In this episode of Womanufacturing, Alicia and Justine open up about the realities of moving for work — from the excitement of new opportunities to the challenge of starting over. They share personal stories of uprooting for careers, finding (and sometimes struggling to find) community in new places, and what it feels like to go from confident expert to newcomer overnight. Whether you’ve relocated for a job or are considering it, this candid conversation explores identity, belonging, and the balance between career ambition and personal connection.

In this episode of Womanufacturing, Alicia and Justine sit down with Dr. Zöe Steine-Hanson, PhD, a research scientist at OpenBCI. Zöe’s work bridges neuroscience, computer science, and ethics, exploring how brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are being developed today — from invasive neural arrays used in epilepsy research to open-source EEG systems that make neurotechnology accessible outside the lab.

We dive into her path from PhD research at the University of Washington to her current role in industry, and what she’s learned about the differences between academia’s power dynamics and the realities of building technology people actually use. Along the way, Zöe shares insights on gender bias, problem-solving styles, inclusivity in tech design, and why it’s so important to consider who gets left out when new technology goes mainstream.

If you’ve ever wondered how close we really are to “mind-reading” machines, what the future of neurotech might look like, or why diversity and ethics matter just as much as hardware and code, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Alicia and Justine dive into the intoxicating pull — and hidden costs — of startup life. From the thrill of building something from scratch to the subtle ways boundaries erode, they unpack how a sense of mission can morph into relentless grind. Was it just dedication… or were they caught up in a full-blown “CULTure”?

If you’ve ever wondered why smart, capable people give everything to a company — and what it takes to break free — this episode pulls back the curtain on the playbook nobody talks about.