Chemistry For Your Life

Recent episodes

1. Why do diet coke and mentos do that thing? from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jul 30, 202631 min

   #044 Rebroadcast You know what we're talking about. That spectacular fizzy geyser. This week, Melissa and Jam explore what makes diet coke and mentos go crazy together. Is it love? Is it hate? Is it chemistry? Why diet coke specifically? Or more importantly, why mentos? Let's get into it. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from this episode Diet Coke and Mentos: What is really behind this physical reaction? - American Journal of Physics 76, 551 (2008) Diet Coke and Mentos: What is really behind this physical reaction? - Tonya Coffey Spurting Science: Erupting Diet Coke with Mentos - Scientific American - Science Buddies Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2. Why do people hate organic chemistry? from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jul 23, 202653 min

   #135 Rebroadcast Well guess what, Melissa is a PhD Doctor now! And you know what that means? She gets to tell us more details about the research she did to get her PhD. Listen to hear what Melissa found as she dove deep into the question "Why do people hate organic chemistry?" for the past few years. References from this episode National Research Council, (2012), Discipline-based education research: Understanding and improving learning in undergraduate science and engineering , The National Academies Press. Graulich N., (2015), The tip of the iceberg in organic chemistry classes: How do students deal with the invisible? Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. , 16 (1), 9–21. Xu X. and Lewis J. E., (2011), Refinement of a chemistry attitude measure for college students. J. Chem. Educ. , 88 (5), 561–568. Gibbons R. E. and Raker J. R., (2019), Self-beliefs in organic chemistry: Evaluation of a reciprocal causation, cross-lagged model. J. Res. Sci. Teach. , 56 (5), 598–618. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

3. What if the system needs fixing instead of the students? (BCCE 2026) from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jul 20, 202628 min

   What if the biggest challenge in chemistry education isn’t helping students survive—but helping them thrive? In this final bonus episode of our BCCE Community Conversation series, Melissa talks with Dr. Leyte Winfield about creating learning environments where students feel like they belong. They discuss moving beyond “weed-out” culture, designing courses that maintain high standards while expanding opportunity, and why the future of chemistry depends on empowering talented students rather than simply filtering them out. It’s a fitting conclusion to a series all about rethinking how we teach and learn chemistry. Important Links Submit a Question for Community Conversations bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Timestamps 0:00 – Introducing the final BCCE Community Conversation 2:40 – Meet Leyte Winfield and the vision behind “Shifting the Equilibrium” 4:25 – From “weed out” culture to empowering student success 9:30 – Success-oriented vs. deficit-oriented teaching 13:30 – Practical ways to help students thrive without lowering standards 16:00 – Open deadlines, accountability, and lessons from COVID 18:40 – Connecting chemistry to students’ everyday lives 20:00 – Why organic chemistry shouldn’t be about memorization 22:20 – Rethinking mentoring and preparing the next generation of chemists 27:40 – Wrapping up the BCCE series and looking ahead Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

4. What’s really happening when our hair gets damaged? from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jul 16, 202634 min

   #028 This week, Melissa and Jam travel even further down the rabbit hole of hair chemistry. How does our hair get damaged? How do we curl, straighten, and perm our hair? What's going on there at the molecular level? Let's find out! References from this episode Biochemistry, Edition 4 - Garret and Grisham Making waves: The chemistry of hair perms - Christine Herman, Chemistry & Engineering News How Did the 80s Get Hair So Big? - American Chemical Society The Chemistry of Hair - C. S. Whewell, Ph.D., F.R.I.C., F.T.I. The Science of Curls - Leidamarie Tirado-Lee Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5. What does neurodiversity mean for chemistry education? (BCCE 2026) from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jul 13, 202630 min

