Behind the scenes of MICROSCOPE: a podcast that gives voice to the invisible

Research saves lives. Yet it often remains in the shadows: technical, distant, sometimes difficult to talk about. With the MICROSCOPE podcast, the Foundation wanted to change that and offer a space where pediatric research could be revealed in a different way.

For this project, we needed a voice capable of embodying it with intelligence and gentleness. Andréanne Théberge was a natural choice as host. An actress, screenwriter and director, but also driven by a genuine scientific curiosity, she possesses a perfect blend of intellectual rigor and human sensitivity.

In this article, we take a look behind the scenes of MICROSCOPE: from the initial idea to the broadcast, via the first key encounters. Discover what brought the podcast to life, and what inspired Andréanne to lend her voice to this project, where every story becomes a lever for understanding and change.

Why a podcast now?

The idea had been brewing for some time. Julie, Director of Events and Communications at the Foundation, was looking for a way to create a space where science and experience could dialogue freely, without jargon or filters.

From the very first contact, Andréanne was enthusiastic about her role: “When I was asked to host it, I have to admit it was very moving: I’d been dreaming of hosting this kind of program for a long time. […] The podcast’s mission is in total harmony with my life mission. I couldn’t have asked for anything better!

This initial interaction quickly turned into a real groundwork, carried out hand in hand with the Foundation’s team. Andréanne explains: “It’s really a team effort. I do the research, the pre-interviews with the podcast guests, and we go over the content together to make sure there’s nothing missing. It’s great to work with Julie, who’s with me every step of the way.

Each episode is the fruit of a careful and rigorous collaboration, where expertise complements and enriches each other. Above all, the entire team ensures that every subject is treated with accuracy, every voice heard with respect, and every story told with the emotion it deserves.

“It’s great to see people so dedicated to pediatric research. Everyone works hard, and it gives me great pleasure to be able to humbly help them by giving a voice to the projects they set up.”
– Andréanne Théberge

A close-up look

Why MICROSCOPE? Because it symbolizes the details that are often overlooked, but which nonetheless tell the essential story. The stories told in the podcast are just like that: discreet, powerful, revealing.

And sometimes, an encounter changes everything. Like the one between Andréanne and the Foundation. “Our first meeting to talk about premenstrual dysphoric disorder was an eye-opener for me, and I even wanted to go further by doing a report on the subject. Thanks to this report, I won a prestigious journalism award.”

That’s how much these exchanges can give rise to new stories, even beyond the podcast. Tangible proof that when we listen to the invisible, it can resonate much further than we imagined.

A striking first episode: breaking the silence on PMDD

The first episode, launched on June 4, sets the tone for this project. It tackles a subject that is still largely unknown: premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which affects thousands of teenage girls and young women. “I was very surprised to learn that teenagers suffering from PMDD are 2 times more likely to take their own lives”, says Andréanne.

With the moving testimony of Sarah Rodrigue, author and lecturer, and the expertise of Professor Jean-François Lepage, the episode sheds much-needed light on a health issue that is still too taboo. Andréanne and the whole team hope that this type of content will arouse the curiosity of those who usually feel remote from research.

A monthly rendez-vous to think, feel… and act!

Every month, a researcher is in close contact with a person directly affected by the subject under discussion. For Andréanne, the objective of the podcast goes far beyond passive listening. She wants “people to come along and want to share what they’ve learned over a meal with family or friends. Let the topics get people talking and let them live outside the podcast!“

Andréanne sums up the human dimension of the project: “Pediatric research is all about emotion! Because, behind each project, there’s a human life and a touching testimony.

Behind each episode are passionate researchers, courageous voices, people who live the unexpected every day. These are stories of resilience and discovery that deserve to be heard – and, above all, supported.

As she discovers the scope of the Foundation’s work, Andréanne makes no secret of her admiration: “I was amazed at the number of projects the Foundation supports. Innovative, highly relevant projects that touch on such topical issues! I can’t wait to share them through the podcast.

When asked what the public is still too often unaware of about pediatric research, Andréanne exclaimed: “So many things! First of all, it’s thanks to researchers that we can find treatments and solutions to problems that affect the lives of our young people. […] And that the Foundation survives only through donations, something we often forget.”

And that’s where everyone can play a part.

Making a difference, one episode at a time

By donating to paediatric research, you’re not just funding science: you’re giving hope. You give these stories the chance to continue, to evolve, and perhaps even to change the course of a life.

Thank you for joining us on this new adventure. We hope it will touch you as much as it does us!