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PODCAST

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women in STEM

We’re Kathy Kale Nelson and Linda LaTourelle — co-hosts of Ordinarily Extraordinary: Conversations with Women in STEM.Our mission is to amplify the voices of ordinary women doing extraordinary work in science, technology, engineering, and math.We’re deeply committed to:Normalizing the presence of women in STEM by making their stories visibleBuilding community for women who may be the only ones like them in their workplaceEducating listeners about the wide variety of STEM careers — and what they

science mathematics

All Episodes

63:23

141. The STEM Side of Patent Law: Inside IP With...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/12/17

In this episode, Kathy sits down with Christine Hollis, the Chief Talent and Diversity Officer at Marshall Gerstein & Borun — one of the top intellectual property law firms in the U.S. Christine brings a fresh, energetic perspective to the often-misunderstood world of patent law and STEM-driven legal careers. Together, they explore what intellectual property (IP) law really is, how STEM professionals are critical to patent work, and why careers like technical specialist, patent agent, and...

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72:21

139. Mishael Umlor: Designing a Life You Love -...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/12/03

In today’s episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM, Kathy and Linda sit down with environmental engineer and river guide Mishael Umlor — a woman who pressed pause on her engineering career to live a year of adventure, intention, and joy. Kathy first met Mishael this summer while rowing through the Grand Canyon on a 14-day paddle trip. What began as a passing “Wait… you’re an engineer?” moment turned into months of wanting to learn more about her unconventional, ...

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19:07

140. STEM Super Stars: Introducing the Women in STEM...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/11/25

In this special episode, Kathy and her co-host Linda sit down for a heartfelt conversation about the release of Kathy’s brand-new Women in STEM Coloring Book—a three-year passion project created in collaboration with her daughter, Emily. This book showcases contemporary women in STEM, brought to life through hand-drawn illustrations and inspiring biographies. Kathy shares the story behind the book, why representation of real, modern women in STEM matters, and how her daughter’s artwork brings...

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55:50

138. Science the Hell Out of It: Career Pivots &...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/11/19

Episode Summary In this inspiring and deeply human episode, Kathy and Linda sit down with Amanda Mavropoulis, a global project and portfolio management leader in technology including 15 years in the electric utility space, and one extraordinary career pivot. Amanda shares her unconventional STEM journey—from early days taking apart alarm clocks, to working in IT as a student worker, to a long career in utilities, and ultimately into her “unicorn job” at a major tech company. Along the way, sh...

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63:29

137. Bonus Halloween Episode! Dr. Kristen Lear – Bat...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/10/29

In this bonus, Halloween and Bat Week episode, we talk with Dr. Kristen Lear, a bat conservation scientist, National Geographic Explorer, and If/Then® Ambassador whose lifelong passion for misunderstood creatures turned into a career protecting bat populations around the world. Kristen shares how a childhood Girl Scout project building bat houses led her to a career at Bat Conservation International (BCI), where she now directs the Agave Restoration Initiative—a binational program supporting ...

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64:31

136. Catherine Jackson Jones: STEM Opportunities for...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/10/22

In this episode, Kathy and Linda talk with Catherine Jackson Jones, a coach and mentor with the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding STEM opportunities for students and empowering educators to bring real-world STEM experiences into classrooms across the country. Catherine shares how NMSI builds awareness and access to STEM fields, particularly for students in under-resourced and rural communities. Through long-term partnerships with scho...

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62:50

135: Manyphay Viengkham-Systems Engineer; Resilience,...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/10/08

In this episode, Kathy and Linda talk with Manyphay Viengkham, an accomplished technology leader whose career spans energy innovation, systems engineering, and entrepreneurship. With degrees in biochemistry and computer science, Manyphay has built a career defined by curiosity, continuous learning, and resilience—navigating roles in major companies like GE and Honeywell before launching her own consulting business. Together, they explore: How following her curiosity led from science to techno...

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61:59

134. Lawanda Parnell – A Technology Career Across...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/09/24

In this episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM, Kathy and Linda sit down with Lawanda Parnell, a retired technology and utility leader whose career began at IBM in the early 1980s and spanned decades of innovation and leadership. Lawanda shares her journey from studying business administration with a strong math and computer science foundation at the University of Florida, to becoming one of the few Black women in tech during her era, to leading large-scale pro...

