What do mice, Old Bay Seasoning, and cancer research have in common?

Rysheem McGirt.

In the very first episode of Blue Collar White Coat Podcast, host Amy Weldon reconnects with her friend and former dolphin training volunteer, now full-time animal welfare project manager. Rysheem's full-time job supports biomedical research outside of their hometown of Baltimore, Maryland and on the side he's doing everything from Door Dash to stand-up comedy. From working two jobs in grade school to earning his MBA before he turned 30, Rysheem's STEM career has been anything but traditional, but that's what makes him the perfect guest for our first episode!

Hear how his team helps scientists fight cancer and why that means so much to him then stick around for some laughs, side hustle stories, and a little bit of Baltimore accent flair.

Welcome to Blue Collar White Coat, a podcast about the people who actually make science happen.

Host Amy Weldon—a science communicator with 15 years of experience—introduces the show and the folks you’ll meet along the way: welders, wildlife biologists, coders, divers, NASA educators, and all kinds of behind-the-scenes heroes powering science, one essential job at a time.

Some episodes feature guest interviews. On others, Amy digs into the state of STEM, how it’s changing, and where it’s headed next. No lectures—just real talk, jobs you maybe never thought could be related to science, and great stories.

Whether you’re science-curious, wear a white coat to work or a hardhat, or just love hearing from people who do the work, this show’s for you.

Episodes drop weekly starting in August. Follow @bluecollarwhitecoatpod on Instagram, TikTok, and @bcwcpodcast on BlueSky to stay in the loop and join the crew.