Podcast
Paul Talks Science
Hosted by Paul ADEPOJU, PhD · EN
Welcome to "Paul Talks Science," a podcast that journeys into the ever-evolving realms of health, science, and innovation. Hosted by Paul Adepoju, each episode features thought-provoking conversations with experts and trailblazers who are shaping the future of medicine and technology. From groundbreaking research to revolutionary treatments, "Paul Talks Science" delves deep into the stories and ideas that will define tomorrow's world. Join us as we explore the cutting edge, challenge the status quo, and uncover the innovations that hold the promise of a better, healthier future.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
When the Cosmic Web Spins
Feb 1600:24:34Tap to summarizeWhat if the largest structures in the Universe aren’t just expanding — but spinning?In this episode, host Paul Adepoju explores one of the most intriguing recent developments in cosmology: evidence that a vast cosmic filament stretching tens of millions of light-years may be rotating. The conversation builds on Paul’s feature for Physics Magazine, originally developed as the winning pitch of the Quantum Pitch Competition — launched by Physics Magazine in partnership with Physics World to mark the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. His article described how astronomers detected large-scale galactic motion using radiation produced by tiny quantum “spin flips” in hydrogen atoms. Read it here.Drawing on that reporting and an in-depth interview with astrophysicist Dr. Madalina Tudorache, this episode examines how galaxies align along cosmic filaments, how neutral-hydrogen observations reveal coordinated motion, and why angular momentum at these scales is reshaping questions about galaxy formation and large-scale structure.Along the way, we connect quantum-scale measurements — the 21-centimeter hydrogen transition — to observations of the cosmic web, discuss the role of South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope in enabling the discovery, and reflect on how global collaboration and African radio-astronomy infrastructure are influencing frontier astrophysics.This episode unpacks the discovery, the physics behind it, and the broader story of how we come to understand motion across the Universe.
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AMR is Everybody's Business
Jan 1900:38:48Tap to summarizeAntimicrobial resistance is often framed as a technical problem for scientists and policymakers. But the truth is far simpler — and far more unsettling: the choices made in clinics, pharmacies, farms, and homes every day are helping to decide whether life-saving medicines will still work in the future.In this episode, we unpack why AMR isn’t just a laboratory or hospital issue, but a shared societal challenge. Drawing on expert insight and real-world experience, the conversation explores how misuse of antibiotics, gaps in regulation, weak infection prevention, and limited public awareness are accelerating resistance — especially in settings where access and oversight collide.Crucially, the episode also looks forward. From community awareness and responsible prescribing to hygiene, sanitation, and people-centred primary health care, it examines what practical action can look like — not in theory, but in everyday life.Because when antibiotics fail, it won’t just be health systems that feel it. It will be all of us.My guest is Dr Ali Ahmed Yahaya, Team Leader of the Antimicrobial Resistance Unit at the World Health Organization African Regional Office.
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Special New Year Message from Paul
Jan 100:01:48Tap to summarizeThank you for the journey in 2025, here is what will be the highlight of the new year 2026. Happy New Year.
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Africa’s AI Talent: Supercomputers, Brain Drain, and Building Solutions at Home
Dec 2900:21:17Tap to summarizeAfrica has the talent to power the world’s most advanced AI systems — so why is so much of that talent building elsewhere?In this episode, we sit down with a postdoctoral researcher at a US Department of Energy national laboratory working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. He breaks down what supercomputers actually do, why they matter for science and society, and how African researchers are already shaping global AI — often without the infrastructure to do so at home.From childhood curiosity and mentorship in Nigeria to working with AI, IoT, and citizen science to improve food security, this conversation explores how local knowledge, not just massive computing power, can drive innovation. We unpack Africa’s strengths in human capital, the challenges of outdated curricula and weak systems, and what it will really take to tackle brain drain, reform education, and build technology ecosystems that work locally and compete globally.This is a wide-ranging discussion on AI in Africa, supercomputing, education reform, agriculture, health systems, and the urgent need to create environments where African talent can thrive — at home.
