Nice Genes Podcast: The Why, The How, And The ‘Huh?’ Of Genomics

 Some independent podcasts are sponsored by organizations that strive to make the world a better place. Genome British Columbia (BC) is one of them. Genome BC applies the power of genomics to solve pressing societal, environmental, and economic challenges in the areas of human health, agriculture, forestry, mining, environment, energy and fisheries. They do this by: Investing in world-class research and managing complex translation and innovation projects. 

Genomics holds great promise for the health of people, animals and the environment. It also confronts us with big questions.

From the tendrils of this admirable, forward-leaning organization, podcast listeners are fortunate enough to receive the Nice Genes! podcast. 

Listeners can join host Dr. Kaylee Byers every other Tuesday as she guides them through fascinating conversations about the what, the why, the how, and the ‘huh?’ of genomics.

And they should. The show is surprisingly fun, as opposed to dryly academic and tediously pedantic. The topics are also relevant to everyday life, and not microscopic minutiae. 

 The show has won a Gold Quill Award in 2023. It is a prestigious international honor recognizing excellence in strategic business communication, awarded annually by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). It celebrates innovative and impactful communication projects, with categories covering management, research, skills, and training, and serves as a benchmark for professional communicators worldwide

The host, Dr. Kaylee Byers, is a One Health scientist, urban wildlife ecologist and health communications researcher investigating innovative ways to improve the health of people, wildlife and ecosystems.

She is an Assistant Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, Senior Scientist with the Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society, and Deputy Director of the BC node of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

Sarah Lando of Genome BC told Ear Worthy: "Kaylee Byers was referred to the podcast by a close friend of the organization. When the team met her, it was immediately clear the fit was right. Kaylee has been telling great science stories for years and is one of the strongest science communicators in our ecosystem. Her expertise aligns perfectly with the show’s mission, and we were thrilled when she agreed to come on board. She has a unique ability to connect with guests and audiences alike, and quickly became integral to the DNA of the show. Kaylee brings passion, thoughtful insight and a sense of fun to every episode."

Byers excels on the show as the host. Clearly, she has the right genes for this hosting gig. Dr. Byers is funny, somewhat ironic, able to dispense complex information in a way we can understand, and has a strong sense of narrative structure.

The show has been around for six seasons and just gets better with time and experience. Here's a snippet from the season five trailer: "Every mystery leaves a trail of clues. Fingerprints, call logs, maybe some tire tracks… or, of course, DNA. And when it comes to mysteries about our health, there are no shortages of leads to chase."

The trailer continues: "This season, join host, Dr. –or Detective– Kaylee Byers and the Nice Genes! CSI unit as we investigate the genomic breadcrumbs shaping the way we age, treat diseases– and even watch TV. We’ll uncover how “poo water” can tip us off to pandemics before they spread, to why some of the fittest athletes suddenly collapse on the field. And if you thought you smelled a “rat,” well, you’d be correct. Because we’ll also learn how our rodent sidekicks are helping us sniff out the world’s deadliest infectious disease."

Dr. Byers told Ear Worthy: "Nice Genes! is re-envisioning how we talk about genomics. Through storytelling and humor, the podcast has made genomics research more accessible and expanded our understanding of how genomics applies and intersects with our everyday lives."

Good stuff, right? Not stuffy, but engaging and clever. Plus, we learn stuff! 

One of the most touching shows was in Season five. It was episode four, Why Athletes Collapse? The genetic clues behind sudden cardiac arrest in young individuals

Byers says: "Every so often, we see headlines about an elite athlete collapsing mid-game. The crowd goes silent, emergency crews rush to the field, and everyone’s left wondering: how could this happen? The truth is, sometimes a hidden heart condition written deep in our DNA will unmask itself on the field."

In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with sports cardiologist and cardio geneticist Dr. Prashant Rao to explore the genetic roots of sudden cardiac events in young athletes. Together, they unpack the most common underlying genetic conditions responsible, what genomics is revealing about the specific genes involved, and the ongoing debate around genetic screening. Plus, the remarkable story of JJ: a young wrestler who survived cardiac arrest thanks to his early genetic diagnosis and fast-acting friends.

Listen in to learn why these devastating events happen, and how genomics is helping keep athletes safely in the game.

By far, my favorite episode in season five is episode six. It's called Gut Check -- What genomics can tell us about food safety, the microbiome, and the mind.

Here's Byers: "You’ve heard the saying, 'you are what you eat'... Well, our gut microbes take that very literally. If you’ve ever gone on vacation, eaten something tasty, and next thing you find yourself bonding with a bathroom floor, you’re not alone. Food poisoning might occasionally make for a good story later, but it’s a serious issue that lands millions of people in hospitals every year– and tracing the culprit isn’t always as simple as pointing at last night’s tacos."

In this episode, Dr. Kaylee Byers chats with microbiologist Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, who explains how genomics helps track foodborne outbreaks – from the harmful bacteria in our food to the microbes living inside us. Then, Dr. Mary dives into the science of the gut-brain connection, revealing how your gut and brain are constantly in conversation.

Then Byers banters: "So grab a snack, and get ready to stomach the science."

Sarah Lando details the audience reaction to the show: "The audience has grown significantly each season, helping us advance our core mission of increasing public awareness and understanding of genomics. The show has also shone a spotlight on important genomics work happening in BC and around the world. Hosting in-person events, including a recent live episode recording at the Vancouver Planetarium, has deepened relationships with Genome BC’s audience. Genome BC has also become widely recognized in the community for the show."

Sarah explained that the podcast was created to engage the public in conversations about genomics in a way that is informative, approachable and timely. 

Sarah notes: "As interest in podcasts surged, we saw an opportunity to tell fun and important science stories through a format people were already embracing. Most people have a limited understanding of genomics, and we saw that as an opportunity to introduce audiences to the surprising ways genomics is changing our world. Genome BC is also always looking for new ways to strengthen engagement with the ultimate receptors of the science. We specifically wanted to reach a young adult female audience. We identified this group as curious and open to science storytelling but underserved in the space. While we make the show for everyone and strive to make every episode the best it can be, we always keep this core audience in mind."

The show has won several awards, including a Gold Signal Award for Listener’s Choice: Science and Education this past year. The show is also a proud recipient of a Shorty Award for Best Science and Technology Podcast, a Silver Davey Award for Podcast Series: Educational, and a Silver Anthem Award for Health: Podcast or Audio. 

Dr. Byers says: "The awards that have meant the most to us are listener-voted honors."

Another highlight for the show was having season three featured on the in-flight entertainment system across all Air Canada flights.

This podcast blends science (genomics, specifically) with clever concepts, a willingness to engage audiences at their level, and an understanding that informing also means entertaining.

Check out Nice Genes. Who knows? You could be genetically predisposed to quality independent podcasts like this one.