Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) has launched a five-episode video podcast series designed to transform complex scientific concepts into a calming, immersive audio-visual journey.
The series, titled “Science Illuminated,” debuted on August 3 on Spotify and covers topics ranging from cancer cells and the immune system to antibody-based therapies.
Each episode runs approximately six minutes and opens with soothing music alongside a meditation-style narration intended to draw listeners gently into the world of human biology.
The voice behind the series belongs to Regeneron staff engineer Michelle Mazzeo, who has worked in the company’s laboratories for eight years.
Mazzeo’s involvement came about almost by chance, after her distinctive voice caught attention during an unrelated internal work meeting, according to executive director of corporate communications Alexandra Bowie.
In one proteomics-focused episode, Mazzeo invites listeners to settle in with the words: “Take a few calming breaths. Guide your attention to the image before you.”
She continues, describing proteins as a “vibrant display,” telling listeners, “This is just one small example of the intricate activity continuously unfolding throughout your body. Allow yourself to connect to this grand symphony within you.”
The visual component of each episode features hypnotic zoom-ins on images captured by Regeneron’s own researchers, giving the series a distinctive aesthetic that sets it apart from conventional podcasting formats.
Bowie explained that the series reflects the company’s broader content strategy, telling Fierce: “Innovation doesn’t stop at the labs or in the scientific process at Regeneron. It applies across all our functions.”
“Science Illuminated” grew out of a long-running internal print calendar that Regeneron’s science imaging team has produced for years, using striking laboratory photography to highlight the artistic side of scientific research.
That calendar inspired a social media series in which viewers were asked to guess the subject of each image before the answer was revealed, with pop-up text reading: “See the beauty of innovation through the eyes of our scientists.”
Regeneron plans to expand the podcast’s reach by showcasing it at upcoming events, including the high school talent search the company sponsors, targeting a broader STEM audience.
Bowie said early feedback has been “really good,” adding: “I think that opportunity to listen and take a break from your day while absorbing some science has been something people really appreciate.”
“Science Illuminated” sits alongside other employee-led content efforts at Regeneron, including “Tech Trailblazers,” a science education series pairing company scientists with a young child acting as a “scientific simplifier.”
The company also produces “The Nucleus,” a podcast in which Regeneron leaders rotate as hosts and speak with outside experts on science and technology topics, further underlining Bowie’s point: “We always try to tap into that employee voice.”
Beyond its communications push, Regeneron also recently secured FDA approval for Pasatru (garetosmab), a monoclonal antibody treatment for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, a rare genetic disease.
Executive medical director of clinical sciences Susan Rhee, M.D., described the approval as a “huge milestone” for both the company and patients living with the condition.