In this episode of Talk Nerdy, connects with Israeli-based immunologist and Chief Scientific Officer of BiondVax Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Tammy Ben-Yedidia. They discuss her incredible work developing and testing a multi-season, multi-strain “universal” flu vaccine.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with mathematician Dr. Hannah Fry about her new book, “Hello World: Being Human in the Age of Algorithms.” They talk about her work as a television presenter for the BBC and a radio presenter for “The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry.” They also discuss the use on algorithms in modern society, including her own research into the mathematics of human behavior.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by speaker, writer, and empathy educator Kate Kenfield. They talk about her ingenious Tea & Empathy cards, which facilitate conversation in a non-confrontational and practical manner. They also discuss the necessity of empathy for effective interpersonal communication, with a special focus on social and emotional learning, consent, and gender differences.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined in-studio by journalist Vince Beiser to talk about his new book, “The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How it Transformed Civilization.” They discuss the surprising and fascinating history of sand, from its foundational role in society to its dealings as a black market commodity.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with the creator and author of “Dinosaur Comics,” computer programmer-turned-writer Ryan North. From his incredible new book “How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler,” they discuss how one might build a civilization from scratch (if, you know, it comes to that).
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with actress Alison Becker (Parks and Recreation) about the ups and downs of the television industry with a special emphasis on the #MeToo era. They also discuss her work in sketch comedy, as well as her super cool side gig teaching improv to help people improve their communication skills.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Kevin Hainline, a postdoctoral researcher in astrophysics at the Steward Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. They discuss the nature of black holes and galaxies, the value of science communication, and his work on the upcoming JWST NIRCam (the imager for the James Webb Space Telescope).
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara sits down in studio with Mara Altman, author of the hilarious and enlightening new book, “Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back).” They talk about the writing that originally inspired the book (her Kindle single “Bearded Lady”) as well as Mara’s journey to understand the origins of embarrassment and shame that often accompany our relationships with our bodies.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Sara MacSorley, the author of "Super Cool Scientists: A Coloring Book Celebrating Women in Science." They talk about her work in science communication, with a specific focus on what Sara is doing to promote inclusion and representation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Dr. Adam Rutherford, author of "A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived: The Human Story Retold Through Our Genes." They dive deep into human genetics, including what consumer DNA tests can and can't tell you about your genetic history. They also discuss the sordid history of eugenics as a scientific discipline.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Breanna Cox, the Quality Assurance Manager at MedCure, Inc., a whole-body donation program. They detail what happens when you donate your body for science (education and research), including the care that is taken to maintain compassion and respect for your remains after you die.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Ben Goldfarb, environmental journalist and author of the new book "Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter." Ben informs Cara of little-known beaver facts and she admits to having never seen one in the wild! They also talk about the ecological importance of this strange, magnificent creature.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with the Director General of the International Baccalaureate (IB), Dr. Siva Kumari. They discuss her role as the first-ever woman to lead the IB, a 50-year-old multinational, not-for-profit foundation focused on delivering exceptional global education to students around the world.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with Dr. Adam Frank, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. They talk about his new book, "Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth." Topics include: how we can shift our perspective on climate change to be better prepared for its challenges, and why we're likely not alone in the universe.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Dr. Helen Pates Jamet, a medical entomologist who specializes in malaria prevention, research, and vector control product development. She works as the Global Head of Research and Market Access for Vestergaard, the world's largest producer of long-lasting insecticidal bed nets. They talk about the global impact of malaria, a devastating disease that infects over 200 million people and causes nearly half a million deaths annually. Helen shares the i...
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with Eugenia Bone, author of the new book "Microbia: A Journey into the Unseen World Around You." They discuss Eugenia's journey back to school to learn about the microbiome, the vast collection of all the microbes (and their genes) living inside you. They also talk about her fascinating career as a nature and food writer.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined in studio by Heather Burdick, the Director of Marine Operations for the Bay Foundation. They talk about her work supporting the Marine Team on various projects involving research, monitoring, and ecological restoration throughout the Santa Monica Bay. The specifically discuss the Palos Verdes Kelp Restoration Project and southern California abalone recovery efforts.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Lehman College/City University of New York and CUNY's Newmark Graduate School of Journalism Professor Margot Mifflin. They talk about her research into feminist tattoo culture, including two of her books, "Bodies of Subversion" and "The Blue Tattoo."
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Bertha Vazquez, the Director of the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, a division of the Center for Inquiry. They discuss her incredible work providing the tools and training necessary to effectively teach the science of evolution throughout middle schools in the United States.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Michael Lemonick, the Opinion Editor at Scientific American. They talk about his book, "The Perpetual Now: A story of amnesia, memory, and love." He shares the tale of a woman whose brain was ravaged by encephalitis, disrupting her ability to form new memories and destroying her recollections from the past. However, her intellect and artistic ability remained relatively intact, providing researchers with insights into the wonders of the human mind...
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History paleobiologist and Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals Dr. Nick Pyenson about his new book, "Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures." They talk about the similarities between cetaceans and land-dwelling mammals, along with what makes them unique among Earth's creatures (extinct and extant).
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with Angela Garbes, author of Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy. Angela tells Cara about her own experiences as a writer and a mother, including the ways women lack pre- and postnatal support in American society.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by celebrated science writer Carl Zimmer, author of "She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potentials of Heredity." They discuss the promises of modern genetics research and applications, as well as the dark history of the eugenics movement. Carl also tells of his personal journey to uncover the secrets that lie within his own genome.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by jack-of-all-trades and skeptic extraordinaire George Hrab. They talk about his work as the drummer of the Philadelphia Funk Authority and the producer/host of the Geologic Podcast. They also discuss the fun he has emceeing skeptic events across the globe.
On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Kari Byron to talk about her new book, "Crash Test Girl: An Unlikely Experiment in Using the Scientific Method to Answer Life's Toughest Questions." They talk about her time on Mythbusters, the importance of the scientific method, and how her work on television is empowering her daughter and other young girls to be who they really are.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with science communicator and Ph.D. student Samantha Yammine, better known as Science Sam. They discuss the importance of the public dissemination of science, the special role social media has to play, and the difficulties facing some science communicators within their own institutions.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with Robert Kurson, the author of "Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon." He describes the trials and tribulations of the Apollo 8 mission as well as the bravery and fortitude of the men and women who made it happen. In addition, they discuss the impact of the odyssey, during arguably one of the worst years in American history, 1968.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Sharon Weinberger, the executive editor for news at Foreign Policy. They talk about her new book, "The Imagineers of War: The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency that Changed the World." They discuss DARPA's successes and failures, including the internet, drones, Agent Orange, mass surveillance, and its curious relationship with climate science.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Lauren Ayton, the Director of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs at Bionic Eye Technologies. They talk about all things vision, including how the eye works and what can go wrong with it. Then they discuss incredible bionic implants and prostheses that are offering the gift of sight to those who've been living without it.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined in studio by science journalist Dr. Lone Frank, author of "The Pleasure Shock: The Rise of Deep Brain Stimulation and Its Forgotten Inventor." They discuss her work as a Danish science communicator and her history in academic neurobiology. Then, Lone tells Cara about the fascinating history of Robert G. Heath, the Tulane psychiatrist who performed controversial surgeries and experiments while developing a groundbreaking procedure that was surely ahea...
