How To Talk About DNA Without Losing People: Strategies Part 2

THIS IS PART TWO, go back and listen to Episode #345 for the first half of this conversation.

The co-founders of The Science Underground rejoin our host Kira Dineen for the second part of their conversation continued from Episode #345. This episode was also recorded in-person and discusses the importance of effective science communication in genetics and approaches to achieve this.

The Science Underground was founded by former NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute communicators Jenny Montooth, Sarah Alex Bates, and Britny Kish.

Topics Discussed:
The Importance of Effective Science Communication
The Role of Humor and Pop Culture in Science
Creativity in Science Communication
Navigating Timeliness vs. Depth in Storytelling
The Y Chromosome: Myths and Misconceptions
Communicating Complex Genetics to Diverse Audiences
Celebrating Scientific Achievements: The T2T Project
The Importance of Teamwork in Big Science
Learning from Communication Failures
Effective Strategies for Science Communication
Advice for Scientists on Public Engagement
Engagement and Community Building

Resources/Links Mentioned:
Kira Dineen’s Invited NIH Talk: “Mastering the Mic: Interview Strategies for Science Communicators”
NHGRI’s Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T)
NHGRI’s Pangenome Project
NHGRI’s “How to Sequence a Human Genome in 7 'Easy' Steps!” Full Video
TIME100: The Most Influential People of 2025
“The Complete Sequence of a Human Y Chromosome” Nature Paper 2023

DNA Today Referenced/Relevant Episodes:
#34 Henrietta Lacks Relatives Interviewed About Their Grandmother’s Cells’ Impact
#182 Eric Green on the Complete Human Genome Project
#183 Dr. Miga and Dr. Phillippy on the Telomere to Telomere (T2T) Consortium
#100 Carl Zimmer on Human Heredity
#214 2022 Genetics Wrapped with Eric Green
#260 PhenoTips: Population Genomics in Clinical Practice (with Dr. Eric Green)
#266 Genetics Wrapped 2023 with Dr. Eric Green
#287 Familial Hypercholesterolemia with Jess and NIH’s Julie Sapp
#306 NIH’s Dr. Francis Collins’ Leadership in the Human Genome Project and COVID-19
#318 Genetics Wrapped 2024: Top Advances in Genomic Medicine (with Dr. Eric Green)

Most importantly check out The Science Underground! If you have genetics research or a project you are trying to inform people about Britny, Jenny and Alex are THE people to work with. They have already been helping us out at DNA Today and our new podcast network, Gene Pool Media. You can follow them on social media @TheScienceUnderground, including on Instagram, BluSky, and LinkedIn.

While you wait, why not dive into our library of over 350 episodes? Binge them all on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you love to listen—just search “DNA Today.”

DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM . Our Video Lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Social Media Lead is Liv Davidson. And our logo Graphic Designer is Ashlyn Enokian, MS, CGC.

See what else we are up to on Instagram, X (Twitter), BluSky, Threads, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and our website, DNAToday.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to [email protected].