Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women in STEM

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women in STEM

Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM is hosted by Kathy Nelson, an electrical engineer, and Linda LaTourelle, a retired technology leader — two women passionate about elevating the voices of those doing meaningful, innovative, and often overlooked work in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Through open, honest conversations with women at every stage of their STEM journeys, we dive into the real experiences of navigating traditionally male-dominated fields — the hurdles, the achievements, the lessons learned, and the personal moments that shape a career.

From research labs and field sites to classrooms and corporate offices, our guests share how they got started, what they’ve overcome, and what motivates them to keep going. Whether you're building your own path in STEM, mentoring the next generation, or simply curious about what a STEM career really looks like — this podcast is for you.

Our mission is to inform, inspire, and normalize the diverse exper

Recent Episodes

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145. Lisa Fennell - Technical Sales in the Utility Industry
Feb. 17, 2026

145. Lisa Fennell - Technical Sales in the Utility Industry

Lisa Fennell shares her non-linear career path—from studying police science at a technical college, to restaurant work and administrative roles, to becoming a business analyst and eventually a sales and marketing leader in utility tech. Along the way, she opens up about confidence, mentorship, being “the only woman at the table,” and what it’s like building a career without a traditional four-year degree. What you’ll hear in this episode What Lisa does today Lisa explains Ping Things and the nee
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144. Dr. Elizabeth Mendes (Elizabeth the Scientist); Pediatric Cancer Research; Molecular Biology.
144
Jan. 27, 2026

144. Dr. Elizabeth Mendes (Elizabeth the Scientist); Pediatric Cancer Research; Molecular Biology.

In this episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary: Conversations with Women in STEM , host Kathy Nelson sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Mendes , a newly minted PhD and postdoctoral researcher whose work focuses on rare and aggressive pediatric cancers. Dr. Mendes recently completed her PhD at Duke University, where she spent over five years researching rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood soft-tissue cancer. Her goal: identify new biological targets that could one day lead to better, more effective treatme
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143. Vinayasri Nidadavolu - Wind Engineer
143
Jan. 13, 2026

143. Vinayasri Nidadavolu - Wind Engineer

In this episode, Kathy sits down with Vinayasri Nidadavolu , a specialist engineer in offshore wind energy at Siemens Energy. Vinaya’s story spans continents, megawatts, and life stages — from earning a rare degree in wind engineering to climbing offshore turbines hundreds of kilometers out at sea, and now navigating her career as a new mother. Vinaya takes us inside the fascinating world of offshore wind turbines — explaining how today’s turbines have grown from 2–3 megawatts to an astonishing
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142. Inside Breaking the Barnyard Barrier: Linda Rhodes on Pioneering a STEM Career
142
Dec. 29, 2025

142. Inside Breaking the Barnyard Barrier: Linda Rhodes on Pioneering a STEM Career

In this episode, Kathy and Linda LaTourelle sit down with Linda Rhodes, a former large-animal veterinarian, pharmaceutical executive, entrepreneur, and author, to explore an extraordinary career path rooted in agriculture, science, and perseverance. Linda shares her journey from being one of the few women working as a large-animal veterinarian to building a groundbreaking career in veterinary pharmaceuticals, biotech startups, and executive leadership. Along the way, she reflects honestly on the
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141. The STEM Side of Patent Law: Inside IP With Christine Hollis
141
Dec. 17, 2025

141. The STEM Side of Patent Law: Inside IP With Christine Hollis

In this episode, Kathy sits down with Christine Hollis , the Chief Talent and Diversity Officer at Marshall Gerstein & Borun — one of the top intellectual property law firms in the U.S. Christine brings a fresh, energetic perspective to the often-misunderstood world of patent law and STEM-driven legal careers . Together, they explore what intellectual property (IP) law really is, how STEM professionals are critical to patent work, and why careers like technical specialist , patent agent , and IP
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139. Mishael Umlor: Designing a Life You Love - Environmental Engineer & River Guide
139
Dec. 2, 2025

139. Mishael Umlor: Designing a Life You Love - Environmental Engineer & River Guide

In today’s episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM , Kathy and Linda sit down with environmental engineer and river guide Mishael Umlor — a woman who pressed pause on her engineering career to live a year of adventure, intention, and joy. Kathy first met Mishael this summer while rowing through the Grand Canyon on a 14-day paddle trip. What began as a passing “Wait… you’re an engineer?” moment turned into months of wanting to learn more about her unconventional, in
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