Breaking Bio
100 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 8 years ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsA group of biologists talks everything science and biology related in a weekly roundtable format.
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Episodes
BB100 - Read broadly and carry a big horn with Dr. Doug Emlen
February 29, 2016 16:52 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBIn a very special episode #100, we talk to Dr. Doug Emlen, Professor of Biology at the University of Montana and author of the new book Animal Weapons, about animals that don't back down from a fight (unless it makes evolutionary sense to do so), and Doug shares all his tips on how to tell the story of evolution to everyone when you're used to writing for academics. Show notes available at http://breakingbio.com Follow Breaking Bio: Twitter – @BreakingBio – http://www.twitter.com/breakingb...
BB99 - Getting Down to Monkey Business with Dr. Alexander Georgiev
February 22, 2016 18:03 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBThe birds and the bees may do it, but how about different monkeys and apes? Dr. Alexander Georgiev talks about his work on reproductive behaviours and costs in chimpanzees and Rhesus macaques, and how different their sexual practices are. Show notes at http://breakingbio.com Follow Breaking Bio: Twitter – @BreakingBio – http://www.twitter.com/breakingbio Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/breakingbiopodcast iTunes – http://www.itunes.apple.com/ua/podcast/breaking-bio/id542398755 Stitcher –...
BB98 - Here Comes Caribou -bou with Jean Polfus
February 15, 2016 13:30 - 38 minutes - 35 MBJean Polfus is a PhD Candidate at the University of Manitoba, and joins us from the edge of the Arctic to talk about her research on caribou ecology and evolution. We also discuss the role of traditional knowledge and native peoples in studying northern ecology, and how science needs more art. Show notes available at http://breakingbio.com Follow Breaking Bio: Twitter – @BreakingBio – http://www.twitter.com/breakingbio Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/breakingbiopodcast iTunes – http://w...
BB97 - Changing the World With Your Video Camera with Rob Nelson
February 01, 2016 13:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBRob Nelson, Director of Untamed Science, explains how he went from marine biology to science & nature filmography, and how he's trying to help more people come to love the natural world through YouTube. Show notes available at http://breakingbio.com Follow Breaking Bio: Twitter – @BreakingBio – http://www.twitter.com/breakingbio Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/breakingbiopodcast iTunes – http://www.itunes.apple.com/ua/podcast/breaking-bio/id542398755 Stitcher – http://www.stitcher.com/p...
BB96 - Shedding Light on Urban Biodiversity & Anti-science Politics with Dr. Travis Longcore
January 25, 2016 20:54 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBDr. Travis Longcore, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Spatial Sciences, and Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California, speaks to us about his work with habitat conservation in Los Angeles, how we're lighting up the night in the worst possible way, and why he felt compelled to speak out against the Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Find show notes at http://breakingbio.com Follow Breaking Bio: Twitter – @BreakingBio – http://www.twitter.com/breaking...
BB95 - It Takes A Manor to Raise a Meerkat with Dr. Kirsty MacLeod
January 18, 2016 20:58 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBDr. Kirsty MacLeod is a Post-doctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge (and soon to be at Penn State), and shares why her research is largely possible because a colony of meerkats developed an addiction to boiled eggs, and why a threatened New Zealand bird is getting a free lunch. Show notes available at http://breakingbio.com Follow Breaking Bio: Twitter - @BreakingBio - http://www.twitter.com/breakingbio Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/breakingbiopodcast iTunes ...
BB94 - Rallying for Rails with Auriel Fournier!
November 09, 2015 16:54 - 32 minutes - 30 MBAuriel Fournier is a PhD candidate at the University of Arkansas studying rail ecology & migration. She tells us why she loves rails, how she learned to fix a flooded out ATV, and why unpaid internships in biology are harming our future. Show notes available at http://breakingbio.com Follow Breaking Bio: Twitter – @BreakingBio – https://www.twitter.com/BreakingBio Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/breakingbiopodcast iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/ua/podcast/breaking-bio/id542398755 St...