   How do we build chemistry classrooms where more students can thrive? In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with Matt Mio about neurodiversity in chemistry education. They discuss why every student experiences learning differently, how understanding those differences can make us better teachers and colleagues, and why creating more accessible learning environments benefits far more people than we might expect. It’s a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, empathy, and what it means to teach the whole student. Important Links Submit a Question for Community Conversations bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Timestamps 0:00 – Introducing the Community Conversation on neurodiversity 2:40 – Meet Matt Mio and why this topic matters to him 6:10 – What the BCCE session will explore: students and faculty 11:00 – Why more educators are thinking differently about neurodiversity 14:00 – Melissa’s ADHD journey and designing courses that help everyone 18:30 – Questions to bring back to your own teaching community 19:10 – Universal Design for Learning and meeting students where they are 24:00 – Why awareness is the best place to start 25:30 – ADHD “superpowers” and different ways of thinking 28:00 – Looking ahead to the Community Conversation at BCCE Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

6. What’s the chemistry behind hairspray? from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jul 9, 20261 hr 1 min

   Hairspray seems simple… until you actually stop and think about it. How does it come out as a fine mist? Why doesn’t it dry up inside the can? How can it hold your hair in place without acting like glue? This week we’re unpacking the surprisingly clever chemistry behind one of the most common products in our homes—and discovering it’s far more complicated than either of us expected. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – A question inspired by our forensics episode: what is hairspray? 4:40 – The three ingredients inside a can of hairspray 10:40 – How the propellant turns liquid into a fine aerosol spray 18:30 – How polymers create an invisible “hairnet” 29:00 – Why designing hairspray is harder than you might expect 36:20 – How hairspray compares to gel and mousse 45:50 – Fun categories: movies, cast iron, and things that turned out to be more complicated than expected References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7. How can chemistry teachers learn from each other? (BCCE 2026) from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jul 6, 202633 min

   Great teaching doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community. In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with chemistry educator Dr. Joanne Stewart about communities of practice : groups of educators who come together to share ideas, solve problems, and help one another grow. They explore why teaching is hard to improve on your own, how these communities support both faculty and students, and why meaningful change in chemistry education depends on building relationships, not just sharing resources. Important Links Submit a Question for Community Conversations bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Timestamps 0:00 – Introducing the BCCE Community Conversation series 2:40 – Meet Joanne Stewart and her work in chemistry education 5:10 – What is a community of practice? 8:20 – How educators can get involved (even as a “lurker”) 11:50 – Sharing teaching resources and learning from one another 15:30 – Building a “community of communities” in chemistry 18:50 – What this year’s Community Conversation will explore 23:50 – Why lasting educational change requires strong networks 29:20 – BCCE events, communities to explore, and final invitations Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

8. Ask a Chemist: Is Silicone actually safe? (and other questions) from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jul 2, 202635 min

   What happens when some listeners challenge one of our past episodes? This week we’re revisiting our silicone episodes after several listeners pointed us toward new research. Along the way we answer questions about mosquito wristbands, waterproof mascara, stubborn adhesives, and whether amino acids may have formed on the early Earth after all. It’s an Ask a Chemist episode full of updates, follow-ups, and a reminder that science is always a work in progress. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – Revisiting our silicone episodes after new research 2:00 – Does silicone really leach into food, and should we be worried? 10:30 – What we know (and don’t know) about silicone safety 17:30 – Do mosquito patches and wristbands actually work? 23:30 – How does waterproof mascara stay waterproof? 27:20 – A chemistry detour: removing paint and stubborn adhesives 30:20 – The Miller–Urey experiment and the origin of amino acids 33:20 – Wrap-up + send us your chemistry questions References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

