WOMANufacturing

In this episode of Womanufacturing, we sit down with John Webster, an old colleague, former intern, and now seasoned startup engineer, to talk about what it really means to grow up in a startup world.John shares his journey from graduating during COVID, moving countries for an internship, and being thrown into high-pressure manufacturing environments where learning happened fast, documentation was optional, and teamwork was everything. Together, we talk candidly about internships that actually teach you something, sink-or-swim startup culture, mentorship done right (and wrong), and how asking the right questions can change the trajectory of your career.We also dig into:Why internships are one of the most underrated career toolsThe realities of working at startups vs large companiesHow culture shifts as organizations scaleWhat it’s like to go from mentee to mentorStaying mission-driven in clean tech and manufacturingAnd why “figuring it out together” matters more than having all the answersThis conversation is honest, funny, and deeply relatable for anyone early in their career, mentoring young engineers, or navigating the chaos of fast-growing companies.If you’ve ever learned the hard way, grown through pressure, or bonded over keeping equipment alive, this one’s for you.

What if the thing you’ve been fighting your whole life… finally has a name?In this deeply personal episode of Womanufacturing, Alicia opens up about receiving an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, and how it reframed decades of anxiety, burnout, overachievement, people-pleasing, and thriving in chaos.Joined by Justine, this conversation isn’t about checklists or stereotypes. It’s about what ADHD can actually look like in high-performing women, engineers, founders, and leaders who were never “bouncing off the walls” — just constantly thinking, constantly caring, constantly pushing.They talk about:• Late-in-life diagnosis and why it’s more common than we think• ADHD, anxiety, and depression — symptoms vs. root causes• Why some brains need pressure, deadlines, and complexity to function• Startup chaos, systems-level thinking, and the myth of “attention deficit”• Rebuilding self-trust, confidence, and self-compassion after naming the pattern• Learning when ADHD is a superpower — and when it needs supportThis episode is for anyone who’s ever thought:“Why can’t I just be normal?”“Why do I work best when everything is on fire?”“Why am I exhausted even when I’m successful?”If you’ve ever felt misunderstood by your own brain, you’re not alone.Naming it is the first step toward healing.

Internships get a lot of airtime, but what happens after you’re hired?In this episode, Alicia and Justine talk candidly about mentorship, the kind that actually works. Not the clunky HR programs or forced pairings, but real, human mentorship built on trust, curiosity, and mutual respect.They dig into what makes a good mentor, why one-size-fits-all management fails, how mentoring others sharpens your own skills, and why so many engineers end up figuring things out alone. From pairing junior engineers with senior staff, to seeking mentors outside your department, to simply asking “where do you want to go?”, this conversation is about paying it forward without sucking the soul out of it.If you’ve ever wished you had better guidance, or wondered how to support the next generation without turning it into a checkbox exercise, this one’s for you.

Swetha is QueenThis week on Womanufacturing, Alicia and Justine sit down with someone very special: former coworker, naming-genius of the podcast, recent UCLA grad, and now automation powerhouse — Swetha.Swetha shares her journey from confused high-school STEM kid to mechanical engineering major to discovering her love for automation and systems-level thinking. We talk internships, owning entire systems as a new grad, what healthy mentorship looks like, the magic of scrappy dev work, and the thrill of bringing machines to life.She also gives an honest look at stepping into her first full-time role in automation at SpaceX — the culture, the mentors, the “fail safe and fail fast” mindset, and the responsibility of building things that will live far beyond the intern era.This episode is packed with wisdom from a fresh engineer who’s already thinking like a seasoned systems lead. Swetha is insightful, humble, hilarious — and absolutely a queen.If you're early in your career, mentoring someone, or just love hearing women take up space in engineering, this one will light you up.

In this episode, Alicia and Justine get real about the power of internships, the good, the awkward, and the transformative. From Alicia’s wild summer on a remote Alaskan island to Justine’s first taste of engineering in a polymer lab, they unpack how early experiences shape who we become as professionals.They also explore what makes a great mentor, why “try before you buy” is the best career advice, and how building relationships during internships can pay off years (or decades) later. Whether you’re a student wondering where to start or a manager thinking about hiring interns, this one’s for you.