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55:51

133. Stacy Cluff; Utility Technology Leader

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/09/10

After almost a year away, Ordinarily Extraordinary: Conversations with Women in STEM is back — and we’re relaunching with something new: a co-host! In this episode, Kathy is joined by her longtime friend and new co-host, Linda LaTourelle, to talk with Stacy Cluff, IT and Broadband Manager at Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative. Stacy has worked at Mille Lacs for 28 years, wearing many hats in technology, IT, and now leading the co-op’s broadband program — bringing critical fiber broadband service t...

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6:03

Relaunch Trailer - Introducing Co-Host Linda LaTourelle

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2025/07/29

Support the show

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53:11

132. Fae Gaze, Mathematician, Data Scientist, and...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/10/17

Fae Gaze is a mathematician, data scientist, and machine learning researcher with degrees in mathematics, molecular biology, computer science, and data science engineering. She shares her journey into the world of math, data science, and machine learning and discusses the joy she finds in problem-solving and working with data.The conversation also touches on mental health, the importance of breaking down complex challenges, and how algorithms can be applied in research and life. Fae’s inspiri...

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50:44

131. Dr. Sandra Johnson, Entrepreneur, Global...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/09/12

Dr. Sandra Johnson, a groundbreaking electrical engineer and entrepreneur, is the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in computer engineering. Her journey from a high school introduction to engineering to her current roles as a former IBM CTO and a board member for several companies is a testament to her resilience and determination in the face of unique challenges.The book Soft Power for the Journey: The Life of a STEM Trailblazer is a fascinating story of the remarkable life arc of a resilien...

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53:23

Episode 130 Sheila Buswell- CEO, Biomedical Engineer...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/07/31

Sheila Buswell is the founder and CEO of Buswell Biomedical. Sheila's story is fascinating as she transitions from roles in mechanical engineering and as an army technician to becoming an innovator in the biomedical field, inspired by her own injury experiences.We dive into imposter syndrome, women's unique challenges in STEM, and the balancing act required in entrepreneurship. Sheila also shares insights from her book, "Is This Seat for Me?" highlighting the importance of setting boundaries ...

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71:53

129. Sarah Garcia; Civil Engineer, Construction Industry

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/07/24

Sarah Garcia is a Project Executive and Director of DEI at Novo Construction. She is a civil engineer who has worked in the construction industry for most of her career. She is passionate about getting women and other minorities into the construction industry and has seen firsthand the progress companies can make when they invest in DEI programs. Sarah has a Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering.What do we talk about in this episode?Civil engineering and how that fits into the constructi...

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57:36

128. Kalpana Pot - Actor, Writer, Host, and Space...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/07/10

Kalpana Pot is an actor, writer, host, and space communicator. Renowned for her vibrant online presence, particularly in space science, Kalpana has cultivated a platform with over 200K followers on Instagram and 4.4 million likes on TikTok.Importantly, she challenges the prevailing narratives about women in STEM, a perspective not often encountered. Furthermore, it's uncommon to find a woman in STEM with a substantial following, but Kalpana leverages her platform to educate people about space...

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54:58

Episode 127 - Dr. Audra Morse- Dean, Professor, Civil...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/05/22

Dr. Audra Morse, Dean of the College of Engineering at Michigan Tech, is a distinguished professional with a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and degrees in Environmental Engineering. Her journey from student to dean highlights the importance of rigorous academic challenges and hands-on learning in shaping successful careers in STEM. Dr. Morse emphasizes the changing dynamics of engineering education, including the impact of COVID-19 on learning styles and the crucial role of resilience. The ...

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45:23

Episode 125- Dr. Scyatta Wallace- Founder; Award...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/05/01

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63:07

Episode 125 - Charli Matthews; Visionary leader and...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/04/24

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62:29

124. Dr. Chanfeng Zhao - Chemist; Chemical Engineer;...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/03/27

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44:20

123 - Abigail Fritschel Returns. Aerospace...

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women... ·

2024/03/13

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