Originally recorded in June 2026 for 531pi's Island Time during Sāmoan Language Week.I'm excited to share this interview here on the podcast. We talk about my journey as the Samoan Scientist, how my research explores the connections between traditional Samoan foods, genetics, and type 2 diabetes, and why making science accessible to Pacific communities matters. We also discuss the inspiration behind this podcast and my mission to bring health research out of the lab and into conversations that empower Pacific families to make informed decisions about their health.

The Problem Was Never Our GeneticsWhat if the key to better health for Pacific peoples wasn't a new diet trend or medication, but the foods our ancestors had been eating for generations?In this episode, Samoan scientist Amy Maslen-Miller explores the traditional Samoan diet through both cultural knowledge and modern science. From talo, ufi, ulu, fa'i, niu, and seafood, to the umu cooking method and traditional food preservation practices, we uncover how ancestral food systems supported health long before the rise of chronic disease.Amy also examines how colonisation, migration, and changing food environments transformed Pacific diets, contributing to the growing burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes seen today. Drawing on emerging research in nutrition, metabolic health, and Pacific genetics, she discusses why the problem was never our genes, and how traditional foods may offer important insights for improving health outcomes for future generations.This episode explores culture, history, science, and the growing evidence that some of the most powerful health solutions may already exist within Pacific knowledge systems.

It has been over 7 years since I made an episode, but I am back!This is a deep dive about my journey of identity and science starting from my childhood in the 90s to the present.

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Update on my PhD about feeling like I'm not doing enough and how I am addressing it. I hope that some of the podcast connects with you and helps you with your own journey.

September 2023 I had achieved so many things in my PhD that I thought I would NEVER achieve, however I also experienced very upsetting news about my Nana.

In this episode, we talk with my good friend Michelle about Uber Eats Diabetes High school relationships Health

Talofa my name is Amy. I am PhD candidate researching the Samoan traditional diet. I have gone back into the archives and pieced together a raw PhD update for the month of March 2022.

Talofa, my name is Amy. The creator of Samoan Scientist. I started posting online in 2015 and have built a following of over 4K followers across IG, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Podcasting and LinkedIn. Here I share my tips on how to get started in social media.

Talofa, my name is Amy. I am a second-year PhD student researching the Samaon traditional diet. This episode, I share with you common foods that Samoans ate from missionary records 1830s-1920s. In this