Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

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

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

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

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

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

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 .

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 .

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

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

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

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 .” 

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

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

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and Energy and Environment Reporter for The Hil l, Rachel Frazin. They talk about her book, “ Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America ” Follow Rachel: @RachelFrazin

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by  photo editor and writer Anika Burgess to discuss her new book, “ Flashes of Brilliance: The Genius of Early Photography and How It Transformed Art, Science, and History .” Follow Anika: @aburgessphoto

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by environmental scientist turned freelance writer and editor, Sarah Boon. They discuss her new book, “ Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist ” Follow Sarah: @snowhydro.bsky.social

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by astrophysicist , University of Arizona Associate Professor, and Director of the Arizona Space Institute , Erika Hamden. We discuss her new book, “ Weird Universe: Everything We Don’t Know About Space (and Why It’s Important) .” Follow Erika: @erika.hamden  

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science communicator , author and associate professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University , Dr. Carly Anne York. They discuss her new book, “ The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog: And Other Serious Discoveries of Silly Science .” Follow Carly: @CarlyAnneYork

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer, author, and geoscientist , Dr. Lisa S. Gardiner. They discuss her newly released book, Reefs of Time: What Fossils Reveal about Coral Survival  . Follow Lisa: @Lisasgardiner

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist and author , Liz Kalaugher. They discuss Liz’s newly released book, “ The Elephant in the Room: How to Stop Making Ourselves and Other Animals Sick .” Follow Liz: @LizKalaugher

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by microbiologist, science communicator, Adjunct Professor at Indiana University South Bend and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame , Dr. Maggie M. Fink. They discuss her newest co-authored book, “ The Color of North: The Molecular Language of Proteins and the Future of Life .” Follow Maggie: @MaggieMFink

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, historian, journalist and mystery novelist , Brandy Schillace, PHD. They discuss Brandy’s newest book, “ The Intermediaries: A Weimar Story .” Follow Brandy: ‪@bschillace.brandyschillace.com

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by  microbial biogeochemist , Professor of Earth Science and Wrigley Chair in Environmental Studies at the University of Southern California, Dr. Karen G. Lloyd. They discuss Karen’s new book, “ Intraterrestrials:  Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth .” Follow Karen: @KarenLloyd

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by  Inaugural J. Mario Molina Professor of the History of Medicine  in the Department of the History of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University , Dr. Mary Fissell. They talk about her book, “ Pushback: The 2,500-Year Fight to Thwart Women by Restricting Abortion .”

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by educator ,  civil servant , and the 15th Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), John B. King, Jr. We discuss his new book, “ Teacher By Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives .” Follow John: @John. B.King