Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

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.

Lab Dog w/ Melanie D. G. Kaplan

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer and longtime independent journalist, Melanie D. G. Kaplan. They discuss Melanie’s newest book, Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research. Follow Melanie: @melaniedgkaplan

12-01
01:10:12

Science Under Siege w/ Michael Mann

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by acclaimed climatologist,  geophysicist, and University of Pennsylvania distinguished Professor, Dr. Michael Mann. They discuss his latest co-authored book, Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World. Follow Dr. Mann: @MichaelEMann

11-24
48:22

Rivers w/ Ellen Wohl

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by prolific author and University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Colorado State University, Dr. Ellen Wohl. They discuss Ellen’s newest book, Following the Bend: How to Read a River and Understand Its Nature.

11-17
51:19

Play w/ Cas Holman

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by founder and chief designer of the toy company Heroes Will Rise and a former Professor of Industrial Design at RISD, Cas Holman. They discuss her new book, Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity. Follow Cas: @casholman

11-10
51:35

Immigrant Physicians w/ Eram Alam

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by associate professor in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University, Dr. Eram Alam. They discuss her highly relevant book, The Care of Foreigners: How Immigrant Physicians Changed US Healthcare.

11-03
01:05:21

Whispers of Rock w/ Anjana Khatwa

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning earth scientist, TV presenter, writer, and advocate for diversity in the geosciences and nature, Dr. Anjana Khatwa. They discuss Anjana’s new book, The Whispers of Rock: The Stories That Stone Tells About Our World and Our Lives.  Follow Anjana: @anjanakhatwa

10-27
51:12

Influence of Jim West w/ Ainissa Ramirez

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined award-winning scientist and science communicator, Dr. Ainissa Ramirez. They discuss her newest book, Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone. Follow Ainissa: @ainissaramirez

10-20
56:14

Dinosaurs and Deep Time w/ Rachel Ignotofsky

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by New York Times Best Selling author, illustrator, and science communicator Rachel Ignotofsky. They discuss her forthcoming book, Dinosaurs: Exploring Prehistoric Life and Geological Time . Follow Rachel: @rachelignotofsky

10-13
50:51

Sea Monsters w/ Prema Arasu

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by University of Western Australia research fellow, and creative writer, Dr. Prema Arasu. They discuss Prema’s new book, The Book of Sea Monsters. Follow Prema: @prema_arasu

10-06
48:48

Better Public Health w/ Tom Frieden

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by former CDC director, physician, and author, Dr. Tom Frieden. They discuss his newly released book, The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives—Including Your Own. Follow Tom: @drtomfrieden

09-29
57:49

Period Brain w/ Sarah E. Hill

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by evolutionary social psychologist and author who studies women and health, Dr. Sarah E. Hill. They discuss her newest book, The Period Brain: The New Science of Why We PMS and How to Fix It: A Manifesto for Women. Follow Sarah: @sarahehillphd

09-22
01:02:42

Replaceable You w/ Mary Roach

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by prolific science writer, and author of eight New York Times bestsellers, Mary Roach. They discuss her newest book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy. Follow Mary: @authormaryroach

09-15
01:01:24

Baboons and Humans w/ Shirley C. Strum

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by renowned anthropologist, and Director of the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project in Kenya, Dr. Shirley Strum. They talk about her new book, ECHOES OF OUR ORIGINS: Baboons, Humans and Nature.

09-08
50:26

Arrogant Ape w/ Christine E. Webb

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Primatologist and Assistant Professor at NYU Dept of Environmental Studies, Dr. Christine E. Webb. They discuss her new book, The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters.

09-01
01:07:55

Social Brain w/ Virginia Sturm

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the UC San Francisco, Dr. Virginia Sturm. They discuss her book: Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science. Follow Virginia: @brainsturming

08-25
57:56

Infodemiology w/ Pauline W. Hoffmann

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by scholar practitioner dedicated to truth-telling through research and education, Pauline W. Hoffmann Ph.D. We discuss Pauline’s book, Fake News, Witch Hunts, & Conspiracy Theories. Follow Pauline: @pwHoffmann

08-18
57:08

Politics of Adoption w/ Gretchen Sisson

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by qualitative sociologist, Dr. Gretchen Sisson. Gretchen’s researches pregnancy, abortion and adoption at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) department at UC San Francisco. Her 2024 book is: “Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood “ Follow Gretchen: @GretchenSisson

08-11
58:56

Writing Science w/ Anne E. Greene

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by biologist and Professor of science writing, Anne E. Greene. They discuss Anne’s book, “Writing Science in Plain English, Second Edition.”

08-04
01:04:37

The Stronger Sex w/ Starre Vartan

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and Science & Environment Writer, Starre Vartan. They discuss Starre’s newest book, “The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us about the Power of the Female Body.” Follow: @StarreVartan

07-28
01:01:17

More Than Words w/ Maryellen MacDonald

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by psycholinguist and Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Language Sciences at the University of Wisconsin−Madison, Dr. Maryellen MacDonald. They discuss her book, More Than Words: How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World. Follow Maryellen: @maryellenmacdonald

07-21
01:06:51

Aldo Ojeda

Great episode!, Julia Serrano's voice is a great addition to the so called discussion.

07-24 Reply

ID19619055

Are we sure? Is it untouched though? The West in the US certainly wasn’t untouched or unmanaged. What is “wild” what is “natural”? Are we repeating our settler privilege by ignoring the Indigenous populations? Certainly the case in the US when people stay this stuff and ignore my ancestors.

02-06 Reply

ID19619055

Whether someone lives on tribal land or not…does not change whether they are Indigenous. Indigenous Studies 101….

01-13 Reply

Les Hollenbeck

great episode Cara

04-13 Reply

Chak Olate

Wait! What happened to the 'same two questions'? I was really looking forward to them.

10-18 Reply

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