SL_Spotlight_5_19FINAL.QXD_Spotlight 5 / 13 / 19 1 : 46 PM Page 1 spotlight BigQuestions As host of WHYY’s The Pulse , Maiken Scott delves into the unexplored terrain of health and science . BY BILL DONAHUE ROM THE MYSTERY OF CAR CARPETS TO THE MURKY BORDER BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH , human existence presents an un - limited number of topics to explore for someone like Maiken F Scott . Her intellectual curiosity makes her the perfect person to serve as creative director and host of The Pulse , a radio show on WHYY - FM that explores “ the unexpected corners of the health and science world . ” New episodes air on Fridays at 9 a.m . “ What I’m hoping the show does is translate things to people who are curious and want to learn more , ” she says . “ I see myself as a kind of translator , a curious person who comes from the platform of not being an expert but wanting to know more from people who are . ” Born and raised in Germany , Scott came to the United States in the early 1990s . She settled in southeastern Pennsylvania , living in Pottstown and Boyertown . She studied at Montgomery County Com - munity College before heading to Philadelphia , where she continued her studies at Temple University . She now lives in Fairmount with her husband and two children . We spoke with Scott about her thoughts on her career in radio , her entrepreneurial spirit , and the thrill she gets from having conver - sations about topics some people might consider “ mundane . ” How and why did so I suppose the topic found me . We’ve warehouse in Port Richmond that we you decide to pursue broadened things with The Pulse . We’ve converted to rehearsal space and recording a career in radio ? found that we can pretty much do so just studios . I’ve gained so much respect for It was a total about any topic , so there’s this gigantic people who run small businesses . It was Q.A coincidence . When I sandbox in which I get to play . … The tough and all consuming , because there’s graduated from high many different people I talk to keep the always something to deal with . We didn’t school , I was not sure what I wanted to do . job interesting . The interviews I enjoy the lose money , but we never got to a place My grades were not very good , and I was best are ones in which people explain the where it paid me a reliable income . floundering a bit . A family friend who mundane things to me — like , why there worked at a radio station told me about a are long waits in the doctor’s office . What does life look like for you away summer internship there . I loved it , and from the station ? they liked me , so I took to it like a duck to The topics are fascinating — from failure I was recently at a panel discussion , and water . I ended up staying there for a year , as a motivational tool , to the need for there was a young woman who asked and they wound up taking me on as a junior wilderness , to the fluidity between life about handling the work - life balance . reporter . … At Temple , I knew I wanted to and death . I imagine it’s quite a I have no hobbies , so that makes it easier . stay in radio , and one day I was looking for storyboarding process . I love my work ; it’s incredibly interesting . an internship and someone suggested , The show is really about the science of I’m also on the board [ of governors ] of the “ You should try WHYY . It’s public radio . ” I everyday things , so that gives us some Pen & Pencil Club , which is a journalists ’ thought : I didn’t know you had public radio wiggle room . Something very simple group . Other than that , I just do family stuff here . I was introduced to the news director could be the foundation for an episode . with my husband and our kids , who are 8 in 1996 , I did an internship , and I never left . I was recently dealing with the issue of and 10 . We have a place in Maryland , so ano trying to clean my car , and I was wondering I love being outdoors and by the water . … om You’re on the health and science beat . why it’s so hard to vacuum carpets in a car . I When the kids are grown , I’m sure I will R a Is that because of personal interest , the thought : Why do cars have carpets in the first return to pursuing some new hobbies , Dan station’s need , or the intersection of both ? place ? So that’s how that episode started . because there’s no limit to the things that by When I was working on Dr . Dan’s show interest me . Right now , the work is ph ( Voices in the Family , featuring Dan Gottlieb , Is it true that you once ran a recording intellectually stimulating enough so I don’t ogra Ph.D . ) , the subject was mental health . studio in Philly ? feel the need to pick up a book when I go hot I thought the topic was very interesting , Yes ! It was 24,000 square feet — a gigantic home at night . ? P SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2019 80 |