9. How can we apply chemistry to real-world problems in the classroom? (BCCE 2026) from Chemistry For Your Life

   Jun 29, 202634 min

   What if chemistry classes were organized around real-world problems instead of chapters in a textbook?In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with Vicente Talanquer about helping students think like chemists rather than simply memorize chemistry. They explore why authentic, real-world problems can transform learning, how instructors can make meaningful changes without rewriting an entire course, and why teaching chemistry is about developing a way of thinking—not just delivering content. Important Links Submit a Question for Community Conversations bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Free resources Chemical Thinking Curriculum Structure: https://sites.google.com/site/chemicalthinking/structure More on Chemical Thinking Curriculum: https://sites.google.com/site/chemicalthinking/ General Chemistry - CLUE textbook & activities: https://www.chemistry.msu.edu/clue/general-chemistry.aspx Organic Chemistry OCLUE textbook & activities: https://www.chemistry.msu.edu/clue/organic-chemistry.aspx Time Stamps 0:00 – Introducing the Community Conversation series 2:40 – Meet Vicente Talanquer and this year’s discussion topic 4:10 – What does “authentic phenomena” actually mean? 7:40 – Memorization vs. meaningful understanding 12:10 – The two big questions guiding the Community Conversation 16:25 – What an authentically engaged chemistry classroom looks like 21:40 – Where should instructors begin making changes? 24:30 – Formative vs. summative assessment 26:50 – Free teaching resources and curriculum examples 30:50 – Why Vicente is excited about this year’s BCCE conversations Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

10. How do forensic scientists find fingerprints? from Chemistry For Your Life

    Jun 25, 202654 min

    There are a lot more ways to reveal a fingerprint than the black powder you see on TV.In this second part of our forensic chemistry series with Nicki Stewart, we explore the surprising chemistry behind fingerprints. From powders and iodine vapor to super glue fumes and chemical reactions, we break down how forensic scientists reveal invisible fingerprints—and why choosing the right method depends entirely on the surface, the chemistry, and the evidence they’re trying to preserve. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife 0:00 – What are fingerprints, really? 5:30 – What’s actually left behind when you touch something? 9:20 – The two main categories of fingerprint detection 14:00 – How fingerprint powder actually works 18:40 – Iodine fuming and why fingerprints disappear again 25:25 – Revealing fingerprints on sticky tape 29:40 – Ninhydrin and the chemistry behind purple fingerprints 35:05 – The surprising science of super glue fuming 42:20 – Why collecting fingerprints is much harder than TV makes it look 46:10 – Jam’s biggest takeaways from fingerprint chemistry References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

11. Are there new, improved ways to teach chemistry? (BCCE 2026) from Chemistry For Your Life

    Jun 22, 202636 min

    What does it mean to teach chemistry like a scientist? In this BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with chemistry education researcher Ellen Yezierski about scholarly teaching: making evidence-guided decisions about how we teach and how students learn. They discuss why content knowledge alone isn’t enough, how educators can improve their teaching without becoming full-time researchers, and why some of the best chemistry teaching ideas come from asking better questions about learning. Important Links bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Time Stamps 0:00 – Why Melissa loves BCCE and chemistry education 2:50 – Meet Ellen Yezierski and the idea of scholarly teaching 4:00 – Moving beyond intuition and using evidence to improve teaching 6:35 – What chemistry educators can learn from cognitive science and education research 8:30 – The biggest challenge: finding time to improve your teaching 11:00 – Why conferences and community matter for innovation 13:45 – Barriers to evidence-based teaching and the risk of changing what’s familiar 16:20 – Applying the same scientific scrutiny to old teaching methods 19:40 – A practical first step toward scholarly teaching 21:00 – Finding useful teaching research without getting overwhelmed 25:20 – Meet the panelists and the ideas they’ll bring to BCCE 29:10 – How the Community Conversation will work 32:35 – Why good teachers are made, not born 34:00 – Filling your teaching cup back up at BCCE Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

