What do potato chips, yogurt, frozen pizza, sports drinks, and even your favorite cookies have in common?

Behind each one is a food scientist.

In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we're uncovering the fascinating career that blends chemistry, biology, creativity, and problem-solving into one delicious profession. Join us as we follow a day in the life of a food scientist, explore how food products are developed and tested, and discover the surprising science behind flavor, texture, safety, and shelf life.

You'll also hear from Ranee Anderson, a real food scientist who shares what it's like to work in the field, how foods are tested for bacteria during processing and shipping, the biggest surprises about the profession, and advice for students who aren't sure whether they belong in STEM.

Whether you're curious about science, love food, or are looking for a career that's equal parts laboratory and innovation, this episode serves up a career you may not have considered, but probably interact with every single day.

Show Notes:

Following the Flavor: Inside the World of Food Science

The episode of “Majors, Minors, and Maybes” follows food scientist Josie as she troubleshoots chip texture and flavor in a lab, adjusting humidity, extrusion settings, and seasoning ratios while also tackling sodium reduction, shelf-life testing, plant-based protein experiments, and food safety reviews. Dr. W. explains that food science is controlled experimentation that blends chemistry, creativity, and collaboration to make foods safe, stable, and enjoyable across manufacturing and shipping. Guest Renee Anderson describes how research determines safe storage conditions and how food scientists study pathogens like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli, and she highlights the field’s breadth and varied entry points. The script outlines common degrees, internships, and related experiences, gives salary ranges (about $50k–$65k entry-level and $100k+ senior), shares a fact about annatto creating cheddar’s orange color, and teases a next episode on scientific curators of human genetic data.

00:00 The Science of Crunch

01:24 Meet Josie in the Lab

03:19 Dialing In Flavor

04:07 A Day in Food Science

05:53 Is Food Science for You

06:35 Food Safety and the Journey

07:54 Guest Renee on Bacteria

10:09 Food Science Career Paths

12:00 Degrees Internships and Skills

13:08 Belonging in STEM

15:06 Paychecks and Reality Check

17:14 Surprising Foods Scientists Touch

18:54 Curious Fact Color and Taste

19:46 Renee on Phages and Detection

21:01 Wrap Up and Next Episode

In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we explore the fascinating world of the Medical Game Designer. The creative minds building video games, VR simulations, and interactive experiences that teach patients, train doctors, and make healthcare less intimidating.

Through the story of Andie, a designer creating a game that helps kids understand and manage asthma, we uncover how gaming, medicine, psychology, and technology collide to create real-world impact.

From virtual emergency rooms to patient education adventures, this episode dives into:

• how medical games are developed
• the science behind learning through play
• what to study if you’re interested in this career
• internships, volunteer opportunities, and skills that help you break into the field

Whether you love coding, storytelling, healthcare, or gaming, this episode might just introduce you to a career you never knew existed.

Press start on one of the most unexpected careers in healthcare.

Show Notes:

Medical Game Designer: Turning Healthcare Into a High-Score Mission

Dr. W explores the career of medical game designers, who combine game mechanics with medical knowledge to train healthcare professionals, educate patients, support rehabilitation, and reduce anxiety before procedures using tools like VR, AR, and mobile apps. The episode follows eight-year-old Liam using a VR asthma game where levels teach triggers, inflammation, and inhaler use, improving his confidence and adherence. Andie, a biomedical engineering major with a game design minor, is introduced as the creator who partnered with clinicians and developers after seeing kids’ fear in a children’s hospital. Dr. W explains daily work like building realistic scenarios and decision trees, collaborating with medical teams, user testing, and using gameplay data as a research tool, plus pathways into the field, portfolio-building tips, workplaces, schedules, and salary ranges.

00:00 Saving Lives Like a Game

00:19 Meet Dr W and the Quest

00:48 Liam’s VR Asthma Mission

02:05 Andy Builds the Game

03:56 What Medical Game Designers Do

05:03 Office Hours Career Advice

06:44 A Day in the Job

07:55 Majors Minors and Skill Stack

09:15 Breaking In Salary and Workplaces

11:11 Why This Career Matters

11:46 Tech Data and High Scores

12:21 Wrap Up and Next Episode

From astronaut teamwork and stress management to designing safer systems for pilots and space crews, this career sits at the intersection of psychology, engineering, neuroscience, and space exploration. But what does an aerospace behavioral scientist actually do every day? How do you study human behavior when gravity disappears? And what can students study now if they dream of helping humans thrive beyond Earth?

Through storytelling, curious career exploration, and practical career insight, this episode uncovers a profession most people have never heard of, but one that may shape the future of human spaceflight.

Perfect for students who love psychology, aviation, STEM, human performance, design thinking, or simply asking: “How do humans adapt when the world around them changes completely?”

