Chemistry For Your Life

Latest Episodes:

Why do people hate organic chemistry? Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

#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.

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Sara Hull
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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

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What if the system needs fixing instead of the students? (BCCE 2026) Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

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

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

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What’s really happening when our hair gets damaged? Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

#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

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What does neurodiversity mean for chemistry education? (BCCE 2026) Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

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

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

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What’s the chemistry behind hairspray? Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

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.

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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:

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Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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How can chemistry teachers learn from each other? (BCCE 2026) Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

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

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

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Ask a Chemist: Is Silicone actually safe? (and other questions) Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

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.

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Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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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:

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How can we apply chemistry to real-world problems in the classroom? (BCCE 2026) Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

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

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

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How do forensic scientists find fingerprints? Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

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.

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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:

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Are there new, improved ways to teach chemistry? (BCCE 2026) Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

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

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

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