Wellcome’s podcast When Science Finds a Way returns for a fourth season on 8 April.
Hosted by botanist-turned-Hollywood actor Alisha Wainwright, the series explores global health challenges through conversations with scientists, innovators and people with lived experience.
Across nine episodes, Alisha delves into human stories behind scientific discovery and the collaborations driving progress.
The season examines artificial intelligence in mental healthcare, breakthroughs preventing maternal deaths, emerging research on diet and mental health, fungal infections, ageing, extreme heat impacts, drug-resistant tuberculosis and super pollutants.
Episode one focuses on AI in mental health. Alisha speaks with Dr John Torous about large language models analysing digital data, and Professor Andrea Cipriani on AI-optimised prescriptions.
Dr Jana Alagarajah highlights innovations from low- and middle-income countries that could shape global care.
The second episode considers trust in AI chatbots and apps, exploring evaluation, regulation and user perspectives.
Maternal health features in a discussion of postpartum haemorrhage and the WOMAN trial. Professor Haleema Shakur-Still explains how tranexamic acid reduces deaths, while Professor Nike Bello and Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi outline efforts to make it widely available.
Fungal infections are examined with Dr Rachael Dangarembizi and Professor Rebecca Drummond on cryptococcal meningitis, alongside Dr Kyla Murphy on new diagnostics and treatments.
Alisha also investigates how diet affects mental health with Dr Wolfgang Marx, Dr Iain Campbell and Dr Sheri Johnson.
Insights into healthy ageing come from Professor Dame Linda Partridge, Professor Mika Kivimäki and Shamita Sharmacharja.
Episodes on climate-related health explore extreme heat impacts with Professor Andrea Mechelli, Mete Çoban and Dr Benedict Weobong, and pollution reduction with Dr Tom Grylls, Professor Zorana Andersen and Bidya Banmali Pradhan.
Philippa Michael, Head of Public Initiatives at Wellcome, says the podcast helps listeners connect with science while being transparent about discoveries, uncertainties and trade-offs. Season four demonstrates how research moves from laboratory insights into real-world solutions.
Episodes will be available on all major podcast platforms.