12. How does super glue glue things? from Chemistry For Your Life

    Jun 18, 202631 min

    #061 Be honest. Have you ever glued yourself with super glue? Everyone should accidentally make that mistake at least once, so you can literally feel the impressive stickiness of super glue. Well today, you can learn about the chemistry within super glue, without putting any fingers or other body parts at risk! Let's do this. References from this episode Introduction to Polymers R.J. Young and P. A. Lovell http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/superglue/superglueh.htm https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/cyanoacrylate/6261.article https://pubsapp.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/86/8624sci5.html https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/students/highschool/chemistryclubs/March_ChemClubCal.pdf https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/articlesbytopic/bonding/chemmatters-dec2006-glue.pdf Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

13. How could technology and A.I. change chemistry education? (BCCE 2026) from Chemistry For Your Life

    Jun 15, 202633 min

    AI is everywhere in education right now, but is that the only technology chemistry educators should be thinking about? In this bonus BCCE preview episode, Melissa talks with Resa Kelly about technology in chemistry education, from visualizations and videos to flipped classrooms and AI. What do we actually want students to be able to do in a technology-rich world? How should that shape our teaching? And how can educators stay curious without feeling pressured to adopt every new tool that comes along? Important Links bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Time Stamps 0:00 – Introducing the Community Conversation on technology 1:11 – Resa Kelly’s journey into chemistry education research 2:20 – How visualizations and animations help students learn chemistry 3:31 – Why this conversation is about more than just AI 5:50 – Technology already shaping chemistry classrooms 7:20 – Staying curious even if you’re skeptical of new technology 9:10 – Time constraints and practical barriers for teachers 10:00 – Creative ways educators are using AI 14:15 – Teaching students to evaluate trustworthy information 17:13 – The central question: What should students be able to do in a technology-rich environment? 18:20 – Is technology helping students learn or just complete tasks? 19:00 – If AI gives answers, what are we really teaching? 24:00 – Why these conversations matter beyond BCCE 28:15 – Assumptions, AI, and trusting students 30:05 – Final thoughts and invitation to the conference conversation Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

14. How realistic are crime shows about forensics? (with Nicki Stewart) from Chemistry For Your Life

    Jun 11, 202637 min

    CSI makes forensic science look fast, easy, and almost magical. But how much of that is actually true?This week we’re joined by forensic chemist and graduate student Nicki Stewart to answer your questions about forensic science. We talk about crime shows, fingerprints, toxicology, illicit drugs, and what really happens inside a forensic laboratory. Plus, Nicki shares what surprised her most when she worked in a real crime lab and why forensic science is often much slower (and more complicated) than TV would have you believe. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Time Stamps 0:00 – Do crime shows get forensics right? 1:20 – Nicki’s background in forensic chemistry and toxicology 6:15 – From forensic chemistry to chemistry education 9:10 – The “CSI Effect” and common TV misconceptions 12:30 – Breaking Bad, Project Hail Mary, and science accuracy in entertainment 14:10 – Transitioning from clinical chemistry to forensic chemistry 17:40 – The biggest misconceptions about forensic work 20:20 – Forensic chemistry vs. forensic biology 22:05 – How fingerprints actually form 26:35 – Can fingerprints be removed? 26:55 – How forensic labs identify illicit drugs 31:10 – Which shows portray science most accurately? 33:00 – What’s coming in our next forensic chemistry episode Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