Because sometimes the biggest challenge in space… isn’t the rocket. It’s understanding the humans inside it.

Show Notes:

Aerospace Behavioral Scientist: Engineering Human Resilience in Space

Dr. W. introduces the career of an aerospace behavioral scientist, experts who study how astronauts think, feel, communicate, and perform during long-duration missions in confined, high-stakes environments. Through a vignette of subtle crew tension and the example of Luna, a psychology major who added human factors engineering and pursued a master’s in space psychology, the episode explains how these scientists research isolation, sleep, stress, and team dynamics using Earth-based simulations and tools like behavioral monitoring, interventions, and virtual-reality “space inoculation” training. The script outlines relevant psychology specializations, complementary majors (e.g., human factors, aerospace, data science), the typical need for graduate school, workplaces like NASA’s Behavioral Health and Performance Lab and military/aviation labs, and a salary range of $75,000–$150,000. It closes by teasing a future episode on medical game designers.

00:00 Astronaut Mindset Mystery

00:55 Life in a Tin Can

02:46 Meet Luna’s Origin Story

05:54 What They Really Do

08:05 Training and Education Path

11:20 Career Reality and Pay

11:47 Day to Day and VR

12:53 Wrap Up and Next Episode

What happens when fashion meets the future? Enter the world of the 3D garment/apparel designer. The pros turning pixels into pants and software into style. In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we follow Lila, a digital designer whose “day at the office” includes sculpting clothes in 3D, stress-testing fabrics in virtual wind tunnels, and making sure a gown drapes flawlessly before a single thread is cut.

It’s fast, it’s sustainable, and it’s transforming how the fashion industry works, from haute couture to your hoodie.

Bonus: You’ll even hear from Mikelle Drew-Pellum, a real 3D apparel designer, about why this career is more than a trend. It’s the future of fashion.

If you’ve ever wondered who designs the clothes you can’t yet touch but already love, this episode is for you.

Mikelle Drew-Pellum

383designstudionyc.com

instagram.com/383design

linkedin.com/in/mikelledrew

tiktok.com/@383design

Show Notes:

3D Garment/Apparel Designer: Fashion Built in Pixels Before Fabric

Dr. W launches season two of “Majors, Minors, and Maybes” by spotlighting the 3D garment/apparel designer, a career blending fashion, code, and sustainability by creating virtual garments that drape, stretch, and move before any physical sample is made. Through a day-in-the-life of Lila, the episode shows digital prototyping, instant global collaboration, stress-testing fit and fabrics, and designing metaverse-only couture for avatars. Dr. W explains how tools like CLO 3D and Browzwear speed timelines, reduce textile waste, and expand fashion into digital wardrobes, and includes insights from 3D designer Mikelle Drew Pellum on patternmaking, virtual sewing, accurate fit, and sustainability gains from fewer physical samples. The episode suggests relevant majors, key skills, work settings, a $60K–$100K+ salary range, and teases next week’s career: Aerospace Behavioral Scientist.

00:00 Season Two Returns

01:44 Meet the 3D Designer

02:02 A Day With Lila

03:59 Office Hours Breakdown

05:13 Pro Explains the Process

05:54 How to Get Started

07:29 Why 3D Changes Fashion

08:41 Sustainability Impact

09:55 Digital Fashion Boom

10:58 Wrap Up and Next Episode

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?

Season 2 of Majors, Minors & Maybes is back! This time, we’re digging even deeper into the careers you didn’t know existed, but suddenly can’t stop thinking about.

We’re talking about the kind of jobs that make you pause mid-scroll and say, “Wait that’s a thing?” The kind of careers your guidance counselor definitely forgot to mention. The kind that sound made up… until they’re not.

This season, we’re opening the door to even more curious and quietly fascinating professions, one story at a time.

So, whether you’ve got a five-year plan, no plan, or a color-coded spreadsheet that’s hanging on by a thread, you’re in the right place.

Because around here, curiosity is the major and everything else? Optional.

Season 2 drops now and you’re going to want to take notes!

Show Notes:

Unexpected Paths: Careers Shaping the Future

The script introduces a season focused on innovative, future-shaping careers that people often stumble upon rather than plan for, highlighting jobs most people aren’t aware exist. It invites listeners who wonder “what else could I be doing?” to follow along as the show traces unexpected paths to uncover emerging roles shaping the future before they’re widely known. Dr. W. positions the season as a guide for those seeking alternatives beyond familiar options and closes by addressing that season two begins now.

