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PODCAST

The Plasticity Podcast

The Plasticity Podcast explores how the brain reshapes itself when life throws something new our way. Hosted by Santina Duarte, a neuroscience graduate student, the show follows her personal journey of moving across the country to living alone for the first time, all while unpacking the science of how we learn and adapt to new situations.Each episode blends real-life experiences with current hot topics in neuroscience research like neuroplasticity, reward learning, stress, and mental health. Here

science life sciences

All Episodes

60:23

Natural Medicine vs. Western Science — Or Is That the...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2026/03/02

Hi, it's me, that girl that you met at a bar, hoping to learn about natural health and ended up being held hostage by her after as she went on and on about her own research, Santina. After attending an event that was openly critical of alternative and traditional medicine, I’m diving into the bigger question: who gets to decide what counts as “real” medicine? In this episode, I explore the tension between Western science and natural health, the plant origins of modern pharmaceuticals, Indigenous

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31:52

Everyone Else Is Smarter Than Me (Apparently): A...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2026/02/23

Hi, it's me, Santina, a 20-something-year-old woman who forcibly took you away from your cat parents and brought you into a tiny, cold apartment, and you kind of like it because she gives you churus. This week, we're talking impostor syndrome because oh boy do I (and most people I know) have it. Imposture syndrome is everywhere in academia, but it’s rarely talked about honestly. In this episode, we explore why so many capable scientists feel like they don’t belong—and how competitive systems, peer

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48:10

Your Paper vs. Three Strangers on the Internet; the...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2026/02/16

Hi, its me, Santina, that girl in your class who shows up just to work and pay 0 attention to the lecture itself. In this episode, we break down how peer review works, why it exists, and how decisions get made behind the scenes. From editors to reviewers to revisions, we unpack the process that shapes what science gets published—and what never sees the light of day. It's publish or perish, baby, and we are in the thick of it. As per usual, I release a new episode every Monday at 7:00 am EST. You can

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28:07

Why “Just Try Harder” Was Never the Answer: Bariatric...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2026/02/09

Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective treatments we have for obesity—yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we break down what bariatric (metabolic) surgery actually does, why it works, and why the “easy way out” narrative is scientifically wrong.Using evidence from neuroscience, endocrinology, and long-term clinical outcomes, we explore how bariatric surgery changes appetite regulation, reward processing, hunger hormones, and energy balance at the biological level

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34:59

Bias, BMI, and Bad Medicine: Neurobiological...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2026/02/02

Obesity is one of the most misunderstood—and most stigmatized—medical conditions we treat. In this episode, we dismantle the idea that body weight is simply a matter of willpower, discipline, or personal responsibility and replace it with what the science actually shows. Using evidence from neuroscience, endocrinology, and metabolism research, we explore how the brain regulates weight, why the body fiercely defends stored energy, and why long-term weight loss through lifestyle intervention alone is

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37:33

The Pick-Up Line That Launched a Literature Review:...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2026/01/26

Hi, it's me, Santina... actually Sequoia now, according to some random man who compared me to a tree when he tried to pick me up at a grocery store. In this episode, we unpack the neuroscience and psychology behind what many women recognize immediately: male audacity. From unsolicited grocery-store pickup lines to dating app overconfidence, we explore why men are more likely to initiate, overestimate interest, and persist despite clear social feedback.As per usual, I release a new episode every

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46:15

The science of catching up: sex difference research...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2026/01/19

Hi, it's me, the girl who tried to wash her duvet in her apartment washer/dryer and ended up going to bed with 50 blankets to stay warm because it wasn't dry, Santina Duarte. Since last week was all sex, I wanted to talk a bit about the gaps in women's research and why we are currently in the girliest scientific renaissance known in existence. In this episode, I dive into the dumpster fire that is women's research, why researchers have never explored female health, and how that is affecting women

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41:29

Let’s Talk About Sex — The Science Version

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2026/01/12

Hi, it's me, your cousin, who was recommending gay hockey shows to the whole family on Christmas, Santina Duarte. Since we finished off last year pretty rough, I want to start this year off a little more fun. We are going to talk about sex, ladies! Specifically from the lens of women, sex, and neuroscience, health, and all things biology. In this episode, I dive into what happens in the brain during sex, the health benefits of regular sex, how sex is different in women compared to men (based on

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29:21

Living With a Changing Brain: Parkinson’s Explained

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/12/22

Hi, it's me, Santina, your older sister in science and in this episode of The Plasticity Podcast, we explore the complex neurobiology of Parkinson’s disease — a progressive movement disorder rooted in the brain’s dopamine networks and neural plasticity. We’ll break down what happens in the nervous system, how scientists are studying its mechanisms, and what living with Parkinson’s really feels like for millions of people around the world. Along the way, we talk about cutting-edge research, community

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38:32

I Survived My First Semester of Grad School—Here’s...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/12/15

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

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32:20

Your Brain on Change (and Why Home Doesn’t Fit Anymore)

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/12/08

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

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59:54

Why My Cat Is Basically My Therapist: The...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/12/01

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

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52:34

Inside the grad school machine: Demystifying the Dr....

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/11/24

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

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38:13

Cell Dishes, Mouse Mazes & MRI Machines: A Brain...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/11/17

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

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38:29

Why is it dark at 5:00 pm: why winter means we are in...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/11/10

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,

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51:13

My prefrontal cortex left the chat: what happens when...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/11/03

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

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45:00

Science or Sin? What happens when neuroscience looses...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/10/27

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

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26:57

Go with the flow: inside the brains plumbing system

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/10/20

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

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34:04

From barbies to brains: the women in STEM experience

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/10/13

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

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39:30

Talk nerdy to me: why effective communication is...

The Plasticity Podcast ·

2025/10/06

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

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21 results

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