on cardio-pulmonary effects resulting from in utero and adult exposures to second-hand smoke, electronic-cigarette aerosols, nanoparticles, and particles from air pollution. Her publication record includes 48 peer-reviewed scientific articles. In addition, Dr. Noël is the leader of the Inhalation Toxicology Core of the LSU Superfund Research Program and the Director of Inhalation & Infection Core of the LSU Lung COBRE. She is a counselor for the Inhalation and Respiratory Specialty Section (IRSS) (2024-2026) of the Society of Toxicology (SOT). She is also the Chair of the Membership Committee (2025-2026) of the American Thoracic Society (ATS). Dr. Noël is also a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health (2022-2026) and she is an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Dr. Noël’s laboratory is currently funded by the NIGMS, the NIEHS and the NHLBI.

Dr. Tasha interviews Lisa Randolph, author of the children's book "The Wildlife Divas Adventure Team," which promotes STEM education and features diverse characters. Lisa shares her personal journey from a childhood fascination with science to her current work as a STEM advocate, including her experiences working with at-risk girls in San Francisco. She discusses the inspiration behind her book, which was sparked by a real camping trip incident involving a seagull. Lisa also reveals plans for her next book, which will focus on saving endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda and will include themes of climate change and Indigenous Australian culture. The interview concludes with Lisa encouraging young girls to pursue their interests in STEM and emphasizing that nothing should stand in their way of achieving their dreams.

Each episode features a candid conversation with a woman of color in STEM sharing her real journey, the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. We talk openly about what it means to navigate science, technology, engineering, and math as a minority woman and the advice she would give the next generation. These stories are honest, empowering, and unapologetically real. This podcast celebrates brilliance, resilience, and women who refuse to shrink in STEM.Jessica contact informationhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jessburney

Each episode features a candid conversation with a woman of color in STEM sharing her real journey, the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. We talk openly about what it means to navigate science, technology, engineering, and math as a minority woman and the advice she would give the next generation. These stories are honest, empowering, and unapologetically real. This podcast celebrates brilliance, resilience, and women who refuse to shrink in STEM.

Each episode features a candid conversation with a woman of color in STEM sharing her real journey, the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. We talk openly about what it means to navigate science, technology, engineering, and math as a minority woman and the advice she would give the next generation. These stories are honest, empowering, and unapologetically real. This podcast celebrates brilliance, resilience, and women who refuse to shrink in STEM.

Each episode features a candid conversation with a woman of color in STEM sharing her real journey, the wins, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. We talk openly about what it means to navigate science, technology, engineering, and math as a minority woman and the advice she would give the next generation. These stories are honest, empowering, and unapologetically real. This podcast celebrates brilliance, resilience, and women who refuse to shrink in STEM.

In this final episode of 2025, Natoshia reflected on the year's challenges and achievements as a minority woman in STEM, sharing insights about what worked and what didn't. She discussed the importance of prioritizing alignment over proximity, centering real conversations about STEM equity, and saying no to underfunded partnerships and performative invitations. Natoshia emphasized the need for visibility with strategy, proper funding for STEM initiatives, and the importance of built-in rest to prevent burnout. She concluded by expressing pride in her work with students, educators, and leaders, and outlined plans for 2026, including a focus on paid speaking engagements, scalable programs, and stronger contracts, while urging listeners to come prepared and committed for the new year.