BB 93 - Behind The Scenes at Elsevier with Dr. Sheba Agarwal-Jans #AltActober
November 02, 2015 13:34 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBDr. Sheba Agarwal-Jans went from submitting & reviewing papers as a post-doctoral fellow to managing multiple journals as a publisher for Elsevier. She joins us for the last instalment of #AltActober to share her journey and provide some insights into how mega-publishers function. Show notes available at http://breakingbio.com
BB92 - Reaching out and Teaching with Dr. Stephanie Kadison #AltActober
October 26, 2015 12:00 - 30 minutes - 28.4 MBDr. Stephanie Kadison went from being a post-doctoral researcher to a specialist high school teacher without any prior teaching experience. Find out how she fell in love with teaching in this week's #AltActober episode! For show notes, visit http://breakingbio.com
BB 91 - Putting Brains to Many Good Uses with Dr. Kelley Remole
October 19, 2015 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBDr. Kelley Remole, Director of Neuroscience Outreach at Columbia University, talks about her #AltActober experience working as an educator & administrator after finishing her PhD. Find show notes at http://breakingbio.com
BB 90 - From Doctor to Documentary with Dr. Nate Dappen & Dr. Neil Losin #AltActober
October 13, 2015 20:35 - 41 minutes - 38 MBWith PhD's in evolutionary biology in their back pockets, Drs. Nate Dappen and Neil Losin set out to become wildlife filmmakers and science communicators. #AltActober continues with Nate and Neil sharing how they teamed up to form their production company, Day's Edge Productions, and some simple advice for those looking to share their work in a visually compelling way. Show notes available at http://breakingbio.com
BB 89 - Public Radio & Education with Ariel Zych #AltActober
October 05, 2015 17:16 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBAriel Zych, Education Manager of the Science Friday Initiative, helps us kick off #AltActober, our special month long look at careers outside academia and the people who made the jump. Ariel explains why she decided to leave a funded PhD position to explore the world of teaching, education and non-profit outreach. Show notes available at http://breakingbio.com
BB 88 - Beetles and Battling Sexism with Beulah Garner
September 28, 2015 17:37 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBBeulah Garner, Senior Curator of Coleoptera at the Natural History Museum joins us to share her love for beetles, experiences from field work, and how women in the natural sciences are still faced with inappropriate behaviours and sexist attitudes directed at them. Show notes at http://breakingbio.com
BB87 - Frogs, Fellowships, and Family with Dr. Lauren O'Connell
September 15, 2015 04:04 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBDr. Lauren O'Connell, Bauer Fellow at Harvard University, joins us to talk about her work on poison dart frog ecology, being an early career woman scientist with kids, and how she's helping school kids learn about the world around them by raising frogs. Find show notes and past episodes at http://breakingbio.com
BB 86 - Getting Infested with Brooke Borel!
August 31, 2015 17:41 - 38 minutes - 35 MBBrooke Borel, Contributing Editor at Popular Science Magazine and freelance science writer, joins us to discuss her new book Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated our Bedrooms and Took Over the World, the industry behind edible insects, and how to fact check your journalism. For show notes, check out http://breakingbio.com
BB 85 - Brain Food with Dr. Joe Schumacher
August 24, 2015 17:54 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBDr. Joe Schumacher, Post-doc at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience joins us to talk about treeshrews and how complicated the brain truly is! For show notes, check out http://breakingbio.com
BB 84 - Playing with snakes with Dr. David Steen
August 10, 2015 12:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBDr. David Steen of Auburn University joins us to talk about the Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi), what he's doing to help conserve this endangered species, and how Twitter is helping him improve public knowledge surrounding venomous snakes in North America. For show notes & past episodes, check out http:breakingbio.com
Episode 83 - Catching up with the Crew
July 20, 2015 15:49 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBThings have been happening in the lives & work of our faithful crew, but this episode will catch you up on what everyone's been up to. How do 4 early career biologists feel about academia at this point? Find out! Find show notes and past episodes at http://breakingbio.com
BB 82 - Mysterious Thrips in the Outback with Dr. James Gilbert
July 13, 2015 14:39 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBWe're back from our Spring Hiatus with a new show! This week, Dr. James Gilbert of the University of Hull stops by to tell us how to make new discoveries by accident, and the kinky world of bushcricket sex. For more information, links, and show notes, check out http://breakingbio.com
Ep 81 - Ends of the Earth for Bird Conservation with Dr. Alex Bond
April 20, 2015 17:19 - 53 minutes - 100 MBDr. Alex Bond, Senior Conservation Scientist at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, joins us again to talk about his work at opposite ends of the earth helping protect and raise awareness for at-risk bird populations. From giant mice eating albatross chicks, to mercury poisoning in ivory gulls, we discuss all the depressing ways humans are messing with birds. For more information about Alex's work, and links to the papers and other things we talk about, check out http://breaki...