15. What is BCCE and why are people so excited about it? (BCCE 2026) from Chemistry For Your Life

    Jun 8, 20261 hr 10 min

    What happens when the world’s largest gathering of chemistry educators decides to try something new? This summer we’re partnering with the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) for a special series of Monday episodes. In this kickoff conversation, Melissa sits down with conference organizers to talk about the vision behind this year’s event, why community conversations are replacing traditional keynotes, and how chemistry educators are thinking about the future of teaching and learning. Whether you’re attending BCCE or just curious about how people learn chemistry, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest conversations happening in chemistry education today. Important Links bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Time Stamps 0:00 – Introducing our BCCE summer series 2:00 – Why Melissa loves BCCE 4:50 – Meet Ariel Vaughn and Ginger Schultz 7:00 – What are Community Conversations? 8:20 – Replacing keynote speakers with interactive discussions 9:00 – How the conversation topics were selected 13:40 – Empowering the community to shape the conference 14:40 – Previewing this year’s Community Conversation topics 16:00 – Neurodiversity, equity, and communities of practice 19:50 – Why community matters in chemistry education 25:20 – Meet BCCE General Chair Sam Pazicni 28:30 – The vision behind this year’s conference 29:00 – “Reflecting Back and Marching Forward” explained 32:30 – The six conference contexts and Community Conversations 37:20 – Who should attend BCCE? 39:00 – Tips for first-time conference attendees 41:00 – Remote attendance and recorded sessions 45:20 – Planning your schedule with the conference app 50:40 – What to wear and what to pack 57:30 – Madison food recommendations and cheese curds 1:03:50 – Special events, parking tips, and final advice 1:08:20 – Final BCCE details and registration information Podcast Transcript Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

16. How does a pencil eraser remove graphite? from Chemistry For Your Life

    Jun 4, 202635 min

    How can the same element make both pencil lead and diamonds? This week we wrap up our pencil chemistry mini-series by answering a surprisingly tricky question: how do erasers actually erase? Then we dive into one of chemistry’s coolest ideas. Graphite and diamond are both made entirely of carbon, but one is soft enough to write with and the other is the hardest natural material we know. What changed? The answer reveals something remarkable about chemistry, structure, and the hidden world of atoms. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife 0:00 – Intro: diamonds, carbon, and the hardest natural material 2:25 – How erasers actually erase pencil marks 6:50 – Why erasers get old, crumbly, and less effective 9:50 – Graphite vs. diamond: same element, completely different materials 13:50 – Why diamonds are so hard (and why they sparkle) 15:30 – Allotropes: how carbon can become radically different substances 17:00 – Melissa’s carbon epiphany: appreciating chemistry in a new way 20:20 – Things we didn’t appreciate until later in life (birds, coffee, and more) 25:20 – Father’s Day advice for dads and families 31:50 – Wrap-up + your carbon questions Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

17. How do gemstones get their color? from Chemistry For Your Life

    May 28, 202644 min

    #158 Rebroadcast Gemstones come in all sorts of colors, but how do they get them? Are different stones super different at the molecular level? How do these different colors happen naturally? And how can those colors be replicated in lab-made gemstones? Let's get into it. References from this episode https://www.acs.org/education/students/highschool/chemistryclubs/activities/jewelry-science.html Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

18. How do pencils write on paper? from Chemistry For Your Life

    May 21, 202646 min

    Why does a pencil work so perfectly? Why does graphite leave marks on paper instead of just crumbling apart? And what do pancakes, honeycombs, geckos, and intermolecular forces have to do with any of it? This week we follow a simple pencil all the way down to carbon atoms, graphene sheets, and the weirdly satisfying chemistry that makes writing possible. Plus: final exam horror stories, missed alarms, and why reading the syllabus might save your GPA. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – The strangely satisfying feeling of fresh pencils 1:03 – So… how do pencils actually work? 2:07 – A “polymer eraser” sparks this whole episode 3:10 – Are pencils disappearing for Gen Alpha? 4:35 – Graphite, graphene, and carbon structures 6:20 – What graphene actually looks like 7:10 – Carbon bonding and tetrahedral shapes 8:10 – Double bonds and flat molecular structures 9:40 – Electron highways and conductivity 10:20 – Melissa’s graphene model demonstration 13:10 – Why graphene could replace silicon chips 13:30 – Carbon nanotubes explained 14:40 – What holds graphite layers together? 15:00 – Intermolecular forces return 17:10 – Quick refresher on intermolecular forces 18:50 – London dispersion forces and temporary dipoles 19:30 – Why graphite is brittle 20:00 – How pencils leave marks on paper 21:20 – Why graphite is basically perfectly designed for writing 22:00 – A detour into paper, parchment, and writing history 24:00 – Pencil hardness and clay mixtures 26:30 – Jam attempts a chemistry-heavy recap 33:20 – Cliffhanger: how erasers work 34:00 – Final exam disaster stories 36:50 – Oversleeping a college final 39:10 – Melissa’s sprint across campus in pajamas 41:00 – Read the syllabus. Seriously. 43:10 – Teasing next episode: erasers and other forms of carbon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Kelly D. Bri Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

