Samantha Rae Ayoub — Stem Cell Network

People in communications know that success requires more than just strong writing skills. It takes an ability to think outside the box to get the message out and exceed our goals. 

This week on Ampersand, we’re joined by Samantha Rae Ayoub, Vice President of Communications and Knowledge Mobilization at the Stem Cell Network. While her work supports groundbreaking research in regenerative medicine, our conversation takes a different turn—into the world of leadership, empathy, and the unexpected intersections of communications and hospitality.

Sam shares her non-linear career path, from science communications to restaurant ownership, and how those experiences shaped her approach to storytelling, de-escalation, and mobilizing knowledge for researchers, policymakers, and the public.

This podcast is a project of Emdash, the small agency focused on big impact helping progressives be heard.