Assigned Scientist at Bachelor‘s
ASAB is a podcast about science fact and science fiction, hosted by two trans scientists: Tessa (astrobiology) and Charles (entomology). Every other week we talk to each other or with another trans scientist about research, interesting facts, whether aliens can be gay, science fiction, and maybe sometimes about being trans. Transcripts available on our website: asabpodcast.com.
Listen on:
Episodes
Apr 22, 2021
Apr 22, 2021
50 min
This week we are ecstatic to share our conversation with Annalee Newitz, author of fiction (Autonomous, Future of Another Timeline) and nonfiction (most recently Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age) and podcaster (Our Opinions are Correct, which they host with Charlie Jane Anders). We talk about coming out as non-binary to the world, archaeology, writing science fiction, and whether Annalee would put their brain in a robot body (yes) and if this is immortality (no?).
A transcript for this episode is available on our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/04/22/episode-27/
Annalee can be found on their own website, and @annaleen on Twitter. They can also be heard every other week on Our Opinions are Correct.
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles and Tessa is on Twitter @spacermase.
The show can be found on Twitter @ASABpod and at our website asabpodcast.com.
Thank you for listening!
Apr 15, 2021
Apr 15, 2021
40 min
This week we have Kaitlin Rasmussen, "stellar astrophysicist and exoplaneteer," on to talk about their research in exoplanets, planets in general, spectrographs, and telescopes. We get a lengthy interlude about history of scientific methodology, which delights Charles.
To see more about Kaitlin's work, check out her website at https://www.kaitlinrasmussen.com/, or see them on Twitter @toomanyspectra.
A transcript and show notes for this episode are available at our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/04/15/episode-26/
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles and Tessa is @spacermase.
The show is on Twitter @ASABpod or at our website asabpodcast.com.
Thank you for listening!
Apr 2, 2021
Apr 2, 2021
35 min
On this episode we have Cel Welch, founder of Queer Engineer, on to talk about Cel's research and background in medical diagnostics. We talk about what goes on in there and the process of developing new diagnostic tools.
Cel is on Twitter @citizenSTEM and Queer Engineer is on Twitter @QueerEngineers.
A transcript for this episode is available at our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/04/02/episode-25/
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show is at @ASABpod.
Thank you for listening!
Mar 18, 2021
Mar 18, 2021
45 min
In this episode we tackle two Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes about Ferengi and their weird gender stuff: "Rules of Acquisition" (a classic "women dresses as man to pursue opportunity" plot) and "Profit and Lace" (a well-intentioned? disaster of '90s transmisogyny). We get pretty personal and ask the real questions, like, why would anybody ever do this?
Warning for body/transition talk, dysphoria, "man in a dress" trope, transphobia, gay panic
A transcript and show notes for this episode are available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/03/18/episode-24/
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles. Tessa is on Twitter @spacermase.
The show is on Twitter @ASABpod and at our website asabpodcast.com.
Thank you for listening!
Mar 11, 2021
Mar 11, 2021
33 min
Our second episode with Gabi Fleury. In this one, we talk more specifically about their experiences being non-binary, Black, and queer in conservation, and include only one tangent to talk about cool bugs. (Leafcutter ants have a Neotropical distribution; they don't live in Africa)
Gabi was named in 2021 as one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 for science: https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2021/science/?profile=gabi-fleury
You can see more about their work and other appearances on their website: https://fleurygs3.wixsite.com/gabifleury
We have a transcript and show notes for this episode on our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/03/11/episode-23/
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles and Tessa @spacermase. The show is on Twitter @ASABpod and our website asabpodcast.com.
Thank you for listening!
Mar 4, 2021
Mar 4, 2021
46 min
We're joined in this week's episode by conservation biologist Gabi Fleury. Gabi works on wildlife-human conflict, primarily with African mammals. We talk about their work, doing conservation responsibly, conservation in space, and Gabi's many varied accomplishments. We also get a rare dose of real optimism!! It's unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
Gabi was named in 2021 as one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 for science: https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2021/science/?profile=gabi-fleury
You can see more about their work and other appearances on their website: https://fleurygs3.wixsite.com/gabifleury
We have a transcript and show notes for this episode on our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/03/04/episode-22
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles and Tessa @spacermase. The show is on Twitter @ASABpod and our website asabpodcast.com.
Thank you for listening!
Feb 25, 2021
Feb 25, 2021
37 min
In this episode, we talk to recently graduated bioanthropology student Caitlin Hobbs on their thesis research investigating responses to death during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Tangents include what we want done with our bodies after death, how Victorians were very goth, and whether human bodies can be composted.
Caitlin is still collecting responses for their thesis here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RFX7TXQ
They are also on Twitter @caitlinthehob and a contributor to Book Riot here: https://bookriot.com/author/caitlin-hobbs/
A transcript and list of relevant links is available at our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/02/25/episode-21/
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles and Tessa @spacermase. The show is on Twitter and Instagram @ASABpod, and at our website asabpodcast.com.
Thank you for listening!
Feb 14, 2021
Feb 14, 2021
39 min
In this episode, we explore the four species of Neotrogla (Insecta: Psocodea: Prionoglarididae) and their unique genitalia. Females in these species have a penis-like organ which penetrates the male, retrieves sperm, and deposits it back in their own body. We discuss the genital mechanism here, the broader genital landscape in animals, the meaning of sex and sexual adaptations, and some of the human context in language and definitions.
EXTENSIVE show notes and transcript are available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/02/14/episode-20/. We link to all the articles we reference, and further reading on some more topics.
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles and Tessa @spacermase.
The show is on Twitter and Instagram @ASABpod and at our website asabpodcast.com.
If you enjoy the show, please tell your friends, and thank you for listening!
Feb 3, 2021
Feb 3, 2021
33 min
In this episode, analytical chemist Dr. Carolyn P Hutchison, professor at St. Bonaventure, talks to us about their research in anticoagulant rodenticides and wastewater. Topics include rodenticides, bioaccumulation, environmental chemistry, a brief tangent about insects, and Carolyn's post-apocalyptic plans.
More information on Carolyn and their research can be found at their website: https://www.cphutchinson.com/.
Show notes and a transcript for this episode are available on our website: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/02/03/episode-19/
Charles is on Twitter @cockroacharles, Tessa @spacermase, and the show @ASABpod.
Thank you for listening!
Jan 20, 2021
Jan 20, 2021
35 min
On this episode we consider the implications of strange radio emissions from around Proxima Centauri. Tangents include Pluto, the meaning of planets, how to even detect radio signals, speculating about aliens, and why do we care about water so much anyway.
This episode was inspired by the findings written on in this article from the SETI institute: https://www.seti.org/signal-proxima-centauri?fbclid=IwAR155CthU3xZUghqUHRwnoDnh4lAFcN91Y1g-xtAlFqpW_s2cIEF6271guw
Links for further reading and a transcript are available on our website here: https://asabpodcast.com/2021/01/20/episode-18/
Tessa is on Twitter @spacermase, Charles @cockroacharles, and the show @ASABpod.
Thank you for listening!