BB 80 - Seeing spots & sniffing poop with Anne Hilborn
April 06, 2015 19:02 - 34 minutes - 64 MBAnne Hilborn, PhD student at Virginia Tech, talks about her work studying the cheetahs of the Serengeti, including the not-so-glamourous aspects of the job, and then explains why she doesn't shy away from sharing her observations in graphic detail on Twitter. For more information, links, and show notes, check out http://breakingbio.com
BB79 - Ant invaders and unlocking insects with Dr. Alex Wild
March 23, 2015 18:23 - 36 minutes - 66.3 MBDr. Alex Wild, curator of entomology at the University of Texas at Austin, talks with Morgan & Tom about tracking ant invasions with natural history collections, the rights & wrongs of copyright, and his new crowd-funding campaign, Insects Unlocked. Find show notes at http://breakingbio.com Follow Breaking Bio: Twitter – @BreakingBio – https://www.twitter.com/BreakingBio Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/breakingbiopodcast iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/ua/podcast/breaking-bi...
Ep 78 - Fighting for Evolution Online with Trevor Valle & @TakeThatDarwin
February 09, 2015 07:32 - 32 minutes - 58.9 MBPalaeontologist Trevor Valle and evolution vigilante @TakeThatDarwin talk to us about how they face off with evolution denialists, and why pop stars don't get carte blanche at Natural History Museums. Find show notes and links at http://breakingbio.com
Episode 77 - From Ants To Academics with Adrian Smith
January 26, 2015 21:49 - 35 minutes - 64.8 MBDr. Adrian Smith, a post-doc at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, chats with us about his work on ant behaviour and chemical ecology, why he thinks scientists should be at least partly responsible for communicating their work, and about his own goals and strategies when it comes to scicomm. Find show notes & links to Adrian's work at http://breakingbio.com
New Anoles on the Block & Reinventing the Stickleback with Dr. Yoel Stuart
January 19, 2015 19:38 - 32 minutes - 59.8 MBDr. Yoel Stuart, a Post-doctoral Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, joins us to discuss the evolutionary ramifications of invasive anoles on the islands of Florida. Turns out it's like the Olympic motto, Higher, Faster, Stronger, but with bigger toes. Yoel also tells us about some of his current work studying convergent evolution in British Colombian sticklebacks.
Parents of the Year with Dr. Dieter Lukas
January 12, 2015 16:24 - 34 minutes - 63 MBDr. Dieter Lukas, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, joins Heidi, Tom & Morgan to explain why a lot of mammals may not qualify for Parent of the Year. Find out more about Dieter's research, and find links to the papers we discuss at our website - http://breakingbio.com
Flamingo Fun with Chris Torres - Breaking Bio Ep. 74
December 15, 2014 19:18 - 39 minutes - 72.6 MBThis week, we learn all about flamingos from molecular biologist/palaeontologist Chris Torres of the University of Texas at Austin. Chris also explains how he solved a 150 year old mystery in a natural history museum, and why his house is covered in pink. For more information, including links to the papers we discuss in this episode, check out the show notes at http://breakingbio.com.
Ep. 73 - Seeing red (and yellow, and blue) with Dr. Nate Morehouse!
November 23, 2014 18:00 - 41 minutes - 76.8 MBThis week we're joined by Dr. Nate Morehouse, an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies colour and how its used among insects and spiders. Nate explained some of his lab's work trying to understand how butterflies tell who are potential mates and who are wasted effort, as well as how jumping spiders taste the rainbow. If you enjoyed this episode, Nate and his lab could use your help with their crowd-funding campaign to finance an expedition to the southwestern US in...
What Makes Science Bloggers Tick with Paige Brown Jarreau!