In this episode of Woo Manufacturing, Justine and Alicia sit down with longtime entrepreneur and automation badass Adrienne Harvey to talk about her unconventional journey from running an early e-commerce business to building Ignition systems and speaking on stage at Inductive Automation’s ICC.Adrienne shares how a summer internship at a bakery plant sparked a lifelong curiosity for how things work, why asking “stupid” questions is actually the smartest move you can make, and how creative problem-solving connects everything from shipping logistics to machine learning to control systems.The conversation touches on everything from on-call chaos and plant tours to Excel “3D drawings,” industrial acronyms gone wrong, and the joy of automation that just works.Tune in for laughs, curiosity, and a reminder that the best engineers are the ones who never stop asking why.

Ever been the one keeping everything running — without any official authority? In this episode, Alicia and Justine get real about leading without the title. From wrangling cross-functional teams to navigating egos, they share how influence, empathy, and integrity can move mountains (even when politics and bad actors try to block the path). Expect stories from the plant floor, lessons learned the hard way, and a few laughs about the chaos that comes with getting sh*t done when no one technically reports to you.#WomenInManufacturing #Leadership #Influence #Integrity #WorkCulture #Womanufacturing

This week, Alicia and Justine welcome a very special guest, Alicia’s cousin, Bailey! 🎉 From Montana to France and now to New England, Bailey’s journey as a chemical engineer has been anything but ordinary. She dives into what it was like moving abroad during COVID, learning French, and mastering yogurt production at scale. We chat about the art (and headache) of plant mass balance, why food and beverage manufacturing is more technical than people think, and the cultural differences she’s noticed working in factories in France versus the U.S. Oh, and we can’t forget the love story she brought home with her! 💕

In this episode of Womanufacturing, Alicia and Justine open up about the realities of moving for work — from the excitement of new opportunities to the challenge of starting over. They share personal stories of uprooting for careers, finding (and sometimes struggling to find) community in new places, and what it feels like to go from confident expert to newcomer overnight. Whether you’ve relocated for a job or are considering it, this candid conversation explores identity, belonging, and the balance between career ambition and personal connection.

In this episode of Womanufacturing, Alicia and Justine sit down with Dr. Zöe Steine-Hanson, PhD, a research scientist at OpenBCI. Zöe’s work bridges neuroscience, computer science, and ethics, exploring how brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are being developed today — from invasive neural arrays used in epilepsy research to open-source EEG systems that make neurotechnology accessible outside the lab.We dive into her path from PhD research at the University of Washington to her current role in industry, and what she’s learned about the differences between academia’s power dynamics and the realities of building technology people actually use. Along the way, Zöe shares insights on gender bias, problem-solving styles, inclusivity in tech design, and why it’s so important to consider who gets left out when new technology goes mainstream.If you’ve ever wondered how close we really are to “mind-reading” machines, what the future of neurotech might look like, or why diversity and ethics matter just as much as hardware and code, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Alicia and Justine dive into the intoxicating pull — and hidden costs — of startup life. From the thrill of building something from scratch to the subtle ways boundaries erode, they unpack how a sense of mission can morph into relentless grind. Was it just dedication… or were they caught up in a full-blown “CULTure”?If you’ve ever wondered why smart, capable people give everything to a company — and what it takes to break free — this episode pulls back the curtain on the playbook nobody talks about.

Guest Spotlight: Abe Coir, Manufacturing Engineer at Leatherman 🔧In this episode, we sit down with Abe Coir to talk about what it really takes to scale manufacturing processes for millions of tools a year—and why collaboration between design and operations is everything.Abe shares stories from across the manufacturing spectrum: from union shops to startups in garages, from being the only woman in toxic environments to finally landing at a company that gets it right. We cover:What it’s like to work at Leatherman and why cross-functional respect mattersThe ups and downs of job-hopping in search of better fit and better cultureSafety horror stories (hello, hydrofluoric acid in a beaker 😱)Why standing up for safety is worth it—even if it means walking awayThe importance of internships, meaty engineering roles, and practical jokesThis one’s equal parts hilarious, honest, and deeply validating for anyone who's been underestimated on the floor or in the lab.🎙 Powered by lived experience, sharp commentary, and a literal soapbox.#womanufacturing #leatherman #manufacturingengineer #processsafety #careerpath #engineeringculture

This episode dives into the messy, hilarious, and sometimes dangerous transition from school to the manufacturing floor. We unpack early-career mistakes, cowboy engineering, the Dunning-Kruger effect, and why safety rules exist for a reason — especially when hydrogen’s involved.We also talk about the disconnect between theoretical design and real-world execution (hello, carpet dwellers) and how to build an internal compass when you're still learning the ropes.Whether you're new to the field or managing the next generation of engineers, this one’s got stories, lessons, and a few hot takes.

