Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria - podcast cover

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Cara Santa Mariawww.spreaker.com
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

Accelerator Physics w/ Suzie Sheehy

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by accelerator physicist Dr. Suzie Sheehy to talk about her new book, "The Matter of Everything: How Curiosity, Physics, and Improbably Experiments Changed the World." They discuss how particle accelerators came to be , what they actually do , and their applications from fundamental particle physics to nuclear medicine and beyond . Follow Suzie: @suziesheehy ....

Feb 06, 20231 hr 9 minEp. 441

Attention and Technology w/ Gloria Mark

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Gloria Mark , Chancellor's Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine . They talk about her new book, " Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity." They highlight how our brains are affected by modern technology , including social media , entertainment , and vocational demands ....

Jan 30, 20231 hr 2 minEp. 440

Frozen Head Feed Drop

Hosted by Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart from the hit show Morbid. When 90-year-old Laurence Pilgeram drops dead on the sidewalk outside his condo, you might think that’s the end of his story. But, really, it’s just the beginning. Because Laurence and others like him have signed up to be frozen and brought back to life in the future. And that belief will pull multiple generations of the Pilgeram family into a cryonics soap opera filled with dead pets, gold coins, grenades, fist fights, mysteriou...

Jan 27, 20234 min

Mathematical Models w/ Erica Thompson

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Erica Thompson to talk about her new book, "Escape From Model Land: How Mathematical Models Can Lead Us Astray and What We Can Do About It." They discuss the intersection of science, mathematics, and humanity , including how we make sense of data and use it to predict future outcomes ....

Jan 23, 20231 hr 21 minEp. 439

Amazonian Wildcats w/ Samantha Zwicker

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Samantha Zwicker, a tropical biologist and wildlife rehabilitation specialist . Sam is also the co-founder of Hoja Nueva , a conservation organization that confronts threats to biodiversity in the Peruvian Amazon . They discuss her work with elusive Amazonian felids , as is featured in a new documentary called Wildcat ....

Jan 16, 20231 hr 3 minEp. 438

Legacy of P-22 w/ Beth Pratt

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the California Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation , Beth Pratt . They celebrate the extraordinary life and mourn the death of Los Angeles Mountain Lion P-22 . In addition, Beth shares about P-22’s legacy , including the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing ....

Jan 09, 20231 hr 29 minEp. 437

Black Hole Astrophysics w/ Feryal Özel

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Feryal Özel, chair of the School of Physics at Georgia Tech . They talk about her incredible career as a theoretical astrophysicist, her important work on the recent imaging of a black hole with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration , and the critical need for representation in science.

Dec 19, 202255 minEp. 436

Indigenous Robotics w/ Danielle Boyer

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Indigenous (Ojibwe) queer robotics inventor Danielle Boyer. They talk about her work making technical education accessible and representative for her community, primarily through the STEAM Connection, a nonprofit she founded to supply kids with no-cost, Indigenous language revitalization robots.

Dec 12, 20221 hr 7 minEp. 435

Star Trek Science w/ Erin Macdonald

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Erin Macdonald, astrophysicist and consultant for the Star Trek franchise. They talk about STEM, sci-fi, and her new board book, "Star Trek: My First Book of Space." Follow Erin: @drerinmac.

Dec 05, 202252 minEp. 434

Flight Safety w/ Kimberly Perkins

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Kimberly Perkins, pilot and PhD student at the University of Washington. They talk about her research on the impact of cognitive biases on flight safety, including perspectives from psychology, neuroscience, and aviation.

Nov 28, 20221 hr 14 min

Sounds of Nature w/ Karen Bakker

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Karen Bakker, Fellow of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies and multidisciplinary professor at the University of British Columbia. They talk about her new book, "The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology Is Bringing Us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants."

Nov 21, 20221 hr 5 min

Urology w/ Fenwa Milhouse

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Fenwa Milhouse to talk about all things urology! They discuss common urological conditions, like erectile dysfunction, urinary tract infections, urogynecoloigical issues, and even the dreaded broken penis!

Nov 14, 20221 hr 7 min

History of the Computer w/ Rachel Ignotofsky

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined once again by author and illustrator Rachel Ignotofsky to talk about her newest book, "The History of the Computer: People, Inventions, and Technology that Changed Our World." They discuss how learning about history changes our relationship with the present and the future, with a special emphasis on the empowerment that comes from using technology to create.

Nov 07, 20221 hr 3 min

Evolution w/ Joseph L. Graves Jr

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by evolutionary biologist and geneticist Dr. Joseph L. Graves Jr. to talk about his new book, "A Voice in the Wilderness: A Pioneering Biologist Explains How Evolution Can Help Us Solve Our Biggest Problems." They discuss his incredible career, beginning as the first African American to earn a PhD in evolutionary biology, and continuing in the fight against racial and gender inequity in the sciences and society at large.

Oct 31, 20221 hr 9 min

Structural Engineering w/ Roma Agrawal

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by structural engineer Roma Agrawal to talk about her new children's book, "How Was That Built? The Stories Behind Awesome Structures." They discuss her incredible career designing bridges, skyscrapers, and structures, as well as the quintessentially human tendency to build things, take them apart, and build them up again. Follow Roma: @RomaTheEngineer.