November 10, 2014 16:40 - 41 minutes - 75.9 MBThis week we're talking to Louisiana State University PhD student Paige Brown Jarreau about her work trying to understand what makes science bloggers tick, or at least why they do what they do. We also discuss the role and future of crowd-funding scientific research. Help support Paige's crowd-funding campaign - https://experiment.com/projects/something-is-wrong-on-the-internet-what-does-the-science-blogger-do?s=search Find more information, including links to resources discussed in this e...
Breaking Bio Episode 71 - Columbia University Mammal Mashup!
November 05, 2014 20:06 - 31 minutes - 57.2 MBThis week we've put together 4 shorter interviews with Columbia University Conservation Biology Master's Students who are all starting their academic careers studying some aspect of Mammal Conservation. From African traffic noise, to mouse gut microbes, and monkey poo to monkey conflicts, these students share their enthusiasm for their work. Guests: Kaggie Orrick - @KaggleRock - https://twitter.com/kagglerock Erin Dimech - @ErinDimech - https://twitter.com/erindimech Jessica Stitt - @...
BB Episode 70 - Mistaken sex and rapacious spiders with Dr Emily Burdfield-Steel!
October 27, 2014 22:59 - 29 minutes - 54.1 MBThis week, we talk to Dr. Emily Burfield-Steel of the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland about her work with species who get confused in the bedroom, how scientists introduce drama into spider sex, and moth farts. Kinda. Check out http://breakingbio.com for more information, and links to the papers discussed in this episode!
BB 69 - Getting semi-social with Dr. Sandra Rehan!
October 14, 2014 19:50 - 29 minutes - 54 MBWe talk to Dr. Sandra Rehan of the University of New Hampshire about her work on the evolution of sociality, the natural history of bees, and what it's like to be a new prof! More info about Dr. Rehan's work: Lab webpage: http://www.unhbeelab.com/ Twitter: @sanrehan - https://twitter.com/sanrehan ------- Find more of Breaking Bio online: Blog & past episodes: http://breakingbio.com/ Twitter: @BreakingBio - https://twitter.com/BreakingBio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/break...
BB 68 - #SAFE13 with Drs. Clancy, Nelson, Rutherford & Hinde
October 06, 2014 20:13 - 34 minutes - 64.1 MBThis week, we sit down and discuss the #SAFE13 project, which is bringing incidences of sexual harassment and assault in scientific field research to light, with the study's authors: Dr. Kate Clancy, Dr. Robin Nelson, Dr. Julienne Rutherford, and Dr. Katie Hinde.
BB 67 - Autotrophs, roll out! with Dr. Hope Jahren
September 29, 2014 15:47 - 32 minutes - 60.1 MBTom talks to Dr. Hope Jahren from the University of Hawaii Manoa about her work on plants and how they deal with changing climates, both in recent years and long in the past.
BB 66 - Fighting Bad Medicine with Dr. David Gorski!
September 22, 2014 20:53 - 30 minutes - 56.7 MBWe sit down to talk with Dr. David Gorski, oncologist and science blogger, about his long blogging career and his continuing crusade against crack-pot medical advice.
Breaking Bio 65 - Sex Chromosomes & Math for Biologists with Dr. Melissa Wilson Sayres
September 15, 2014 14:39 - 34 minutes - 63.9 MBWe sit down to talk about the evolution of sex chromosomes and the diversity of ways organisms determine sex with Dr. Melissa Wilson Sayres of Arizona State University. Dr. Wilson Sayres also explains why math is important for biologists, and how public outreach and engagement needs to become more common from practicing scientists.
BB Special - Miss Possible!
July 30, 2014 21:50 - 31 minutes - 58.3 MBWe're on hiatus for the summer, but filmed a special episode to highlight a crowd-funding project that we think deserves a voice and hopefully some funding. We talk to Janna Eaves, CTO and Co-Founder of Miss Possible, a start-up company looking to empower girls to follow their dreams by creating a line of children's dolls showcasing female role models from STEM fields. Miss Possible is currently running a crowd-funding campaign in order to start production on their first doll (Marie Curie)....
BB Blitz! Natalie Bray
July 02, 2014 23:16 - 8 minutes - 15.7 MBNatalie Bray of Columbia University discusses her work studying soil biodiversity.
BB64: Singing mice with Steve Phelps!