In this episode, Alicia and Justine dig into the messy, unfiltered reality of what it actually takes to be an engineer once you leave the classroom. From mentoring interns to managing million-dollar projects, they share hard-won lessons that don’t come from a textbook — like how to size a valve, why your “perfect” design might be unusable, and what happens when you’re told to “just figure it out” on live equipment.They talk startup chaos, lack of mentorship, hubris in the workplace, and the silent pressure young engineers face to already know everything. This is the episode for anyone who’s ever wondered if they were crazy for asking questions — and why speaking up is the smartest thing you can do.🔥 Topics include:– Why theory fails at scale– Trial by fire vs. structured mentorship– The danger of "fake it till you make it" in engineering– What it means to build your instincts — and your confidence– Why talking to operators and fabricators will level up your careerWhether you’re a new grad, a startup warrior, or a seasoned pro, this episode is a must-listen reminder that real-world engineering takes more than equations — it takes experience, humility, and a damn good team

Not every uncomfortable moment at work comes from bad intentions—but that doesn’t mean it didn’t land wrong. In this episode, Alicia and Justine dive into those “in between” situations—awkward comments, pet names, and moments where you walk away feeling dismissed or disrespected, even if no harm was meant.We share:Tools for handling these situations without setting the building on fireWhy the impact matters more than the intentHow to build your confidence so you can speak up, even when it’s hardThe fine art of giving feedback without triggering defensivenessStories about standing up for others, even when it’s riskyWhether you’re trying to take up space for the first time or figuring out how to help others do the same, this one’s packed with real talk and practical insight.

In this episode, Alicia and Justine reflect on what it really takes to find your voice—and use it—in male-dominated workplaces. From learning how to navigate awkward interactions to calling out dismissive behavior with grace (or grit), they unpack the messy, human side of growing your confidence.They talk through:The difference between intent and impact—and why both matterHow to advocate for yourself (and others) when something feels offThe power of listening to quieter voices—and amplifying themWhy escalation isn’t always the first move—but sometimes it’s necessaryAnd, of course, how some VPs just need to be your friend, whether they like it or notWhether you’re early in your career or finding new footing as a leader, this one’s for anyone learning how to speak up without backing down.

This week on Womanufacturing, we're joined by the brilliant and fearless Lola Vars — mechanical engineer, materials scientist, ceramist, and all-around multi-hyphenate badass. We dive deep into the emotional cost of working in male-dominated spaces, the internal contortions women make just to be heard, and how it feels to finally stop filtering ourselves.Alicia opens up about how she’s been fired three times since deciding to speak up more confidently — and how Lola’s refusal to soften her truth is both inspiring and (let’s be honest) a little uncomfortable in all the right ways.We also unpack Lola’s powerful lens:The Zero Principle — Are we even solving the right problem?This one’s raw, real, and full of truth bombs.

In this episode of Womanufacturing, we compare the chaos of a manufacturing plant to a casino—both are action-packed, flashing 24/7, and somehow always a little bit broken. We talk about what it’s really like to work shifts, swap war stories from the plant floor, and dig into the big questions nobody else asks:Are stack lights actually helpful, or just leadership’s favorite toy?Is “flashy flashy” a technical term? (Spoiler: it is now.)Why am I updating leadership all night when they're asleep and add zero value?What hills are actually worth dying on when you work around the clock?Get to know us a little better—and maybe feel a little less alone if you’ve ever wondered why 3AM decisions in a plant feel like they deserve their own reality show.

In our very first episode, we’re kicking things off with how we met, why we started this podcast, and what you can expect from Womanufacturing. We’re talking real, raw stories from startups and 24/7 factory life—the kind of things that don’t make it into panel discussions or glossy brochures.This isn’t just about surviving in manufacturing—it’s about thriving, showing up fully, and bringing more women (and allies) into the conversation. If you’ve ever felt like the only one in the room, or like no one’s saying what really needs to be said, this one’s for you.