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How Topology Is Changing What We See
Dec 1500:25:12Tap to summarizeWhat if the way we understand shape, space, and structure could help us see disease differently?In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sit down with South African mathematician Dr. Cerene Rathilal to explore topology, a branch of mathematics that asks what stays the same even when things are stretched, twisted, or transformed, and why those ideas now matter far beyond the chalkboard.Cerene traces her journey into mathematics, from a childhood shaped by curiosity to the moment she realised that being good at maths was not the same as being told you could become a mathematician. We talk about the quiet ways society steers talented students away from pure mathematics, and what it means to choose a path that is not always visible or celebrated.The conversation moves from theory to impact, as Cerene explains how topological data analysis is being explored in areas such as breast cancer diagnosis, helping researchers look at medical images and data in entirely new ways. We also discuss why Africa has a growing role to play in advanced mathematical research, and how global scientific spaces can create mobility, collaboration, and confidence for African scholars.Beyond the mathematics, this episode is about representation, mentorship, and making space. Cerene shares why she founded a programme to support girls pursuing STEM careers in South Africa, and what it takes to turn personal experience into collective opportunity.This is a conversation about mathematics as a way of seeing, science as a human endeavour, and why abstract ideas often shape the real world more than we realise.
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Seeing Math Differently: A Ghanaian Researcher’s Awakening
Dec 800:22:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we follow the journey of Hannah, a young Ghanaian researcher whose relationship with mathematics completely transformed once she discovered where the equations finally led. From early confusion in abstract university courses to finding clarity through disease modelling, Hannah shares the moments, mentors, and opportunities that reshaped her understanding of what math can do — and who it is for.She talks openly about the gaps in math education across Africa, the power of exposure, and the role supportive supervisors played in helping her find her footing in biomedical data science. We explore how mathematical skills are opening new frontiers in health, AI, and problem-solving on the continent, and why she believes Africa’s unique challenges also represent its greatest opportunities.This is a conversation about seeing math differently, building confidence as a young researcher, and imagining a future where African mathematicians shape solutions for their own communities — and beyond.
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Faith, Science and Safe Medicines: A Conversation with Prof Moji Adeyeye
Nov 300:40:56Tap to summarize📌 Host: Paul Adepoju👤 Guest: Prof. Moji Adeyeye – Director-General of NAFDAC (Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control)In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sit down with Prof. Moji Adeyeye to explore her remarkable journey from practicing pharmacist to academic, regulator and advocate, and how she’s helping transform Nigeria’s medicines landscape — especially for children.We dive into :Her reflections on the past challenges of paediatric malaria treatments and why “children are not just small adults” in drug development.The technical, environmental and regulatory hurdles of developing medicines that children will actually accept — and that can survive real-world conditions in low-resource settings.How NAFDAC is leveraging cutting-edge technology like GS1 track-&-trace and advanced detection devices to fight fake and substandard medicines in Nigeria’s open drug markets.The trade-offs regulators face between speeding access (as seen during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout) and maintaining trust, safety and thorough review.Her faith-inspired work supporting children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and the broader intersection of medicine, ethics and public health.Her vision for Nigeria: “Made in Nigeria, sold all over the world” — with quality, safety and efficacy at its core.📖 Further reading: I recently wrote a deeper piece for Devex titled “Can Africa’s drug regulators be both fast and trusted?” which draws on this conversation and broader regulatory trends across the continent. Check it out: https://www.devex.com/news/can-africa-s-drug-regulators-be-both-fast-and-trusted-111147🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe and hit the notification bell so you won’t miss future episodes where we bring together science, policy, innovation and human stories.👇 Share your thoughts in the comments: What was the most surprising insight for you from this conversation? What do you think it will take to build regulatory systems in Africa that are both fast and trusted?
Transcribe →Scaling Solutions: Project ECHO’s Global Impact
Dec 16, 2024Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Paul Talks Science, we explore the transformative impact of Project ECHO, a global initiative that's bridging health inequities by democratizing expertise and empowering underserved communities. Dr. Sanjeev Arora, founder of Project ECHO, shares the powerful story of how a heartbreaking patient encounter inspired him to create this innovative hub-and-spoke model that’s now helping millions worldwide. We’re also joined by Dr. Daniel Jose Fofi from South Africa, who explains how he’s using Project ECHO to revolutionize cancer care in the Northern Cape, addressing late diagnoses, resource gaps, and access challenges. This episode ties closely to my recent article published in The Lancet, where I delve deeper into Project ECHO’s global health implications. You can read the article here: The Lancet - Project ECHO. Tune in to discover how knowledge sharing and collaboration are saving lives and creating a more equitable future for healthcare.
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