In this milestone 20th episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana talks with Sirja Joeever, a Harvard freshman studying math and statistics, about navigating high school while exploring diverse passions. From competitive math and orchestra to founding Women on Wall Street, co-founding a nonprofit, tutoring, and becoming a nationally recognized ballet dancer, Sirja shares how she balanced her interests, made decisions, and discovered her direction.

We dive into how to prioritize what matters most, the challenges of leading clubs and initiatives, and advice for students who feel overwhelmed by the pressure to “do it all.” If you’re a high schooler trying to figure out how to explore your passions without burning out, this episode is for you!

Download and share with friends!

In this episode, Ayana talks with Dr. Sibel Ebru Yalcin, a biochemical physicist at Yale who works on one of the most interesting parts of science, which is building the microscopes and imaging systems that allow researchers to "see the invisible."

From Turkey to Los Alamos to Yale, Dr. Yalcin has followed her curiosity across the world, designing tools that help scientists study bacteria, proteins, and nanoscale structures in ways never before possible. She shares how she found her niche, why creating scientific instruments matters just as much as running experiments, and what young students should know if they’re curious about research but don’t know where to start!

Make sure to download and share with family + friends!

When most people think about dentists, they picture routine checkups or fixing cavities, but there’s so much more to the profession. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jasmeet Khurana of Hudson Family Dental to talk about what really goes into building a career in dentistry.

She shares her journey from studying dentistry in India to completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery at NYU, what a “day in the life” of a dentist actually looks like, and the challenges that shaped her along the way. If you’re a high schooler curious about dentistry, or just wondering how to start exploring healthcare careers, this one's for you!

Don't forget to download, share, and follow!

What does it really take to turn a startup idea into something big?

In this episode, Ayana sits down with Vinny Minhas, a growth and strategy leader who has helped multiple tech startups scale successfully find their edge, scale up, and thrive in competitive markets. They dive into how great companies grow, what true leadership looks like in fast-paced environments, and why confidence and curiosity are just as important as any business skill.

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, or just how people make things happen, this one’s for you!

Don’t forget to follow, share, and download this episode; it’s one you’ll want to come back to!

In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana talks with Dr. Maithili Shenoy, a non-invasive cardiologist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From studying medicine in Mumbai to practicing across the U.S., Dr. Shenoy shares her incredible journey through the world of cardiology — and the lessons she’s learned about adaptability, collaboration, and compassion along the way.

They discuss what it’s really like to be a cardiologist, how teamwork shapes patient care, and why staying curious and open-minded can take you further than any single plan ever could! If you’re interested in healthcare, medicine, or just figuring out how to turn curiosity into a career, this episode is definitely for you!

Don't forget to download, follow, and share with family & friends!!

Most of us have heard of dermatology, but what about dermatopathology? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Gauri Panse, a dermatopathologist and an Associate Professor at Yale, about what it’s really like to study diseases of the skin under a microscope.

Dr. Panse shares how she discovered this hidden side of medicine, what it takes to build a career in such a rare specialty, and why finding your niche can sometimes lead to the most rewarding paths! Whether you’re curious about medicine, research, or simply finding your own niche, this conversation is for you!

Download, follow, and share with family and friends!

In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, I’m joined by Anuj Shahani, who is a strategist who works behind the scenes with some of the world’s largest financial brands helping them grow, adapt, and lead in a fast-changing world. We dive into what it means to be a “coach” in business, how top performers handle pressure and change, and what it takes to build lasting success rather than just short-term wins. If you’re curious about tech, startups, leadership-or simply trying to figure out what you want to do- this conversation is for you!!

Download, follow, and share this episode with friends and family!!

What happens when you mix math, biology, and a curiosity about why we age? In this episode, I talk with Shagun Gupta, a Data Scientist at Calico Life Sciences, a biotech company studying the biology behind aging and age-related diseases.

Shagun shares how she discovered her niche at the crossroads of data and biology, what it’s really like to do a PhD, and why it’s okay if your academic journey doesn’t follow a straight line.

If you’ve ever been curious about research, biotech, or how data can unlock secrets of the human body, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Don’t forget to download, follow, and share with friends and family!