Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria artwork

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

844 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 923 ratings

Cara Santa Maria is a science communicator, television host, producer, and journalist. She is excited to present "Talk Nerdy," a place for conversations with interesting people about interesting topics.

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Episodes

Unclaimed w/ Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans

March 18, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 64 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by sociologists Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans to talk about their book, “THE UNCLAIMED: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angel.” The book sheds light on the 150,000 Americans that go unclaimed each year with a special focus on the lost citizens of Los Angeles County. Follow their work: @pamelajprickett @StefanTimmerma6

Our Moon w/ Rebecca Boyle

March 11, 2024 07:00 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist and author Rebecca Boyle to talk about her debut book, "OUR MOON: How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are”. Follow Rebecca: @rboyle31

Merze Tate w/ Barbara Savage

March 04, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by historian and the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought at the University of Pennsylvania, Barbara D. Savage. We talk about her new book, “Merze Tate: The Global Odyssey of a Black Woman Scholar.” Follow Barbara: @bdsavage1

How We Age w/ Coleen Murphy

February 26, 2024 08:00 - 54 minutes - 50.8 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Princeton University Professor and leading scholar in aging, Dr. Coleen T. Murphy. Coleen is the Director of the Lewis Sigler Institute of Genomics and professor of genomics and molecular biology at Princeton University. She is also director of Princeton’s Glenn Foundation for Research on Aging and the director of the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity in the Aging Brain. They discuss her new book, “How We Age: The Science of Longevity.” Follow...

Why We Remember w/ Charan Ranganath

February 19, 2024 08:00 - 54 minutes - 51.1 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California at Davis, Dr. Charan Ranganath. We discuss his work studying the mechanisms in the brain that allow us to remember past events and his new book, “Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters.” Follow Charan: @CharanRanganath

Motivation Science w/ Ayelet Fishbach

February 12, 2024 08:00 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, Dr. Ayelet Fishbach. She is the author of, "GET IT DONE: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation." Follow Ayelet: @ayeletfishbach

Learning to Think w/ Tracy King

February 05, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by England based writer, producer, and science communicator, Tracy King. We talk about her upcoming memoir, “Learning to Think: A Memoir of Faith, Superstition, and the Courage to Ask Questions.” Publishing April 2024 by @PenguinUKBooks

Legacy w/ Uché Blackstock

January 29, 2024 08:17 - 52 minutes - 49.1 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by physician and founder of Advancing Health Equity, Dr. Uché Blackstock. We talk about her new book, “Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine.” Follow Uché: @uche_blackstock

Fire Season w/ Manjula Martin

January 23, 2024 05:39 - 1 hour - 60.7 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer and editor Manjula Martin to talk about her new book, "The Last Fire Season: A Personal and Pyronatural History." Follow Manjula: @manjulatm.

Transient and Strange w/ Nell Greenfieldboyce

January 15, 2024 08:59 - 52 minutes - 48.7 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce. They talk about her new book, "Transient and Strange: Notes on the Science of Life." Follow Nell: @nellgreenfieldboyce.

Free Will w/ Robert Sapolsky

January 08, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 66.9 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by neuroendocrinologist Dr. Robert Sapolsky to talk about his new book, "Determined: The Science of Life Without Free Will."

Brave the Wild River w/ Melissa Sevigny

December 18, 2023 08:00 - 54 minutes - 50.6 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by KNAU (Arizona Public Radio) science journalist Melissa L. Sevigny. They talk about her new book, winner of the 2023 National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography, "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon." Follow Melissa: @MelissaSevigny.

Planetary Magnetism w/ Sabine Stanley

December 12, 2023 05:37 - 51 minutes - 48 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Sabine Stanley, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Space Exploration Sector of the Applied Physics Lab. They talk about her newest book, "What's Hidden Inside Planets?" with a special emphasis on planetary magnetism.

Against Technoableism w/ Ashley Shew

December 04, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 56 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Ashley Shew, an Associate Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech, who has a special interest in technology and disability studies. They talk about her new book, "Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement."

Misophonia w/ Jane Gregory

November 27, 2023 08:00 - 53 minutes - 49.9 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Jane Gregory, clinical psychologist at the University of Oxford. They discuss her new book, "Sounds Like Misophonia: How to Stop Small Noises from Causing Extreme Reactions." Follow Jane: @drjanegregory.

