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 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 if you are also stuck in a frozen wasteland (a.k.a. Quebec), then wear some ice cleats this week; it's better than the alternative, which is slipping and almost falling in the middle of traffic, as I did a few days ago.

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 everywhere. I dive into controversies, misdiagnoses, and all the times science did us ladies dirty, so buckle up and get ready to get angry at the male scientists of yore with me.

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 this week, honestly, do yourself a solid and dive down the rabbit hole that is Phyllis from the Sotheby's auctions. Ladies, gentlemen and all my non-binary friends, I want to be her when I am older.

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 very little research in the field), and the stigma surrounding sex. A little steamy, a little sciency, and a whole lot of me giggling while hippo stares at me from the corner of my apartment.

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 dont drink too many cosmos or play with the rabbit too much (i am addicted to Sex and the city, it is an issue, send help).

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 support, and how collective efforts are reshaping our understanding of this condition.

Whether you’re a caregiver, someone newly diagnosed, a neuroscience enthusiast, or simply curious, you’ll come away with a deeper grasp of both the science and the humanity behind Parkinson’s disease.

If you are interested in learning more, please check out some of the incredible resources below. Thank you all for your support, and I look forward to sharing more science with you next week.

Parkinson’s Foundation – Improves care and advances research toward a cure; offers support resources and educational programs. https://www.parkinson.org/ Parkinson's Foundation+1

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research – One of the world’s largest funders of Parkinson’s research, accelerating better treatments and a cure. https://www.michaeljfox.org/ Michael J. Fox Foundation+1

Davis Phinney Foundation – Offers tools and education to help people with Parkinson’s live well today. https://davisphinneyfoundation.org/ Davis Phinney Foundation

Parkinson’s Resource Organization (PRO) – Provides education, community support, and a digital directory of services for people with Parkinson’s and caregivers. https://www.parkinsonsresource.org/

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 episode is a candid (and slightly unhinged) collection of lessons, reflections, and tips from my first few months of becoming a grad student.

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 that when people do you dirty, ask yourself what would 50 Cent do.

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)

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 :).

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?)..