June 05, 2014 06:27 - 30 minutes - 55.9 MBIn episode 64 we talk with Steve Phelps of the University of Texas at Austin about the evolution of social behaviour, prairies voles, singing mice, Twitter for academics, the academic work life and more!
BB Blitz! Erin Eastwood
May 16, 2014 21:37 - 10 minutes - 18.7 MBErin Eastwood, an MSc student at Columbia University, talks to us about her research on Marine Protected Areas and small scale fisheries in Fiji.
BB 63: Movies, TV and Science Communication with Dr. Crystal Dilworth!
May 05, 2014 21:35 - 30 minutes - 55.6 MBWe talk to Dr. Crystal Dilworth, science correspondent with Al Jazeera America, about the many ways she's helped promote science on screen.
BB Blitz: Oil Palms and Elephants with Cynthia Malone
May 02, 2014 15:48 - 8 minutes - 15.2 MBIn the very first Breaking Bio Blitz we talk to Cynthia Malone of Columbia University about her upcoming research on conflicts between wildlife and oil palm plantations in Cameroon.
BB62: Aging Sexy Dance Party with Stuart Wigby!
April 29, 2014 03:24 - 28 minutes - 53.3 MBDon't worry, we're not the ones dancing. Stuart Wigby from the University of Oxford sits down to talk to us about his work on fruit fly sex, how aging impacts reproduction, and why his PhD students feel as comfortable on the dance floor as they do in the lab!
BB61: Bird nerding with Alex Bond!
April 10, 2014 01:34 - 28 minutes - 32.6 MBThis week's guest is ecologist and all-around bird nerd Dr. Alex Bond. Alex was an adjunct at the University of Saskatchewan when we talked to him, but he'll soon beginning his new position as a Conservation Scientist for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK. Alex talked to us about the wide variety of ornithological research he's involved with, the importance of natural history to science, and why puffins are giant D-bags! Come for the feathers, stay for the fun! Follow...
BB60: Climate and coral with Emily Darling!
March 25, 2014 02:53 - 39 minutes - 45.4 MBIt’s coral reefs, it’s climate change, it’s us making connections for our next African vacation. It’s episode 60 with Emily Darling (@emilysdarling), marine ecologist extraordinaire! And good news: we’re not all screwed. Well, mostly. Probably. Okay, look, watch the interview and decide for yourself.
BB59: Dolphin time with Justin Gregg!
March 17, 2014 04:21 - 30 minutes - 34.5 MBIt’s dolphin time! Join us as we talk with Justin Gregg, research associate at the Dolphin Communication Project, author of the new book Are Dolphins Really Smart, and voiceover artist. Bonus: a brief discussion on dolphin assisted birth and why that’s a really dumb idea.
BB58: From farm to fork with Dan Gillis!
March 04, 2014 01:07 - 29 minutes - 33.7 MBIn episode 58 we’re joined by Dan Gillis, Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Guelph. We had a great talk about his work as an ecological modeller for the Saugeen Ojibway First Nations and about an innovative project with his students that is helping to deliver fresh food to food donors and emergency food providers!
BB57: Into the water with David Shiffman!
February 21, 2014 02:35 - 28 minutes - 33 MBIn episode 57 we’re joined by David Shiffman (@WhySharksMatter), marine biologist, shark conservationist, and scicommer extraordinaire. It’s a great interview, ranging everywhere from shark culls in Australia to mermaids to how one can buy the shirt off your Red Lobster servers’ back. Everyone in the pool!
BB56: Growing up with Katie Hinde!
February 11, 2014 23:05 - 33 minutes - 38.2 MBI bet you didn’t know that ‘comparative lactation’ was a thing, did you? Well, it is. And it’s awesome. Katie Hinde (@mammals_suck), assistant professor at Harvard, joins us to talk about milk, milk, milk! Oh, and some biology stuff. Ever thought about milking a monkey? Be prepared to have your mind blown.
BB55: Come share a paleofantasy with Marlene Zuk!
January 31, 2014 07:03 - 31 minutes - 35.8 MBIn episode 55 we’re joined by a luminary of evolutionary biology and behavioural ecology, Professor Marlene Zuk of the University of Minnesota! Marlene joins us to talk about her latest book Paleofantasy, crickets, the odd things that people will tell you, and more! If you like science, this one’s chock-full of it.