In this episode of The Future Conceived, we delve into the extraordinary moment life begins: egg activation, the precise signal that jolts the egg out of its arrested state and launches embryonic development.

We are joined by Professor Karl Swann (Cardiff University), a world-leading expert who has spent four decades decoding the chemical interactions between sperm and egg.

Dr. Swann explains why the entire process depends on a series of small, rapid bursts of calcium . These repeated calcium oscillations are the vital trigger, lasting for hours, and are necessary to fully commit the egg to development. We discuss the challenge of accurately capturing these minute, long-running chemical signals in the lab.

Central to our conversation is Dr. Swann’s groundbreaking discovery of the sperm-delivered protein that causes these calcium pulses. This protein acts as the 'switch' that the sperm injects into the egg, causing the egg's internal stores to release calcium in a repetitive, rhythmic fashion.

We explore the importance of this specific activation mechanism—including how the egg powers this demanding process using its mitochondria—and address a crucial clinical issue: why current methods used in fertility clinics to artificially activate eggs are often ineffective, relying on outdated technology that only produces a single calcium burst instead of the necessary rhythm.

In this highly insightful episode of The Future Conceived, host Cam Schmidt talks with Dr. Carmen Williams, Senior Investigator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the 2025 winner of the SSR Research Award.

Dr. Williams, whose lab investigates the critical events of fertilization, shares groundbreaking findings on calcium signaling during egg activation. You will learn:

• Why the simple components of in vitro culture media, specifically calcium and magnesium ratios, dramatically control the frequency of calcium oscillations and influence the quality and development of the resulting embryo.
• New, compelling evidence linking these early calcium signals to metabolism (TCA cycle) and ribosomal RNA synthesis in the early embryo.
• The continued importance of research into endocrine disruptors, particularly plant estrogens, and their impact on reproductive tract differentiation.

Dr. Williams also discusses her journey from electrical engineering to clinical medicine to basic science, and closes with a powerful message acknowledging the essential role of trainees in driving scientific success.

Join host Cameron A. Schmidt, PhD, as he kicks off a new series celebrating the vital role of the egg in sexual reproduction. This episode features a conversation with pioneering developmental biologist Dr. Mariana Wolfner of Cornell University.

Dr. Wolfner has spent nearly fifty years utilizing the powerful genetics of the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to dissect the fundamental mechanisms guiding sex determination and development, spanning from genetics and molecular biology to evolutionary development.

Key Topics in this Episode:

• The Power of Model Organisms: Discover why Drosophila is an indispensable tool for uncovering conserved biological mechanisms shared across diverse species, including mammals.
• Defining Conservation: Dr. Wolfner explores the difference between biochemical functional conservation and developmental functional conservation in evolutionary biology.
• The Mystery of Egg Activation: Learn about this critical, yet poorly understood, process where a terminally differentiated egg transitions into a totipotent cell capable of creating an entire organism.
  • The Calcium Signal: Discuss the pivotal role of calcium in triggering activation and how the initiating impulse differs between organisms like mammals (sperm-delivered enzyme) and insects (mechanical/environmental cues upon ovulation).
• Sexual Conflict and Cooperation: An updated perspective on the role of male accessory gland secretions (seminal fluid) and how molecules transferred during mating influence female physiology and behavior, challenging older interpretations of sexual conflict in favor of a more nuanced view of cooperation and cross-talk between the sexes.

This discussion offers a fascinating look at how small-scale molecular events ultimately inform large-scale developmental and evolutionary phenomena.

In this episode of The Future Conceived, Dr. Fei Zhao, University of Wisconsin-Madison, sits down with Dr. Marcella Pecora Milazzotto, Federal University of ABC. Dr. Pecora Milazzotto is the 2025 Fuller W. Bazer SSR International Scientist Award. Listen in as Dr. Pecora Milazzotto discusses her relationship with SSR, her research and career development stories, and her advice to trainees.

