Libsyn Directory

Apprentice Embalmer Michelle Tokarski: The Art and Science of Saying Goodbye(Pt. 2)

Release Date: 11/08/2025

Before Silicon Valley: How Guild Halls and Skilled Trades Drove Innovation

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

Special crossover episode with Seemingly Unrelated What do medieval guild halls and the first mechanized loom have to do with modern science? In this special crossover episode, Blue Collar | White Coat teams up with Seemingly Unrelated host Andrew Johnstone to explore how knowledge has always been built, shared, and preserved through skilled, often invisible labor. From guild halls and tradespeople to archives and technicians, this conversation traces the human infrastructure that makes discovery — and history — possible. Andrew brings his archivist’s perspective (and a talent for...

Firefighter to R&D Machinist: Kyle Luker's Blue Collar STEM Career

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

at does science look like when you strip away the lab coats and take a peek behind the equipment? In this episode of Blue Collar | White Coat, we meet Kyle Luker — a machinist, welder, former firefighter, and self-taught problem-solver whose hands quietly keep research moving forward. From wildland firefighting to managing an R&D machine shop at a major university, Kyle’s winding path into the world of academic science is a reminder that discovery depends on far more than degrees and data. Kyle shares how he learned to weld in the field, why TIG welding feels like...

From Lab to Legislation: Training Scientists to Influence Policy

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

In Episode 9 of Blue Collar | White Coat, Amy sits down with Robin Garcia, a former federal worker and now a professional science communications trainer with Compass Science Communication. Robin’s career has taken her from marine biology labs to NOAA to Capitol Hill workshops — and in this episode, she breaks down exactly why communicating science effectively to Congress, policymakers, and everyday non-experts is more crucial than ever. We cover everything from shrimp-on-a-treadmill headlines to the realities of federal budgets, policy briefings, fellowships, science education, burnout in...

Apprentice Embalmer Michelle Tokarski: The Art and Science of Saying Goodbye(Pt. 2)

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

What really happens behind the scenes in funeral homes? In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Blue Collar White Coat, mortician and funeral director Michelle Tokarski takes us into the world of death care — from organ and tissue donation to the art and science of embalming. Michelle breaks down the myths, misconceptions, and emotional realities of her work with honesty and heart. She explains what embalming truly is, why it’s not always required, how funeral laws protect families, and how compassion, precision, and respect guide every step. This is a rare look at a profession...

Funeral Director Michelle Tokarski on the Art and Science of Saying Goodbye (Pt. 1)

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

What does death care have to do with science? A lot more than you think. In this first part of a special two-part Halloween episode of Blue Collar | White Coat, we talk with Michelle Tokarski, a California-based funeral counselor and apprentice embalmer who proves that compassion, chemistry, and cultural understanding all collide in one of the most misunderstood STEM careers. Michelle shares how she went from art school and customer service to caring for the dead and comforting the living. We dive into the science behind embalming, the chemistry of preservation, and the microbiology and...

Why Sharks (and social media) Matter: Dr. David Shiffman

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

Marine biologist Dr. David Shiffman talks to host Amy Weldon about why scientists need to meet people where they are, whether that's on a fishing boat or online. Summary We're gonna need a bigger boat because marine biologist, shark scientist and social media expert Dr. David Schiffman is taking us out to sea on this episode of Blue Collar White Coat! We get into the importance of shark science, the impact of poor media representations (looking at you, Shark Week) and the need for effective communication in science. In our conversation, David emphasizes the significance of diversity in the...

Why Curiosity Beats Perfection in Science — Lessons from the Deep with Marley Parker

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

What happens when you’re told you’ll never succeed in science because of an ADHD-type learning disorder? In this episode of Blue Collar | White Coat, Amy talks with , an underwater photographer and freelance science communicator who proves there’s more than one way to belong in STEM. From documenting deep-sea expeditions to navigating freelance life with dyscalculia, Marley’s story is about resilience, creativity, and building a science career on your own terms. Diagnosed early on with a math-related learning disorder, Marley was told she wasn’t cut out for science. Instead, she...

Meet host and creator Amy Weldon

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

In this special episode of Blue Collar White Coat, host Amy turns the mic on herself. She shares the winding path from small-town Maryland to city living and the National Aquarium, from dolphin training to science communication at a national lab, and the blue-collar roots that shaped her perspective along the way. Amy reflects on growing up in a working-class family, navigating ADHD and college setbacks, and finding her place in STEM storytelling. Through tales of early jobs, graduate school abroad on a budget, and the realities of animal care jobs, she reveals why this show exists: to...

Fired Fed: A Dream Job Lost, and What the Public Lost Too

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

When the pandemic hit, Chanapa Tantibanchachai was on the front lines of public health communication at the FDA. Now, months after being laid off, you'll hear how Chanapa has grieved losing her dream job and what she's tackling next. In this episode, Chanapa recounts how being the child of Thai imigrants while growing up with her own rare health condition shaped her commitment to bridging the gap between scientists, journalists, and the public. From explaining complex research to countering misinformation, her work reminds us that trust in science comes down to the people doing the...

Roll for Initiative: Elaina Mayer on Cybersecurity & Cosplay

Blue Collar White Coat Podcast

What do cybersecurity and Dungeons & Dragons have in common? Elaina Mayer—CISSP, professor, and award-winning cosplayer—reveals how creativity fuels data defense. From AI risks to rolling dice in the classroom, this episode dives into the unpredictable world of cyber threats and the epic quest to protect your data.

More Episodes

What really happens behind the scenes in funeral homes? In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Blue Collar White Coat, mortician and funeral director Michelle Tokarski takes us into the world of death care — from organ and tissue donation to the art and science of embalming.

Michelle breaks down the myths, misconceptions, and emotional realities of her work with honesty and heart. She explains what embalming truly is, why it’s not always required, how funeral laws protect families, and how compassion, precision, and respect guide every step.

This is a rare look at a profession most of us never think about until we have to — and a reminder that death work, at its core, is deeply human work.

Chapters

00:00 Embalming: A Personal Perspective
04:17 Understanding Embalming Techniques
07:06 Debunking Embalming Myths
14:14 The Art of Embalming: Preserving Memories
19:32 Attention to Detail: The Embalming Process
27:09 Restoration and Repatriation: A Labor of Love
35:51 Advice for Aspiring Embalmers: A Call to Service
41:20 Starting a Career in Funeral Services Later in Life
46:50 Overcoming Academic Challenges in Mortuary Science
52:58 Environmental Considerations in Cremation Practices
59:29 Outro

Watch episodes on our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueCollarWhiteCoat

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