The Plasticity Podcast

The Plasticity Podcast

by Santina Duarte

Life Sciences Personal Journals

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

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, autobiographical memory, and what actually helps when you feel disconnected from the place (and people) who once defined you. If you’ve ever gone home for Christmas and felt like a visitor in your own story — this episode is for you. A mix of neuroscience, vulnerability, and seasonal bittersweetness… welcome to Stick Season for the brain. As per usual, I release a new episode every Monday at 7:00 am EST. You can find me on all podcast platforms and on Instagram at @theplasticitypodcast. Thank you so much for another week of listening, and I am going to go to bed now since I have the literal plague (please send chicken noodle soup + cold medication)

Why My Cat Is Basically My Therapist: The Neurobiology of Pets

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 with them. From third-party social evaluation (yes, your dog can form opinions about people based on how they treat you) to the biology of comfort, attachment, and why animals often feel like family — this is the science behind the connection we feel in our bones. As per usual, I release a new episode every Monday at 7:00 am EST. You can find me on all podcast platforms and on Instagram at @theplasticitypodcast. Thank you so much for another week of listening, and I am holding space (insert Cynthia Erivo holding just Ariana Grande's finger) for all the new listeners who have joined me :).

Inside the grad school machine: Demystifying the Dr. title

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” when choosing a lab. No gatekeeping, no sugarcoating — just the honest, neuroscience-infused reality of what it takes to survive (and actually enjoy) the grad school journey. Whether you’re planning your next degree, rethinking academia, or just curious how people become “Doctor,” this episode demystifies the entire path with clarity, humour, and a few hard truths. As per usual, I release a new episode every Monday at 7:00 am EST. You can find me on all podcast platforms and on Instagram at @theplasticitypodcast. Thank you so much for another week of listening, and i hope your fyp is also full of mort thirst traps like mine is (thats normal right?)..

Cell Dishes, Mouse Mazes & MRI Machines: A Brain Science Safari

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 types of neuroscience research, from in-vitro work to mouse models and computation; there are so many different kinds of neuroscientists all contributing to the same story of what is happening in our heads. As per usual, I release a new episode every Monday at 7:00 am EST. You can find me on all podcast platforms and on Instagram at @theplasticitypodcast. Thank you so much for another week of listening, and please stay warm and safe. Montreal has the world's wettest snow and the iciest sidewalks, so I will be trying not to slip and fall for the week. Please do the same.

Why is it dark at 5:00 pm: why winter means we are in our sad girl eras

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 current struggles, which include lab cockroaches, dreams of skiing, and even a little bit about me falling up the stairs in front of a professor. As per usual, I release a new episode every Monday at 7:00 am EST. You can find me on all podcast platforms and on Instagram at @theplasticitypodcast. Thank you so much for another week of listening, and please remember to stay strong during these troubling times (and by that I mean the STM strike, I just want to go from point A to B, why is that so hard???).

My prefrontal cortex left the chat: what happens when love is on the brain

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, which is really fun. So, fall down a rabbit hole with me and watch as I justify my recent late-night walks in the rain while listening to The Tortured Poets Department on repeat. As per usual, I release a new episode every Monday at 7:00 am EST. You can find me on all podcast platforms and on Instagram at @theplasticitypodcast. Thank you so much for another week of listening, and remember: b*tches aint sh*t, and they aint saying nothing —100 MF's can't tell me nothing.

Science or Sin? What happens when neuroscience looses its mind

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 flawed science, such as lobotomies and pseudoscience. As always, you can follow me on Instagram and everywhere you can listen to podcasts at @theplasticitypodcast. I release new episodes weekly on Mondays at 7:00 am EST. Thank you so much for listening and i hope you enjoy this spooky episode as we gear up for halloween this week.

Go with the flow: inside the brains plumbing system

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 and walking. Spoiler alert, we found no changes, so please use this episode as an excuse to eat all the sugary snacks as you would like. As always, I release a new episode weekly on Monday at 7:00 am EST. You can find me everywhere you listen to podcasts, and you can also follow me on Instagram @theplasticitypodcast. I hope you all have a good week. This week's energy on my end is me and my little old lady shopping trolley against the world, so face what comes ahead with all the confidence of an old person with their $30 Jean Coutu buggy.

From barbies to brains: the women in STEM experience

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 an organization that is STEM specific in Canada: WomanACT As per usual, i release a new episode every monday at 7:00 am EST. You can find me on all platforms that you can listen to podcasts and on instagram at @theplasticitypodcast. Thank you so much for another week of listening and I hope you all gaslight, gatekeep and girlboss through the rest of your week!

Talk nerdy to me: why effective communication is crucial in neuroscience

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 as I share the importance of science communication, all while Hippo knocks things over and mews occasionally in the background (hence why he is a co-host).

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