This episode, the conclusion of our mini-series on sperm capacitation, features physicist Dr. Meisam Zaferani discussing sperm motility through the lens of search theory and active matter physics. Dr. Zaferani explains how the sperm, which he calls an "autonomous natural robot," overcomes the massive challenges of movement at the microscopic scale, where movement is dominated by fluid viscosity rather than inertia. To maximize their chance of reaching the egg, sperm constantly adapt their swimming strategies—a process physically evident as hyperactivation—to the geometrically complex and viscoelastic environment of the female reproductive tract.

In this episode of The Future Conceived we begin a new series, Alternative Careers in Reproductive Biology, which explores jobs for reproductive biologist outside of academia. Dr. Victor Ruthig from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus interviews Dr. Eglė Ortega about Dr. Ortega’s non-academic career as a reproductive biologist. Dr. Ortega is a Senior Embryologist on the In Vitro Fertilization team in Advanced Reproductive Medicine & Gynecology at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii.

In this episode of The Future Conceived, host Cam Schmidt talks with Dr. Melanie Balbach, an assistant professor at Michigan State University, about the fascinating world of sperm metabolism. Dr. Balbach, an expert in biochemistry and molecular biology, sheds light on the process of sperm capacitation, the essential maturation step that gives sperm the power to fertilize an egg.

From the moment of ejaculation, sperm undergo a dynamic transformation, shifting from a state of metabolic dormancy to an activated, energy-hungry powerhouse. Dr. Balbach explains how sperm, despite being transcriptionally and translationally silenced, dynamically adapt their energy metabolism to meet the demands of their journey.

Listeners will learn about the interconnected dance between cell signaling and energy production, the "chicken and egg question" of which comes first, and how sperm-specific metabolic enzymes are regulated to fuel their journey. Dr. Balbach also shares insights from her groundbreaking research using stable isotope labeling, which reveals how sperm become more metabolically flexible to survive in the female reproductive tract.

Finally, the conversation delves into the exciting application of this research: the development of novel, non-hormonal male contraceptives. Discover how targeting these unique metabolic and signaling pathways could lead to a new generation of on-demand male birth control.

Join us to explore the intricate science that drives life's most fundamental journey and learn how a deeper understanding of sperm offers a glimpse into the future of reproductive science and medicine.

Welcome to Future Conceived, the official podcast of the Society for the Study of Reproduction.  In this episode, host Cam Schmidt chats with Dr. Pablo Visconti, Professor of Animal and Veterinary Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Sperm maturation doesn't end with ejaculation, but instead continues in the female reproductive tract through a series of complex biochemical changes. This maturation process, known as capacitation, can make or break sperm success and its independent discovery in the 1950's by Austin and Chang helped pave the way for the first successful in vitro fertilization. Dr. Visconti has been studying the molecular mechanisms that control mammalian sperm capacitation for more than 40 years. This discussion offers a fascinating window into Dr. Visconti's approach to this problem and how his mechanistic insights have evolved as knowledge about sperm capacitation has accumulated over the course of his career.  

Welcome to The Future Conceived, the official podcast of the Society for the Study of Reproduction! In this episode, host Cam Schmidt has a fascinating conversation with Dr. Marisa Bartolomei, Perlman Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and the esteemed winner of SSR's 2025 Training Mentoring Award.

Dr. Bartolomei shares insights into her unique journey, transitioning into reproductive biology as a faculty member after starting in other fields like genetics and epigenetics. She discusses the evolution of graduate and postdoctoral training, the challenges of navigating an ever-growing sea of scientific information, and the increasing length of PhD and postdoc programs. Listen in as she reflects on her diverse mentorship experiences, from her early days knocking on lab doors as an undergraduate to her current approach of fostering not only research skills but also crucial "soft skills" in her trainees.

Discover what Dr. Bartolomei finds most rewarding about mentoring, her advice for early career scientists starting their own labs, and essential tips for trainees on how to navigate their scientific journeys. This episode offers a candid and insightful look into the past, present, and future of scientific training and mentorship within the reproductive sciences.

