Ep. 17: Leah Elson on science, personal style, and showing up fully as yourself

In this episode we are thrilled to talk with Leah Elson—scientist, author, and viral science communicator—about the power of showing up fully as yourself whether in a lab coat or leather jacket.

Leah has degrees from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and USC, and has published over 87 scientific manuscripts. But she’s just as known for her incredible eyeliner, tattoos, and bold, unapologetic personal style. We talk with her about how embracing her full self—pink hair and all—actually enhanced her work as a neuroscientist.

We dive into:

Why personal style isn’t superficial—it’s essential, especially for women in male-dominated fields.
The science behind gut health, nerve regeneration, and outer space.
Her book There Are No Stupid Questions in Science, why she illustrated it with crayons, and how it came to be.
Her journey from surviving a tumultuous upbringing to becoming a global role model.
AI, AGI, and how human creativity might be the last frontier.

This one is inspiring, enlightening, and packed with ideas about fashion, feminism, trauma, science, and how all of it connects.

About Our Guest

LEAH ELSON
Neuroscientist, author, and viral science communicator.

Leah’s book: There Are No Stupid Questions in Science
Follow Leah: @gnarlybygnature
Leah’s favorite eyeliner: NYX Epic Ink
Miracle Balm by Jones Road

This isn’t a podcast about fashion.

It’s a podcast about meaning. About how we show up in the world.

And how we take up space—on purpose.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss next week’s episode—because we’re just getting started unpacking what style can really do.