I’m a long time listener to the Science Vs. podcast, and have always appreciated Wendy’s style, and raw and honest intrigue.

There’s a lot to like then (and for men in particular, to learn) in the ’Wendy Talks About Her Pyromaniac Past — and More’ episode (which is actually an interview of Wendy by Emma Chamberlain). 

In it, Wendy reveals that she wasn’t always into science, and says she wasn’t even naturally curious. But, though a slow realisation that science opens up the ‘why’s’ of the world – that she didn’t feel were intuitive when she was younger – she learned to love it. 

As she puts it (and her interviewer helps uncover):

Wendy: There are so many fun stories of discovery to be found in science. It’s like: How we know how the world works […] How we know anything! And so that was fun. To talk to Scientist and explain things, and I think because I was so bad at it, it helped me explain, because it wasn’t intuitive when I was starting out. People would say complicated science things and I’d be like ‘I don’t understand! Please say it again!’

Emma: That is such a perfect niche for you. It’s like you are curious about all of it, you love it. Your job is then translating it into human. It’s a totally different skill to translate into human, and that’s what you do. 

Wendy: Yeah. And I think because, my parents – who were both academics funnily enough, so I guess that must have been another thing in the mix – they were always telling me that if you don’t understand something, just ask more questions. Don’t ever feel stupid for not understanding something. If someone’s trying to teach you something and you don’t understand it you just keep asking questions. 

Ask questions. Keep asking questions.

I love this. And Wendy’s parents for encouraging her like this. I’ve been doing the same with my own kids, and knowing such a strategy leads to creating Wendy’s in the world, I’m totally going to double down on the effort. 

The strategy should go far beyond childhood though, and in my experience it’s one of the most essential skills for talented and interesting people. It’s the basis of a good designer, and as Wendy has been displaying for years, it’s a critical skill for helping to translate complex subjects in a way that more people can understand. Translating into human. 

Add Science Vs to my Allusionist recommendation then, and join me in thinking what a wicked crossover they’d make: Digging into the history and meaning of the word ‘science’, and how it and other triggering words with disputed definitions are neurologically processed.  

Please podcast gods, make it happen.