Sponsored by SSR's Virtual Education Committee, dedicated to education, highlighting member careers, and sharing the latest scientific advancements in reproductive biology. Learn more at ssr.org.

In this episode of The Future Conceived, the official podcast of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), host Dr. Pam Monahan welcomes the editorial team from Biology of Reproduction (BOR), the flagship journal of SSR. Listen in as BOR's Editor-in-Chief Dr. Romana Nowak, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Mary Zelinski, and Publications Manager Ms. Jenny Kimball discuss exciting new features and updates at BOR. This insightful conversation provides a run-through of the academic peer-review publishing process and the structure of scientific journals. Discover the benefits of publishing in and reading BOR, learn about its newly expanded scope and categories, and get a sneak peek at upcoming special issues. The editorial team also shares ways for the reproductive science community to get involved with BOR, including becoming a peer reviewer or joining committees. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in reproductive research and the valuable resources offered by BOR and SSR, including the benefit of free publication for SSR members.

In this episode of The Future Conceived, Dr. Pam Monahan, Northwestern University, sits down with Francesca Duncan, Northwestern University. Dr. Duncan is the 2024 recipient of The Roger V Short Medal and Lecture award. Listen in as Dr. Duncan discusses her team's aim to understand the mechanisms that drive ovarian aging, her advice to young reproductive scientists, and being the 2024 Roger V Short Medal and Lecture award recipient. Dr. Duncan also touches on how trainees can maximize their time at SSR's annual conference.

In this episode of The Future Conceived, Dr. Yu-Ying Chen, postdoctoral fellow at NIEHS and member of the SSR Virtual Education Committee, sits down with Dr. Francesco DeMayo, the 2024 recipient of SSR’s highest honor, The Carl G. Hartman award. 
Dr. DeMayo is the the Chief and Senior Investigator in the Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS / NIH). Listen in as Dr. DeMayo discusses his career trajectory, his research in uterine biology and gives some words of wisdom for the next generation of reproductive biologists.

In this episode of The Future Conceived, Dr. Victor A. Ruthig, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, sits down with Rhasaan Bovell, a third-year PhD candidate conducting cheetah research at Cornell University and the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. Listen in as Rhasaan updates us on advances in cheetah conservation since our last podcast on the topic in 2022. Rhasaan also talks about his scientific journey and shares advice to young blossoming scientists.

What happens when your scientific observations conflict with literature? Do challenging scientific dogmas impact the way we do research, and can it even impact our career? Listen close to the interview of Dr. Greg Johnson and Dr. Ky Pohler from Texas A&M University by Dr. Pete Hansen from University of Florida, and learn how some aspects of their research are calling into question some of our current understanding in placental biology and maternal recognition of pregnancy. Dr. Johnson and Dr. Pohler also provide some wisdom for young independent investigators on how to conduct research and establish themselves in their field.  

In this episode of The Future Conceived, Dr. Victor A. Ruthig, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, sits down with Dr. Bruce D. Murphy, University of Montreal. Dr. Murphy is the 2023 recipient of SSR’s highest honor, The Carl G. Hartman award. Listen in as Dr. Murphy discusses his research trajectory and being the 2023 Carl G. Hartman award recipient. Dr. Murphy also gives some sage wisdom about mentorship and speculates about where the field of reproductive biology is headed. Dr

In this podcast, Dr. Peter Hansen interviews Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt, Head of Department of Reproduction Management at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany on his first successful embryo transfer in southern white rhinos. Listen to learn more about white rhino conservation, the uncharted territory of performing IVF, and this major milestone in the race against time to save the endangered northern white rhino species.

Dr. Hildebrandt is an invited speaker at the upcoming 2024 SSR meeting. 

To learn all about Dr. Pate's mentoring philosophy and her SSR meeting memories, listen to this interview conducted by Dr. Warren B. Nothnick, who was a graduate student with Dr. Pate and who nominated her for the 2021 Trainee Mentor Award.