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."
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 471
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by J ennifer Banks , senior executive editor at Yale University Press . They talk about her new book, "Natality: Toward a Philosophy of Birth." Follow Jennifer: @jenniferabanks .
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 470
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....
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 469
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 ....
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 468
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 ....
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 467
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 ....
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 466
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 ....
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 465
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....
Aug 07, 2023•54 min•Ep. 464
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....
Jul 31, 2023•54 min•Ep. 463
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....
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 462
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 ....
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 461
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 ....
Jul 04, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 460
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 ....
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 459
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 ....
Jun 19, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 458
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."
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 457
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....
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 456
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 ....
May 22, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 455
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 .
May 15, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 454
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.
May 08, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 453
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 ....
May 01, 2023•46 min•Ep. 452
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 communicatio n in an increasingly polarized world as well as the joy of scientific curiosity and discovery. Follow Leah: @gnarlybygnature...
Apr 24, 2023•53 min•Ep. 451
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 ....
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 450
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 ....
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 499
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 framewor k, including how privacy and convenience will continue to shift as technology allows deeper access to our internal worlds ....
Apr 04, 2023•56 min•Ep. 448
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 ....
Mar 27, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 447
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 ....
Mar 20, 2023•54 min•Ep. 446
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....
Mar 13, 2023•56 min•Ep. 445
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science and technology writer Sally Adee to talk about her new book, “ We Are Electric: Inside the 200-Year Hunt for Our Body's Bioelectric Code, and What the Future Holds. ” They discuss the history of bioelectricity , as well as the promise it may hold for our biomedical future ....
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 444
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer Kristin Ohlson to talk about her new book, "Sweet in Tooth and Claw: Stories of Generosity and Cooperation in the Natural World." They discuss mutualism ( cooperative relationships ) between microbes, fungi, plants, and animals (including humans) across the natural world . Follow Kristin: @kristinohlson ....
Feb 20, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 443
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by University of Pennsylvania clinical neurologist Dr. Sara Manning Peskin . They talk about her new book, "A Molecule Away from Madness: Tales of the Hijacked Brain," including a deep dive into the fascinating causes and outcomes of various type of dementia ....
Feb 13, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 442