Things That Go Bump in the Universe w/ C. Renée James

November 20, 2023 08:00 - 58 minutes - 54.5 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. C. Renée James, professor of physics and astronomy at Sam Houston State University. They talk about her new book, "Things That Go Bump in the Universe: How Astronomers Decode Cosmic Chaos." Follow Renée: @drcrj.

Covid Pseudoscience w/ Jonathan Howard

November 13, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.2 MB

Live from QED w/ Anita Powell

November 06, 2023 08:00 - 52 minutes - 48.8 MB

Recorded live from the QED Conference in Manchester, UK, this episode of Talk Nerdy features community engagement advocate and menopause activist Anita Powell. She tells Cara about her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially for women of color experiencing menopause. Follow Anita: @IamAnitaPowell.

Mother Tongue w/ Jenni Nuttall

October 30, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Oxford professor and medeival literature researcher Dr. Jenni Nuttall to talk about her new book, "Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Words." They discuss the history of feminist language from the Middle Ages to the present.

Good Dogs w/ Jessica Pierce

October 23, 2023 07:27 - 1 hour - 65.8 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by bioethicist Dr. Jessica Pierce to talk about her new book, "Who's a Good Dog?: And How to Be a Better Human." They discuss the complex ethics of dog-human relationships, including topics like animal welfare, canine enrichment, and end-of-life care.

Eight Bears w/ Gloria Dickie

October 16, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 59 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Gloria Dickie, a global climate and environment correspondent at Reuters News Agency. They talk about her new book, "Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future." Follow Gloria: @gloriadickie.

Women Soldiers w/ Lena Andrews

October 09, 2023 07:51 - 56 minutes - 52.8 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Lena Andrews, foreign policy expert and military analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. They talk about her new book, "Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II."

Handmade Materials w/ Anna Ploszajski

October 02, 2023 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55.2 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by materials scientist Dr. Anna Ploszajski to talk about her new book, "Handmade: A Scientist's Search for Meaning Through Making." They discuss the science and culture of handmade objects, with an emphasis on the craftspeople who make them. Follow Anna: @AnnaPloszajski.

Recognizing Our Humanity w/ Michèle Lamont

September 25, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 60.8 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Michèle Lamont, Professor of Sociology and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. They talk about her new book, "Seeing Others: How Recognition Works and How It Can Heal a Divided World."

Natality w/ Jennifer Banks

September 18, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Jennifer Banks, senior executive editor at Yale University Press. They talk about her new book, "Natality: Toward a Philosophy of Birth." Follow Jennifer: @jenniferabanks.

Junk Science w/ M. Chris Fabricant

September 11, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 77 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the Director of Strategic Litigation for the Innocence Project, M. Chris Fabricant. They talk about his new book, "Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System," including how forensic pseudoscience perpetuates a racist system resulting in wrongful convictions.

Is Math Real? w/ Eugenia Cheng

September 05, 2023 18:49 - 1 hour - 56 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by mathematician Dr. Eugenia Cheng to talk about her new book, "Is Math Real? How Simple Questions Lead Us to Mathematics' Deepest Truths." They discuss the power of curiosity in grappling with abstract concepts in math, as well as the power of representation. Follow Eugenia: @DrEugeniaCheng.

Switch Craft w/ Elaine Fox

August 28, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the University of Adelaide's Head of the School of Psychology, Dr. Elaine Fox, to talk about her new book "Switch Craft: The Hidden Power of Mental Agility." They discuss the importance of cognitive flexibility in navigating the uncertainties of life.

Bluefin Tuna w/ Karen Pinchin

August 21, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 65.8 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by investigative journalist Karen Pinchin to talk about her new book, "Kings of Their Own Ocean: Tuna, Obsession, and the Future of Our Seas." They discuss the plight of the bluefin tuna, a fundamentally human problem with consequences reaching far beyond our species. Follow Karen: @KarenPinchin.

Defiant Dreams w/ Sola Mahfouz & Malaina Kapoor

August 14, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 66.5 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by quantum computing researcher Sola Mahfouz and human rights advocate Malaina Kapoor, authors of the new book, "Defiant Dreams: The Story of an Afghan Woman Who Risked Everything for Education." Together, they tell Sola's story of defiance and courage as she fought for an education in a country where her basic rights were stripped away because of her gender. Follow Sola: @MahfouzSol94817 and Malaina: @MalainaKapoor.

