Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women in STEM

We’re Kathy Nelson and Linda LaTourelle — co-hosts of Ordinarily Extraordinary: Conversations with Women in STEM.

Kathy, an electrical engineer, launched the podcast in 2020 to share real, unfiltered stories of women working across STEM disciplines. Now with over 130 episodes, the mission remains the same: to amplify the voices of ordinary women doing extraordinary work in science, technology, engineering, and math.

We’re deeply committed to:

Normalizing the presence of women in STEM by making their stories visible
Building community for women who may be the only ones like them in their workplace
Educating listeners about the wide variety of STEM careers — and what they actually look like
Empowering growth and retention by addressing the challenges behind the leaky pipeline

From early-career professionals to experienced leaders, our guests share how they got started, how they’ve grown, and what they’ve learned along the way. This podcast is a space where women in STEM can be seen, heard, and supported — because representation isn’t just powerful, it’s essential.

Contributors

Co-host

Kathy Nelson

Kathy Nelson is an electrical engineer with over 30 years of experience in the utility industry, specializing in wireless telecommunications.

A passionate advocate for women in STEM, Kathy launched Ordinarily Extraordinary to share the authentic stories of women in science, technology, engineering, and math—creating a space for connection, inspiration, and community.

Outside of work and podcasting, Kathy enjoys traveling, outdoor adventures, and photography. She lives with her husband in the lakes area of Minnesota and is the proud mom of three adult children and one lively sheepadoodle.

Inspired by the podcast, Kathy has also begun writing picture book manuscripts to spark curiosity about STEM in young girls. She’s currently collaborating with her daughter on a Women in STEM coloring book featuring many of the remarkable women who have appeared on the show.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-kale-nelson/

Co-host

Linda LaTourelle

Linda LaTourelle is happily retired after a successful career in the electric utility industry, where she was a respected leader in Information Technology. Throughout her career, she played a key role in advancing technology initiatives that supported utility operations and innovation.

Now fully enjoying retirement, Linda spends as much time as possible outdoors—camping, hunting, fishing, and embracing the peace and beauty of nature. She’s also a proud and passionate grandma who treasures time with her grandchildren.

Linda is excited to join the Ordinarily Extraordinary podcast as a co-host and contributor, helping to elevate the voices of women in STEM and be part of meaningful, inspiring conversations.