The Magic School Bus Effect: Making Stats & Science Accessible Continuing Studies: For Higher Ed Podcasters podcast

How two science-savvy professors turned stats and storytelling into a compelling educational podcast.

Kristin Sainani and Regina Nuzzo—co-hosts of Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics—join Neil McPhedran and Jennifer-Lee to celebrate the 50th episode of Continuing Studies. Kristin and Regina share the story behind launching their podcast, which blends scientific rigor with lighthearted storytelling to make complex topics like epidemiology and statistics approachable and fun. They reflect on how their long friendship, backgrounds in journalism, and love of teaching shaped the show’s voice and format. From managing remote production across time zones to navigating multiple takes and narrative arcs, they reveal the thoughtful work behind each episode. Whether you're a podcaster or just science-curious, this candid conversation offers practical insights on what it takes to produce a compelling, educational show for anyone and is passionate about podcasting in higher education.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(03:57) - From Teaching to Podcasting
(05:36) - Purpose & Audience
(07:10) - Making Science Approachable
(09:20) - Being an Independent Podcast
(12:11) - Pre-Launch Journey
(14:25) - The Research Process
(16:32) - Recording Across Time Zones
(17:26) - Dual Roles & Production Flow
(21:02) - Topic Inspiration
(23:01) - Launch Strategy & Title Origins
(25:30) - Advice for New Podcasters
(28:25) - Storytelling vs. Lecturing
(30:56) - Conclusion