In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Ben Orlin, teacher and author of the "Math with Bad Drawings" blog. They talk about the importance of mathematical literacy in modern society as well as ways we can improve math education. They also discuss his two new books, "Math with Bad Drawings: Illuminating the Ideas That Shape Our Reality" and "Change Is the Only Constant: The Wisdom of Calculus in a Madcap World."
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Hilary Scheppers and Daniel Couceiro, both of whom previously worked at Rainforest Expeditions in the Tambopata National Reserve of the Peruvian Amazon. Hilary is a former volunteer for the Macaw Project, focused on the conservation and management of large parrots in the Amazon rainforest. After her service, Hilary's poem Unbridled received an honorable mention for the Thomas Merton Poetry Prize (Published in Parabola Magazine, Winter Issue 2018)....
In this week's episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Thomas Seeley, professor of biology at Cornell University and international expert on bees. They talk about his new book, "The Lives of Bees: The Untold Story of the Honeybee in the Wild." Topics include honeybee physiology and behavior, backyard beekeeping, and what we can learn from wild bees to improve our relationship with these fascinating creatures.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with American Museum of Natural History astrophysicist and science popularizer Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson about his new book, “Letters from an Astrophysicist.” They venture behind Neil’s public persona to discuss the deeply personal correspondence that makes up the book, focusing on themes like faith, philosophy, and skepticism.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Lucinda Jackson, author of "Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious." They discuss her personal experiences navigating the pernicious institutional sexism of academia and corporate America, as well as its implications for broader society.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by clinical psychologist, journalist, and author of the new book, "All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership," Dr. Darcy Lockman. They discuss the inequities of gendered labor that persist to this day, as well as the physical and psychological burden wives and mothers are all too often forced to carry.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Robert P. Crease, Chair of the Philosophy Department at Stony Brook University. They dive into the important topics covered in his newest book, "The Workshop and the World: What Ten Thinkers Can Teach Us About Science and Authority," including history's lessons for restoring society's trust in the scientific community.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Nick Haddad, Senior Terrestrial Ecologist in the Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University and Kellogg Biological Station. They discuss his newest book, "The Last Butterflies: A Scientist's Quest to Save a Rare and Vanishing Creature."
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by vice president and senior technical advisor of Underwriter Laboratories Inc. and founder of Air Quality Science Inc. as well as The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, Dr. Marilyn Black. They talk about the science of assessing indoor and outdoor air quality, including the toxic chemicals often released by products like 3-D printers and furniture treated with flame retardants.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer and historian Dr. Lydia Pyne to talk about her new book, “Genuine Fakes: How Phony Things Teach Us About Real Stuff.” Lydia describes the fuzzy line between what’s real and what’s fake, sharing stories about nature documentaries, art forgeries, fossil hoaxes, lab-grown diamonds, and everything in between.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by molecular cell biologist at the University of California Merced, Dr. Miriam Barlow. They talk about her research on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including how they evolve, the impact on public health, and what we can do to prevent or mitigate the spread of infection.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Sora Kim, Life and Environmental Sciences professor at UC Merced. They talk about the importance of diversity, mentorship, and collaboration in STEM fields. They also discuss her fascinating research examining stable isotopes in fossilized shark teeth in an effort to better understand global climate change.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Joanna Andrecka, product marketing manager at Refeyn. They discuss an exciting new technology called mass photometry. This process uses light to analyze the mass of biomolecules in their native state, with no markers or labels.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by evolutionary psychologist Dr. Sarah E. Hill to talk about her new book, "This Is Your Brain on Birth Control: The Surprising Science of Women, Hormones, and the Law of Unintended Consequences." They discuss the long history of scientific inquiry that ignores women's bodies and minds, as well as what new research is telling us about birth control's sweeping effects.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at George Washington University. They talk about new book, “The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity—and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race.” Their conversation centers around the important role of dopamine in human behavior, relationships, and addiction.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara once again sits down with Caltech physicist Dr. Sean Carroll, this time to talk about his new book, “Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime.” They discuss what quantum mechanics is (and isn’t), its relation to psychology and philosophy, and how the many-worlds interpretation may just be the key to understanding the cosmos.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by novelist Laura Purcell to talk about her book, “The Poison Thread.” They discuss the science and psychology of Victorian England as well as the experiences of female characters living during the era.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author Craig Childs to talk about his new book, “Atlas of a Lost World: Travels in Ice Age America.” They discuss his intersecting interests of journalism, desert studies, adventure, and exploration. As an expert in ancient migration on foot, Craig also shares what it is like to retrace the steps of ancient people in the Americas.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with extragalactic astrophysicist and host of the Everyday Einstein podcast, Dr. Sabrina Stierwalt about the nature of the cosmos. They discuss galaxy formation, black holes, and the fact that we are not, as we often like to believe, the center of the universe.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist Kit Chapman to talk about his new book, "Superheavy: Making and Breaking the Periodic Table." They discuss all things chemistry, including the fascinating history of its discoveries.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with conservation biologist and author Dr. Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson about her new book, "Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects." They talk about the ecological importance of insects as well as the steps we can take to conserve their habitat the world over.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by mathematician and former NFL player, John Urschel. They talk about his passion for mathematics, including his current work as a doctoral candidate at MIT and his new book, "Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football." They also discuss his love of football, motivations for retiring from the sport, and the painful reality of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Molly Strausbaugh, chemist and assistant director of the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS). They talk about all things chemistry, including how the American Chemical Society's CAS serves scientists by providing a wealth of knowledge about the properties of every chemical you can imagine.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by philosopher and historian of science, Dr. Michael Ruse, to discuss his new book, "A Meaning to Life." They talk about the interplay between existential philosophy and Darwinian evolution, including his approach to atheism.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Annaka Harris, science editor, consultant, and author of the new book, “Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind.” They talk about her work in the world of science writing as well as mindfulness meditation. Then the conversation turns to the topic of consciousness, a fascinating deep dive into the mysterious construct that has baffled and intrigued scientists and philosophers for centuries.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the Head of Science at Synthego, Dr. Kevin Holden. They talk about new advances in genetic engineering technology, such as the CRISPR-CasX system. Also discussed: what the future holds for synthetic biology and related fields.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Alexis Pedrick, the manager of public programs at the Science History Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They talk about all things rare earths, including the Rare Earth Elements Project at the institute. They also discuss the podcast Alexis co-hosts, Distillations.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara sits down with Dr. Lucy Jones, founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society and author of the new book, “The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them)”. They just so happened to record on the morning of July 5, 2019, between the magnitude 6.4 foreshock on July 4 and the magnitude 7.1 earthquake on July 5, 2019, in Southern California. They discuss earthquake safety, seismology, and the psychological biases t...
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by UCLA biogeochemistry PhD student Rob Ulrich. They talk about his work as the founding president of Queers in STEM, including the institutional barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in the sciences and allied academic fields. They also discuss the upcoming international LGBTSTEM Day on July 5th!
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Ana Humphrey, winner of the 2019 Regeneron Science Talent Search. They talk about her $250,000 winning research calculating potential exoplanets using NASA’s Kepler data, as well as what’s next for this inspirational high school grad.
