Like the plot of any good love story — we needed an idyllic setting, a shared interest, and a limited amount of time together — the scene was set for Nicole Foster and Andi Greene in late 2019 at a scientific conference. Before a field excursion through alligator infested tidal creeks in the deep American south, Nicole, a solo-Aussie, had to befriend someone. That someone was Andi! Over many beers and even more laughter, the duo formed a tight-knit group of female scientists who bonded over the frustrations of being a graduate student, how each of us managed to get here as aspiring professional scientists, and what was next. We all wanted to impact our field and the broader field of STEM, but how? Nicole and Andi dreamed of a future podcast and maybe even creating a non-profit focused on grassroots research...