Gestures w/ Susan Goldin-Meadow

August 07, 2023 07:00 - 54 minutes - 50.6 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by University of Chicago psychologist Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadlow to talk about her new book, "Thinking with Your Hands: The Surprising Science Behind How Gestures Shape Our Thoughts." They discuss gestural communication, including what has been learned from home signers, deaf children who develop their own sign language spontaneously.

Anxiety w/ Luana Marques

July 31, 2023 07:00 - 53 minutes - 50.1 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital psychologist Dr. Luana Marques. They talk about her new book, "Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power," with a special emphasis on theory and intervention for anxiety in clinical psychology.

Fragmented Healthcare w/ Ilana Yurkiewicz

July 24, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 65.4 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Ilana Yurkiewicz, oncologist, internal medicine physician, and professor at Stanford University. They talk about her new book, "Fragmented: A Doctor's Quest to Piece Together American Healthcare," with a special emphasis on patient advocacy, continuity of care, and potential solutions to a broken managed care system.

Microbiome Anthropology w/ Amber Benezra

July 10, 2023 07:21 - 1 hour - 58.2 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by sociocultural anthropologist Dr. Amber Benezra to talk about her new book, "Gut Anthro: An Experiment in Thinking with Microbes." They discuss her work at the interface of biomedical science and anthropological inquiry, with an emphasis on racial, gender, and cultural considerations.

Fungal Pandemic w/ Emily Monosson

July 04, 2023 05:54 - 1 hour - 57 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by toxicologist Dr. Emily Monosson to talk about her new book, "Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic." They discuss the devastating consequences of pathogenic fungal infection in humans, animals, and plants, including how climate change is paving the way for the next pandemic.

Investigative Genetic Genealogy w/ Barbara Rae-Venter

June 26, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 66.7 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter to talk about her new book, "I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever." They discuss the fascinating science of investigative genetic genealogy, including how the Golden State Killer was caught after 44 years.

Forensic Anthropology at the Dozier School w/ Erin Kimmerle

June 19, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 57.2 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Erin Kimmerle, forensic anthropologist and author of "We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys." They talk about the true story of the Arthur G. Dozier Boys School in Florida, and how her work in forensic anthropology is leading to justice for some of the families.

Ecology of Abandoned Places w/ Cal Flyn

June 12, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Cal Flyn, author, investigative journalist, and MacDowell fellow from the Highlands of Scotland. They talk about her new book, "Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape."

Egg w/ Lizzie Stark

June 05, 2023 07:01 - 1 hour - 63.5 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and participation designer Lizzie Stark to talk about her new book, "Egg: A Dozen Ovatures." They talk about her personal fascination with eggs, and she shares incredible stories about the cultural, culinary, and biological meaning behind the largest cell.

Gamification w/ Adrian Hon

May 22, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 59.7 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by game designer Adrian Hon to talk about this new book, "You've Been Played: How Corporations, Governments, and Schools Use Games to Control Us All." They discuss how gamification is often used as a tool for profit and coercion in the modern world. Follow Adrian: @AdrianHon.

Edison's Ghosts w/ Katie Spalding

May 15, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 58.5 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by mathematician and writer Dr. Katie Spalding to talk about her new book, "Edison's Ghosts: The Untold Weirdness of History's Greatest Geniuses." They talk about how Edison, Newton, the Curies, and many more renowned thinkers were also up to some really dumb shit. Follow Katie: @supermathskid.

Patriarchy w/ Angela Saini

May 08, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 58.4 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined once again by science writer and television presenter Angela Saini. They talk about her new book, "The Patriarchs: The Origins of Inequality." Together, they explore the history of the patriarchy, with an emphasis on matrilineal societies and what's really underlying gender inequality the world over.

Historical Abortion w/ Jennifer Wright

May 01, 2023 07:00 - 45 minutes - 42.8 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by history writer Jennifer Wright to talk about her new book, "Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist." They talk about the state of abortion in the mid-1800s and how it is being recapitulated in today's political and legal war on women's reproductive rights.

