EP 47: Endurance, Curiosity, and the Brain with Dr. Grace Houser

Episode 47: Endurance, Curiosity, and the Brain with Dr. Grace Houser

Hosted by Katelyn Calhoun

This week on Crafted Connections, I’m joined by one of my oldest friends — Dr. Grace Houser — for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about endurance, curiosity, mentorship, and what it means to stay committed to a long path when the outcome isn’t always clear.

Grace and I grew up together in the suburbs of Cleveland. We met as teenagers, shared classrooms, lunch tables, coming-of-age experiences, and a lot of life — and somehow, twenty years later, here we are: one of us mapping stories, the other mapping brains. This episode is a reflection of that shared history and the trust that comes from knowing someone across seasons of becoming.

Grace shares her journey to neuroscience, including what it was like to pursue a PhD while living overseas, navigating the isolation of research, the reality of endurance-based work, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when progress is slow and invisible. We talk candidly about the PhD “slog,” the myth of linear achievement, and the importance of revisiting goals that may no longer fit who you are now.

We also explore the parallels between creative work and scientific research — how both require patience, repetition, collaboration, and a deep tolerance for uncertainty. From ultrarunning and long-distance challenges to mapping the brain at a cellular level, Grace offers insight into what sustains her curiosity and commitment over time.

This episode is thoughtful, nerdy, tender, and honest. It is a reminder that endurance doesn’t have to be loud, that curiosity is a muscle, and that meaningful connection often grows quietly, over years, not moments.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🧠 What it really looks like to pursue a PhD in neuroscience
 🌍 Building a life and career overseas 
 ⏳ Endurance as a mindset: research, creativity, and ultrarunning
 🧪 What Grace actually studies in the lab (and why the spinal cord deserves more love)
 🧠 Living with neurodivergence and understanding your brain later in life
 🤝 The power of mentors who listen deeply and reflect your curiosity back to you
 🏃‍♀️ How long-distance running mirrors long-term scientific and creative work
 ✨ Why it’s okay to question goals you once felt certain about
 💬 What connection does and means for the brain

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Crafted Connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting, a strategic storytelling firm helping people and brands tell stories that resonate.

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 Keep creating. Keep connecting.