In this episode, our host, Mariana Carvalho, reflects on the powerful lessons she has learned from the first season of the Timeless Technology podcast. Lessons on relationships, equality, being your authentic self, and making one of the most important career decisions in our lives: choosing the right partner.

The interviews mentioned in this episode are with Telle Whitney, Radia Perlman, Ali Guarneros Luna, and Dr. Sue Black, in that order. The books mentioned by Mariana are The Mother of All Questions, Men Explain Things to Me, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, and Wanderlust, all by Rebecca Solnit.

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In this episode, our host, Mariana Carvalho, sits down with Ali Guarneros Luna, a former aerospace engineer at NASA, whose work has been instrumental in numerous NASA projects, including CubeSat and the Technological and Educational Nanosatellite (TechEdSat).

This is part two of the episode, Ali shared more about her work at NASA, developing the CubeSats, its environmental benefits, and her story of breaking through the mold of the stereotype of what an aerospace engineer looks like.

Books:

• The Martian, by Andy Weir
• Hidden Figures, by Margot Lee Shetterly.

Movies:

• Ad Astra, 2019
• Hidden Figures, 2016

Photo © Personal Archive Ali Guarneros Luna

In this episode, our host, Mariana Carvalho, sits down with Ali Guarneros Luna, a former aerospace engineer at NASA, whose work has been instrumental in numerous NASA projects, including CubeSat and the Technological and Educational Nanosatellite (TechEdSat). Ali shares her remarkable journey—from growing up in Mexico in the ‘70s and ‘80s, being inspired by a spaceship in an encyclopedia at age seven, and surviving the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, to immigrating to the U.S., becoming her family’s breadwinner, and pursuing her dream of becoming an aerospace engineer while raising four children.

The conversation is one of resilience, the challenges she overcame, and her contributions to space exploration, as well as her insights on mentorship and paving the way for future generations in STEM.

This is the first part of our interview. Stay tuned for the part II.

References mentioned in this episode:

• Earthquake Mexico City, 1985: NIST.

  1994 California Proposition 187: Wikipedia.

Photo © Personal Archive Ali Guarneros Luna

In this episode, our host, Mariana Carvalho, sits down with Dr. Sue Black, an educator, author, advocate for women in technology, and well-known activist widely recognized for her work of saving Bletchley Park (the place where British codebreakers, such as Alan Turing, worked during World War II.)

In this episode, you will learn more about Dr. Sue’s early love for mathematics and how that led to her career in technology. We discussed how Sue balanced motherhood with her studies, including the challenges of childcare and finances; the recognition she has received, such as the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and meeting Queen Elizabeth; and her advice for women in technology.

Resources shared in this episode:

Books:

• Saving Bletchley Park, by Sue Black.

• A Room of One’s Room, by Virginia Woolf.

• Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines, by Joy Buolamwini.

• Data: 1995, 37% of Computer Scientists were women. Study from Girls Who Code.

Movie:

• Coded Bias, Documentary, Netflix.

Dr. Sue Black's website.

Photo: Sue Black © Ali Tollervey

In this episode, our host, Mariana Carvalho, speaks with Dr. Carolyn Oglesby, daughter of the pioneering mathematician Dr. Gladys B. West, whose work was crucial to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Though Dr. West is no longer giving interviews, Carolyn shares insights into her mother's life and legacy. This conversation explores Dr. West's perseverance and dedication to her work, the impact of her education, and her approach to overcoming challenges. Carolyn also discusses the importance of mentorship, both in her own career and in the impact her mother had on others, as well as Dr. West's humble nature. You will hear how Dr. West's work ethic and determination inspired her daughter, and how her legacy continues to influence the next generations

“I have learned from her to work hard and show that I deserve to be there, be the best, and, carry myself in a certain way where I show them that I belong and I should be respected” - Dr. Carolyn Oglesby

Resources shared in this episode:

• Navigating an Uncharted Path: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Gladys B. West, by the American Mathematical Society: https://www.ams.org/notices/202103/rnoti-p357.pdf .

Book:

• It Began With a Dream, by Dr. Gladys B. West: https://amzn.to/4iKHGY8.

Movie:

• Hidden Figures, 2016.

Photo © Personal Archive Dr. Carolyn Oglesby

In this episode, our host, Mariana Carvalho, sits down with Radia Perlman, a fellow at Dell Technologies, author, trailblazer, and inspiring engineer. Radia is the inventor of the Spanning Tree Protocol and has over a hundred issued patents. They discussed the evolution of her career, from her early interest in math to her groundbreaking work in computer networking and security. The conversation also covers Radia’s unique approach to problem-solving, which involves simplifying complex issues to find elegant and simple solutions, her take on relationships and marriage, and advice to young engineers.

“Sometimes the most valuable thing you can bring is ignorance, meaning that people who are in a field for a while make assumptions that they've been living with for so long they can't think outside the box. To bring somebody else in and be able to explain to them what the issue is in a way they can understand it without all of the jargon that you've lived in for years. Often, they can come up with some surprising insights that you wouldn't have thought of yourself.” - Radia Perlman

Resources shared in this episode:

Books:

• Interconnections: Bridges, Routers, Switches, and Internetworking Protocols, by Radia Perlman: https://amzn.to/4iIHs46.

• Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World, by Charlie Kaufman, Radia Perlman, and Mike Speciner: https://amzn.to/4gDwCKJ.

• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams https://amzn.to/41u8OVp.

  The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage, by Cliff Stoll: https://amzn.to/3ZQKewJ.

Movie:

• The Wedding Banquet, 1993.

Learn more about Radia here.

Photo © Personal Archive Radia Perlman

In this episode, our host, Mariana Carvalho, sits down with Telle Whitney, co-founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration and CEO of Telle Whitney Consulting. They discussed the existing culture within the technology industry, and Telle’s insights offer a nuanced perspective on how this culture has evolved and the areas where further progress is needed. She talks about the importance of treating non-profit organizations as businesses, how to create an inclusive environment for people from all backgrounds, and what companies should do to develop women in technical roles.

“In my experience, women often choose jobs where they feel like they can have an impact. I think it’s not the only criterion, but it is important to many of the women I know that not only can they contribute to changing the face of technology, but they can have an impact on the world. Those two go hand in hand for many people, including me.” - Telle Whitney

Resources shared in this episode:

• Book: Rebooting Tech Culture: How to Ignite Innovation and Build Organizations Where Everyone Can Thrive, by Telle Whitney. May, 2025.

• Clipper Chip discussion
• Equal Pay in Brazil Law July/2023 (in Portuguese)

• CRA Grad Cohort for Women
• Grace Hopper Celebration by AnitaB Institute
• Power+Systems Inc.
• Richard Tapia Conference
• Women Who Code - The End of an Era

Learn more about Telle Whitney here.

Photo © Personal Archive Telle Whitney

In this episode, our host, Mariana Carvalho, sits down with lawyer and computer scientist Mary Allen Wilkes. They talk about how serendipity plays an important role in her life, how it was to develop the first operating system for a personal computer in the 60s, the first use cases in biomedical research and its long-lasting impact in the field, her perception of the role of⁠ ⁠women computers⁠⁠, and her advice to her younger self.

Resources shared in this episode:

Movie: ⁠Hidden Figures⁠, 2016

Book: ⁠Hidden Figures⁠, by Margot Lee Shetterly

Book: ⁠Biomedical Computing: Digitizing Life in the United States⁠, by Joseph A. November

Learn more about Mary Allen Wilkes ⁠here⁠.

Photo © Personal Archive Mary Allen Wilkes