SciComm w/ Leah Elson

April 24, 2023 07:00 - 52 minutes - 49.1 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by clinical development scientist Leah Elson to talk about her new book, "There Are (No) Stupid Questions...In Science." They discuss the importance of science communication in an increasingly polarized world as well as the joy of scientific curiosity and discovery. Follow Leah: @gnarlybygnature

Period w/ Kate Clancy

April 17, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 68.5 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Kate Clancy, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois and intersectional feminist biology researcher. They talk about her new book, "Period: The Real Story of Menstruation," with a special focus on the function, variability, and stigma connected to our periods.

Dog Cognition w/ Alexandra Horowitz

April 10, 2023 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55.5 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, professor and head of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College, Columbia University. They talk about her newest book, "The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves." Also discussed is the special relationship we have with our dogs and the developmental stages they experience, from puppy to older adult.

Cognitive Liberty w/ Nita Farahany

April 04, 2023 06:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Duke Law and Philosophy professor Dr. Nita Farahany to talk about her new book, "The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology." They discuss the concept of cognitive liberty from a legal and ethical framework, including how privacy and convenience will continue to shift as technology allows deeper access to our internal worlds.

The Self w/ Brian Lowery

March 27, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 68 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Stanford University professor Dr. Brian Lowery joins Cara to talk about his new book, "Selfless: The Social Creation of "You." They discuss the complex psychology of identity, intersubjectivity, and humanity in a reality shaped by social pressures and norms.

Koalas w/ Danielle Clode

March 20, 2023 07:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Danielle Clode to talk about her new book, "Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future." They discuss the behavior, evolutionary biology, and ecology of this enigmatic yet threatened species.

Slime w/ Susanne Wedlich

March 13, 2023 07:00 - 55 minutes - 51.8 MB

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer Susanne Wedlich to talk about her new book, "Slime: A Natural History." They discuss what slime is (and isn't), why it evokes disgust, and how it may improve medicine and technology in the future.

Guests

Jennifer Briney
5 Episodes
Ana Kasparian
2 Episodes
Dave Rubin
2 Episodes
David Huntsberger
2 Episodes
Gad Saad
2 Episodes
Paul Gilmartin
2 Episodes
Phil Plait
2 Episodes
Phil Torres
2 Episodes
Ramesh Srinivasan
2 Episodes
Sean Carroll
2 Episodes
Adam Frank
1 Episode
Alison Becker
1 Episode
Amy Webb
1 Episode
Annaka Harris
1 Episode
Ann Druyan
1 Episode
Arthur Benjamin
1 Episode
Brian Greene
1 Episode
Brian Redban
1 Episode
Caitlin Doughty
1 Episode
Carin Bondar
1 Episode
Carl Zimmer
1 Episode
Carrie Nugent
1 Episode
Chris Mooney
1 Episode
Daniel Lieberman
1 Episode
Daniel Suarez
1 Episode
Dava Sobel
1 Episode
Hannah Fry
1 Episode
Helen Czerski
1 Episode
Hemant Mehta
1 Episode
Ivan Oransky
1 Episode
Janna Levin
1 Episode
John Urschel
1 Episode
Kelly Weinersmith
1 Episode
Marcus du Sautoy
1 Episode
Martin Rees
1 Episode
Merlin Tuttle
1 Episode
Michael Habib
1 Episode
Michael Shermer
1 Episode
Michio Kaku
1 Episode
Natalie Panek
1 Episode
Paul Debevec
1 Episode
Richard Prum
1 Episode
Robert Kurson
1 Episode
Robert Sapolsky
1 Episode
Simon Singh
1 Episode
Steven Strogatz
1 Episode
Susan Blackmore
1 Episode

Twitter Mentions

@penguinukbooks 1 Episode
@gnarlybygnature 1 Episode
@stefantimmerma6 1 Episode
@rboyle31 1 Episode
@melissasevigny 1 Episode
@drjanegregory 1 Episode
@brianloweryphd 1 Episode
@annaploszajski 1 Episode
@ctmurphy1 1 Episode
@suziesheehy 1 Episode
@dreugeniacheng 1 Episode
@mahfouzsol94817 1 Episode
@iamanitapowell 1 Episode
@jenniferabanks 1 Episode
@kristinohlson 1 Episode
@karenpinchin 1 Episode
@adrianhon 1 Episode
@bdsavage1 1 Episode
@malainakapoor 1 Episode
@pamelajprickett 1 Episode