128. Kalpana Pot - Actor, Writer, Host, and Space Communicator

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women in STEM

Kalpana Pot is an actor, writer, host, and space communicator. Renowned for her vibrant online presence, particularly in space science, Kalpana has cultivated a platform with over 200K followers on Instagram and 4.4 million likes on TikTok.
Importantly, she challenges the prevailing narratives about women in STEM, a perspective not often encountered. Furthermore, it's uncommon to find a woman in STEM with a substantial following, but Kalpana leverages her platform to educate people about space. Ultimately, she aims to combat the recent surge in anti-science sentiments by blending storytelling with scientific exploration.
What do we talk about in this episode?

1. The challenges she faces in Hollywood as a woman in science.
2. How she seamlessly combines her acting career with her passion for science content creation.
3. The importance of representation and normalizing women in STEM through mass media.
4. The significant role of science communicators in addressing misinformation and conspiracy theories.
5. Insights into her recent book, "Spaced Out."

Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound Studio
You can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887
Resources
Book: Spaced Out: A Casual Approach to the Cosmos
Connect with Kalpana Pot on Instagram

Geena Davis Institute: For 20 years, the Geena Davis Institute has been at the forefront of championing equitable representation in media. Our commitment to building a better world extends beyond gender, encompassing the interconnected identities often marginalized in the media. Through our ground-breaking research, we understand the life-changing impact of representation, and have devoted ourselves to pioneering new pathways within entertainment and media.(https://geenadavisinstitute.org)