Oct 24, 202253 min

The Biggest Ideas w/ Sean Carroll

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined for the third time by Dr. Sean Carroll, theoretical physicist and professor of natural philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. They talk about his new book, "The Biggest Ideas in the Universe: Space, Time, and Motion" as well as the fascinating relationship between physics, philosophy, politics, psychology, and so much more. Follow Sean: @seanmcarroll

Oct 17, 20221 hr 6 min

Music on the Brain w/ Susan Rogers

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Susan Rogers, author of "This Is What it Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You." They talk about her illustrious career as an award-winning music producer turned cognitive neuroscientist at Berklee College of Music. They also discuss the relationship between our musical tastes and our own psychology.

Oct 10, 20221 hr 7 min

Pain w/ Haider Warraich

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Haider Warraich, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the VA Boston Healthcare System. They talk about his new book, "The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain," including the multidimensionality of chronic pain and how the healthcare profession can better serve those who suffer from it.

Oct 03, 20221 hr 14 min

The Sky Is for Everyone w/ Virginia Trimble & Sara Seager

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by astronomers Dr. Virginia Trimble and Sara Seager to talk about the book "The Sky Is for Everyone: Women Astronomers in Their Own Words." Virginia discusses her work as a trailblazing astrophysicist and one of the first women to earn a doctorate in the field from Caltech. Sara shares how she and her team are learning about the possibility of life on exoplanets (and even Venus!) by studying the properties of their atmospheres. Follow Sara: @ProfSara...

Sep 26, 20221 hr 4 min

Intellectual Property Law w/ Jessica Silbey

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Jessica Silbey, Professor of Law at Boston University and author of the new book "Against Progress: Intellectual Property and Fundamental Values in the Internet Age." They talk about the complex interplay between social justice, ownership, and innovation against a legal framework that purports to promote the "progress" of science and art. Follow Jessica: @JSilbey.

Sep 19, 202255 min

Chemical Engineering w/ Jayshree Seth

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Jayshree Seth, Corporate Scientist and Chief Science Advocate at 3M. They discuss the prevalence of chemical engineering in our everyday lives, as well as the importance of science appreciation and representation.

Sep 12, 20221 hr 1 min

Dreams w/ Karen Cerulo & Janet Ruane

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Drs. Karen Cerulo and Janet Ruane, sociologists and authors of the new book "Dreams of a Lifetime: How Who We Are Shapes How We Imagine Our Future." They discuss how our gender, race, age, and social positions deeply influence the nature of our dreams, which, in turn, affects the futures we pursue.

Sep 05, 20221 hr

Bitch w/ Lucy Cooke

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by National Geographic Explorer Lucy Cooke to talk about her new book, "Bitch: On the Female of the Species." They discuss gender in the animal kingdom, how science has long gotten it wrong, and how studying female animals can teach us about ourselves.

Aug 22, 202251 min

Punk Rock Paleontology w/ Jingmai O'Connor

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Jingmai O'Connor, also known as the Punk Rock Paleontologist. They talk about her work as Associate Curator of Fossil Reptiles at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, including the transition from dinosaurs to birds, flying dinosaurs, and the importance of science communication.

Aug 15, 202252 min

Museum Science w/ Olivia Castellini

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Olivia Castellini, Senior Exhibit Developer at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. They talk about her incredible science museum installations, including a 40-foot interactive tornado!

Aug 01, 20221 hr 5 min

The Other Dark Matter w/ Lina Zeldovich

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist Lina Zeldovich to talk about her new book "The Other Dark Matter: The Science and Business of Turning Waste into Wealth and Health." They discuss the value of human excerement, including ways we can better care for our planet and make smarter economic decisions while doing so.

Jul 25, 202259 min

Art and Space w/ Jancy McPhee

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by neuroscientist Dr. Jancy McPhee, the Founder and Executive Director of SciArt Exchange. They talk about SciArt Exchange's mission to engage people around the intersection of science and art, as well as her work as the Multidisciplinary Program Scientist in the NASA Human Research Program's Chief Scientist's Office.

Jul 18, 202254 min

Beauty Science w/ Rolanda Wilkerson

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson, Principle Beauty Scientist at Procter & Gamble. They talk about the chemistry of skin and hair products, including her role in developing and testing them for safety and efficacy. They also discuss the importance of representation and product diversity, especially for varied skin colors and hair textures.

Jul 11, 202255 min

Vagina Obscura w/ Rachel E. Gross

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about her new book, "Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage." They discuss the incredible anatomy and physiology of women (and trans men, nonbinary, and intersex folx!), with an emphasis on biomedical science's minimizations and misunderstandings. Cara also opens up about her upcoming hysterectomy.

Jul 04, 20221 hr 15 min

GiveDirectly w/ Miriam Laker

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Miriam Laker-Oketta, Research Director at GiveDirectly. They talk about her work in tropical medicine, international health, and research methods, as well as the evidence-based model used by the non-profit, GiveDirectly: putting cash directly in the hands of people living in poverty.

Jun 27, 202258 min
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