19. Ask a Chemist: What things should you never mix? (and other questions) from Chemistry For Your Life

    May 14, 202634 min

    What happens when you mix bleach and ammonia? Why does perfume smell amazing on one person and weird on another? And why is getting a job so hard right now? This week we’re answering a huge batch of listener questions about chemistry, sunscreen, scents, books, careers, birds, and somehow even British accents. Plus, we accidentally brainstorm several new podcast ideas along the way. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – Listener question extravaganza begins 1:00 – What ingredients should NEVER be mixed together? 1:30 – Bleach + ammonia and dangerous chloramine gas 2:40 – Food combinations that actually are bad 3:30 – How SPF and sunscreen work 5:00 – Why perfumes smell different on different people 6:30 – Body chemistry, temperature, and scent longevity 8:00 – “Why is it so hard to get a job?” 9:00 – Post-graduation job hunting advice 10:15 – Treating job searching like a full-time job 11:00 – Using chemistry skills in unexpected careers 12:00 – Certifications, courses, and standing out 14:15 – Book recommendations from listeners and hosts 15:50 – Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and classic books 17:00 – “Phoebe Reads a Mystery” and audiobook-style podcasts 18:20 – Human similarities to elements and chemical bonding 19:45 – Why chemistry analogies help us learn 22:00 – Are American accents annoying to British listeners? 23:45 – Melissa considers starting a reading podcast 25:00 – Listener suggestion: chemistry changes that impacted real life 25:45 – Podcast-inspired life changes: sunscreen and Teflon 27:00 – Shoutouts to listeners, friends, and good coffee 29:20 – The missing bird fact mystery 30:20 – “Please don’t stop uploading” 31:00 – Reflecting on nearly 7 years of the podcast 31:45 – Patreon, merch, and intermolecular forces merch talk 33:45 – Chemmunity thank-yous and outro Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Kelly D. Bri Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20. How was kevlar accidentally invented? from Chemistry For Your Life

    May 7, 202648 min

    How do you turn a weird cloudy liquid into something stronger than steel? This week we’re telling the story of Kevlar: the chemistry breakthrough that led to bulletproof vests, firefighter gear, reinforced tires, and so much more. Along the way we talk polymers, hydrogen bonding, accidental discoveries, and the chemist who almost went to medical school instead. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – Story time setup: bulletproof gear and the chemistry behind it 1:30 – Meet Stephanie Kwolek, the chemist behind Kevlar 4:00 – DuPont, polymers, and the early days of synthetic fibers 6:30 – Why Stephanie stayed in chemistry instead of medical school 8:30 – The gas shortage problem that sparked the search for Kevlar 9:50 – What polymers actually are 10:20 – Benzene rings, resonance, and rigid molecular structures 11:30 – The strange watery solution that almost got ignored 13:30 – The accidental breakthrough that created Kevlar fibers 14:20 – Why Kevlar is so unusually strong 16:30 – Hydrogen bonding and “molecular Velcro” 18:40 – How Kevlar chains organize into massive strong sheets 21:30 – Why Kevlar behaves almost like a metal 24:00 – Stronger than steel, lighter than steel 26:30 – Melissa’s theory about the mysterious cloudy solution 27:00 – How Kevlar became bulletproof vests 28:00 – Why “detours” in life aren’t always failures 32:30 – Other surprising uses for Kevlar 35:00 – “Mistakes” that turned into good things (personal stories) 44:00 – Wrap-up + chemistry storytime appreciation Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Kelly D. Bri Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.