00:00 Careers You Stumble Upon

00:11 Digging for Future Jobs

00:20 Hidden World of Work

00:23 Following Unexpected Paths

00:30 Jobs You Haven't Heard Of

00:33 Shaping the Future Early

00:39 What Else Could I Do

00:42 Season Two Starts Now

It's our season finale and we are going out in style with wrinkle-free, perfectly packed layers. In this episode, we meet Jordan, a personal travel gear curator who turns chaotic packing into a luxury experience. Think RFID kits, climate-smart wardrobes, and outfits tailored by region, vibe, and weather app.

But that’s not all, we’re reflecting on our wild ride through the wonderfully weird world of work, and giving you a sneak peek at what’s ahead.

So before you jet off for the holidays, press play, because your passport isn’t the only thing getting stamped with inspiration.

Show Notes:

Unpacking the Role of a Personal Travel Gear Curator

In the season finale of 'Majors, Minors, and Maybes, Dr. W, a professor and part-time career sleuth, introduces us to the unique and fascinating job of a personal travel gear curator. This professional ensures clients travel efficiently and in style, preparing them with everything from wardrobes to tech gadgets. We meet Jordan, a travel gear curator who shares their experience of organizing perfect travel kits for various climates and needs. The episode not only delves into the logistics and creativity required for the role but also explores the potential career opportunities in travel consulting, luxury concierge services, and fashion logistics. Dr. W. wraps up the season with tips and insights, encouraging listeners to look into their quirks for potential career paths and teasing the upcoming second season.

00:00 Introduction to the Personal Travel Gear Curator

00:54 Meet Jordan: The Personal Travel Gear Curator

01:26 The Art and Science of Packing

01:46 Season Finale Reflections

02:19 Final Office Hours: Holiday Edition

02:40 Career Advice for Travel Enthusiasts

03:09 High-End Travel Curation

03:28 Season Wrap-Up and Future Plans

03:57 Holiday Wishes and Farewell

What do you get when you cross a researcher with a storyteller? A hybrid writing scientific consultant. These are the folks who make complex science not just readable, but unforgettable. In this episode, we follow Milo from grant proposals to blog posts, decoding breakthroughs in genetics one minute, and drafting policy briefs the next.

Whether it’s helping doctors understand the latest studies or turning lab results into public health campaigns, Milo's job is where precision meets prose.

Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at a career that blends curiosity, communication, and just the right amount of caffeine. If you've ever asked, “But who translates the science?” This one is for you.

Show Notes:

The Hybrid Writing Science Consultant: Bridging the Gap Between Data and Storytelling

In this episode of Majors, Minors, and Maybes, Dr. W. dives into the unique and fascinating career of a hybrid writing science consultant. Meet Milo, a professional who translates complex scientific ideas into clear and engaging narratives for various audiences, including research teams and the general public. Learn what it takes to succeed in this role that demands both precision and creativity. Dr. W. discusses the skills required, potential career paths, and the significant impact this career has on bridging the gap between science and society. Ideal for those with a background in science and a passion for storytelling, this episode unveils how such professionals make scientific information accessible and impactful.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:27 Meet Milo: The Science Whisperer

00:52 A Day in the Life of a Science Consultant

01:50 Is This Career for You?

02:24 The Dual Role: Researcher and Writer

02:56 Building a Career in Science Consulting

03:48 Where Science Consultants Work

04:10 Skills and Salary Insights

04:51 The Impact of Science Writers

05:22 Conclusion and Next Steps

What do medical manikins, high-stakes drama, and behind-the-scenes brilliance have in common? Meet the Clinical Simulation Specialist. These are the folks who builds immersive healthcare training scenarios where the stakes feel real, but the patients are not. From heart attacks on cue to VR surgical rehearsals, Taylor here you will how a blend of tech, theatre, and medicine prepares our future healthcare heroes. It’s part ER, part Hollywood, and 100% real-world impact.

Get ready for a career that’s got adrenaline, innovation, and just a dash of stage fright.

Show Notes:

Behind the Scenes of Medical Training: The Role of a Clinical Simulation Specialist

In this episode of Majors, Minors, and Maybes, Dr. W. delves into the fascinating world of clinical simulation specialists. This unique profession blends technology, healthcare, and theater to create lifelike medical emergencies for training purposes. From programming high-fidelity mannequins to handling VR simulations, these specialists ensure healthcare providers are well-prepared for real-world emergencies. The episode covers job responsibilities, necessary qualifications, and potential career paths in this innovative field. Next, the show teases a look into the role of science writers who turn complex data into accessible information.

00:00 Introduction to Clinical Simulation

00:44 Meet the Clinical Simulation Specialist

01:03 A Day in the Life of a Simulation Specialist

02:14 The Impact and Scope of the Role

02:50 Is This Career for You?

04:01 Pathways to Becoming a Simulation Specialist

05:20 Fun Facts and Advanced Simulations

06:27 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser