As part of our special issue focused on glia, Nature Neuroscience is having conversations with both established leaders in the field and those earlier in their careers to discuss how the field has evolved and where it is heading. Here, we speak with Sonia Mayoral, the Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Brown University in Providence, RI, USA. We spoke about her work on oligodendrocytes and their interactions with neurons, the importance of exploring glia in brain health and function, and her own academic journey and advice for early-career researchers.