The Plasticity Podcast

Hello, it is I - Santina Duarte - reporting live from Calgary for a change of pace. I have officially survived my first semester of grad school, everyone. We made it.

And listen… it almost broke me. Daily crash-outs, so many cockroaches, fighting with admin, learning how to live alone... and yet, here we are. Still standing. Mostly.

So after desperately needing a more chill episode, this week I’m breaking down the top 10 things I learned during my first semester of grad school. From lab dynamics and classes to depanneurs decorated like submarines, this epis...

This week, we’re talking about that strangely heavy feeling you get when you go home after a significant life change — the “everything is the same, but I’m not” moment. We’re unpacking the neuroscience and psychology behind growing apart from people, outgrowing old versions of yourself, and why returning home can feel like stepping into a past life.

We’ll break down how your brain processes major transitions, why nostalgia hits harder around the holidays, and why drifting from old friends or familiar places activates real social-pain circuits. We’ll talk about identity shifts, reverse culture shock, a...

Hi, it's me, Santina Duarte, the girl in your lab who has like 800 pets and is quite literally a crazy cat lady, and this week we are talking pets. Have you ever thought about how your pet all of a sudden hates your ex when you break up? Or how can they pick out your friends in a crowded room, even if they have never met them before? In this week's episode, we explore the neuroscience of the human–animal bond: oxytocin loops, emotional contagion, how pets read our stress signals, and how our brains light up when we’re w...

Hi, it is me your older sisters ex best friend thats also your ex best friend who now lives in a city where it rains in November, Santina Duarte. This week I am talking about how PhD's actually work and the realities of academia. If you are thinking about grad school and dreaming of that “Dr.” title then this episode is for you.

This week, we’re ripping the academic band-aid off. I break down the real difference between an MSc and a PhD, the unspoken truth about burnout in research, and the red flags that scream “run” whe...

Hi, it's me, the mother of cats, your older sister in science and the girl in your lab who is trying to learn everything and anything in a super short amount of time for some reason, Santina Duarte. Have you ever wondered how we study the brain? (Spoiler: it’s more than just fMRI scans and lab mice.) Neuroscience involves a broad ecosystem—from glowing neurons in petri dishes to stressed graduate students running maze experiments, computer simulations of depression, and humans lying still in MRI scanners, trying not to sneeze. In this episode, I break down all the type...

Hey, it's me, the 20-something-year-old girl who moved in across the hall, who spends most of her day talking to her cat, Santina. This week, I talk about seasonal depression and why we have all had a horrible week. From circadian rhythm disruptions to serotonin mysteries to the messed-up hurricane of responsibilities that occur in November and December, this time of year really is the perfect storm of garbage that is sure to lower your mood. I also discuss potential treatments that may help, including light therapies and lifestyle resets. And of course, I talk about some of my...

Hey again, it's me, Santina Duarte, reporting for duty. This week has honestly been filled with the nightmarish experience of crushing on someone now and it has made me s p i r a l like the most unhinged conversations with my friends over the most disgusting feelings. So, anyway, I wanted to talk about some of the neuroscience behind crushes and why love is such an important aspect of human health, because I have been driving myself insane. Also, spoiler alert - my crazy cat lady dendincies also don't help with this and are probably exacerbating my insanity...

Hi, it's me, Santina, the human who feeds and takes care of the hippo. It really is his world, and we are all so lucky to just be living in it.

This week, I discuss the dark history of neuroscience, a rabbit hole I recently fell down as I learned just how much has actually taken place at McGill. Since I will be discussing dark topics, viewer discretion is advised. We will be talking about horrific experiments like the Montreal experiment, which was a part of MKUltra, some Nazi medical experimentation, as well as some examples of...

Hi, it is once again my favourite time of the week, where we play the best game: count how many times Santina says "um" or "and so" while talking about science. Also, the words "and so" look like a fish on my audio editing platform, thanks to Audacity.

This week, I talk about some of my previous work looking at cerebral (brain) blood flow: specifically, two processes known as neurovascular coupling and cerebrovascular reactivity. We in particular look at the effects of acute hyperglycemia, or a short-term increase in blood sugar, and the effects of sitting, standing...

Hello, and welcome back to the plasticity podcast where you listen to me spiral while fighting with my cat to get off the key board. This week I discuss what its like being a women in STEM, from the history behind my leading ladies in the lab, current issues that we face in the field and what you can do to promote more girls looking at graphs.

This episode does discuss sensitive topics like sexual harrassment and assault, if you are currently struggling with any of these issues there are a number of resources available. Here is...

Hello! Welcome to the Neuroplasticity podcast, where I discuss how neuroscience research changed my life, all while my cat knocks things over and meows in the background in an attempt to ruin my life.

Today's episode focuses on the importance of effective science communication at the academic, government, and social levels. Here, I delve into the realities of grant writing (especially in another language, cough cough Quebec), the challenges science faces in disseminating public knowledge, as well as the challenges of presenting to broader audiences at conferences. Please sit back, grab a tea or coffee, and listen...

Hello! Welcome to the Neuroplasticity podcast, where I discuss how neuroscience research changed my life and brought me to Quebec of all places (cue that clip of Frank Ghallager saying "how did I end up in Canada, I hate Canada"). On a side note, I can't stop watching Shameless; it is an issue.

Today's episode focuses on my academic journey and how I ended up conducting research at McGill University in Montreal, from my hometown of Calgary, Alberta. I also briefly discuss some of my work, including a study I previously published that focuses on the intersection...