Episodes

24 minutes ago
24 minutes ago
In this episode, hosts Doryan Redding and Sophia Chandrasekar sit down with ASCLS Executive Vice President Jim Flanigan and longtime federal lobbyist Patrick Cooney to unpack the rapidly evolving landscape of federal policy and what it means for the clinical laboratory workforce and the patients we serve.
Jim and Patrick share an insider’s perspective on what’s happening as they break down how current policy decisions, like massive proposed cuts to the US Department of Health and Human Services and Medicaid and the politicization of science, are reshaping the future of the lab. From threats to workforce funding to legislative wins, this episode highlights why the lab can’t afford to stay on the sidelines.

Friday May 30, 2025
Friday May 30, 2025
In this episode Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding sit down with Dr. Carol Rentas, Tony Kurec, and Dr. Cathy Otto and talk about their experiences as a leader, and what advice they would share with others looking to be a leader in their community. The three also talk about the learning modules that they created for the ASCLS Leadership Development Committee's Leadership Certificate Curriculum.
Be sure to check out their work! After all, "Opportunities are seldom labeled," by John A. Shedd, American author and professor.

Friday Apr 25, 2025
Friday Apr 25, 2025
In this episode, host Doryan Redding talks with Anne Tate and Tristan Sonnier about the ASCLS Political Action Committee (PAC). They explore what it means to them, what the PAC does, and why they joined. Get inspired to make a difference!

Friday Mar 28, 2025
Friday Mar 28, 2025
Co-hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding talk about their "brain worms." Like ear worms, these are topics that are hard to get out of your head. We talk about an insomnia that kills you, blood flukes that alter the course of history, supplements that need better disclosures, and a true crime that's inspired TV plots. Give it a listen and share your brain worms!
Trigger Warning: This episode does contain a true crime story that involves sexual assault at the 43 minute mark. To skip the story, jump to the 55 min 30 sec mark. Here is a link to more information about that true crime story: https://youtu.be/kap6kovyGhM?si=WqlBUwWAhu08uYd5

Friday Dec 27, 2024
Friday Dec 27, 2024
Join Sophia and Doryan as they recap the best moments from episodes of Off the Bench in 2024. They reflect on standout episodes, share their favorite clips, and close the year with a blooper reel that’s sure to leave you smiling into 2025.

Friday Nov 29, 2024
Friday Nov 29, 2024
To prepare for Small Business Saturday (November 30, 2024), hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding feature four small businesses that are run by fellow medical laboratory professionals. Find links to their businesses here.

Friday Oct 25, 2024
Friday Oct 25, 2024
In this episode, hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding are joined by Emily Woten and ASCLS President-Elect Dr. Kyle Riding. The four explore the question that's plagued a few medical laboratory geeks—how do science fiction instrumentation work? How reliable are they? And why does MALDI-TOF keep coming up? Tune in and comment below on how you think this stuff works!
References to the science fiction in this episode.
Thanks to our episode sponsor, Memorial Healthcare System.

Friday Sep 27, 2024
Friday Sep 27, 2024
In this episode, co-hosts Doryan Redding and Sophia Chandrasekar speak with Dr. Audrey Folsom of Arkansas State University, as she shares her experiences as a medical laboratory scientist doing lab work overseas and her adventures in teaching lab and health courses in China. See photos from Audrey's travels.

Friday Aug 30, 2024
Friday Aug 30, 2024
In this episode, co-hosts Sophia Chandrasekar and Doryan Redding talk with Dr. Kelly Winter about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) OneLab initiative. Hear about all that OneLab has to offer, from CEs to virtual reality labs to facilitate training, and catch our enthusiasm to sign up for OneLab today!

Friday Jul 26, 2024
Friday Jul 26, 2024
Doryan Redding and Emily Woten host the 2024 Query Check Game Show live at the 2024 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting. Our three wonderful contestants, Dr. Audrey Folsom, Heather Santaniello, and Amara Sugalski, face off with BOC-styled questions, lab-ish questions, and scenarios that show who's the most "technically" correct. Find out who took home this year's Query Check Champion trophy!

Off the Bench
This podcast from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) is hosted by three medical laboratory scientists, Sophia Chandrasekar, Galina Dronova, and Justin Hanenberg. They explore a wide range of topics that relate to medical laboratory science, including the latest advancements and trends, career opportunities and advice in the field, and updates from ASCLS.