Abigail Tucker

Kathryn interviews Molecular Oncologist St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Martine F. Roussel PhD. She’s a legendary female scientist whose half-century of research into childhood brain tumors has led to new avenues of treatments and therapies to maximize cures. A long-time advocate for women in science, Roussel was among several female scientists who were part of a “Women in Cancer Research” article in Nature discussing gender equality in science and the work necessary to level the playing field. Elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2019, she became the first-ever woman scientist to receive the honor of having a portrait on display in the gallery of the Danny Thomas Research Center on the campus of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Kathryn also interviews Abigail Tucker, NY Times best selling author of “Mom Genes: Inside the New Science of Our Ancient Maternal Instinct.” Does motherhood change how a woman feels love? Are mothers destined to mimic their own mom’s parenting style? Does the brain of a new mom ever really bounce back? The answers, explored in Tucker’s new book, have powerful implications for women, families and our society. A longtime writer for Smithsonian Magazine, Tucker writes Mom Genes to be scientific and accessible. Part scientific odyssey, part memoir, it weaves the latest research from top labs across the globe including Yale, Princeton, Leiden and more with Tucker’s personal experiences to create a delightful, surprising and poignant portrait of motherhood.