Discovering Academia

Marion Nestle is Professor Emerita of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University and one of the most cited food policy researchers in the country. Her decades of work on corporate influence, nutrition science, and agricultural policy make her one of the field's most authoritative voices. In this episode, Nestle breaks down how food companies engineer overconsumption through...

Robert Langer is an Institute Professor at MIT, one of only 14 to hold this title, and a pioneering figure in biotechnology. His work in bioengineering has led to revolutionary new platforms for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and nanotechnology that form the basis of countless medical treatments and over 40 companies. In this episode, we discuss the design philosophy behind inventing technolog...

Professor Richard Miller of the University of Michigan, a leading expert in the biology of aging, joins us to redefine what aging is and how we can slow it down. Discover the groundbreaking work of the Interventions Testing Program (ITP), which has identified over a dozen compounds—including the drug Rapamycin—capable of extending the healthy lifespan of mice by up to 30%. Miller reveals why this...

Steven Austad is a Distinguished Professor and the Protective Life Endowed Chair in Healthy Aging Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as well as the Scientific Director of the American Federation for Aging Research. A former Hollywood lion trainer turned leading biologist, Austad explores the evolutionary and biological mechanisms that control how fast we age. In this episode, we...

Ying Lu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. His work combines physics, biochemistry, and quantitative methods to understand the fundamental mechanisms of biological processes, particularly protein degradation. In this episode, we discuss why curiosity is the most powerful engine for scientific breakthroughs, from the discovery of CRISPR to mode...

#083 - Homa Bahrami: Super-Flexibility, Agile Organizations, & The Evolution of Silicon Valley In this episode, we talk with Homa Bahrami, Senior Lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, about how leaders and organizations can thrive in constant change. We explore her concept of super-flexibility—the ability to balance stability with adaptability—through insights drawn from decades o...

Feeling overwhelmed by the news? UC Davis Prof. Amber Boydstun explains "media storms" – why some stories dominate while others fade – and breaks down the challenges of getting reliable info from social media vs. traditional news. Learn why deep dives still matter in our fast-paced world. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.discoveringacademia.com/episodes/amber-boydstun  ...

Why do humans everywhere tell stories, make music, and believe in the unseen? Professor Manvir Singh, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at UC Davis, dedicates his research to understanding why human societies around the world develop such recurring traditions – from shamanism and religion to music and legal systems. In this episode, join us on a journey through the heart of human culture as P...

Is free speech truly alive on college campuses? Rollins College President, and nationally recognized advocate for liberal arts education, Grant Cornwell tackles tough questions about academic freedom, why classrooms shouldn't be "intellectually safe spaces," and the enduring value of a liberal arts degree for tackling global issues and strengthening democracy. For more information, please visit ou...

How do businesses price the risks of climate change, from wildfires to hurricanes? UC Davis Professor Paul Griffin breaks down climate risk, corporate responsibility, and how tech like AI is changing environmental accountability. Tune in to understand the future of sustainable business and why facing reality is key.   For more information about this episode, see our website: https://www.discoverin...

Erin Kinnally is a biological psychologist and core scientist at the California National Primate Research Center. Her work explores how early life experiences—like maternal care or social stress—can shape biology, behavior, and even gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. In this episode, we unpack how Erin studies primates to better understand human development, discussing the ways stress...

What do sea urchins, disappearing kelp forests, and coral gene editing have in common? In this episode, we sit down with UC Davis professor Marissa Baskett to explore how science can help restore and protect ocean ecosystems in a changing climate. She explains why kelp forests off the Northern California coast collapsed, how disease wiped out key predators like sea stars, and what scientists are d...

Today we talk with political scientist Lauren Young from UC Davis. She studies how people decide to dissent in the face of fear, repression, and uncertainty. Drawing from fieldwork in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Colombia, she breaks down what drives people to protest, how emotions like hope and anger shape political behavior, and how researchers can ethically study sensitive topics like political viole...

Why do some development projects succeed while others fall short? UC Davis professor Amanda Crump shares insights from her work in over 37 countries, revealing how misguided innovations, flawed policies, and overlooked local voices impact progress. From improving post-harvest storage in Tanzania to introducing cookstove technology in Sierra Leone, Amanda explores what it really takes to create las...

In this episode, Professor Clare Cannon explores the complex intersections of environmental justice, climate change, and public health. From her work with marginalized communities in Kettleman City to advocating for multi-species justice, Clare shares insights on building trust, empowering communities, and addressing systemic inequalities. Discover how participatory research, data-driven solutions...

Olaf Groth is a Professor of Global Strategy, Innovation, and Economics at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the founder of Cambrian Futures. In this episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of AI and its impact on global strategy, economic power, and geopolitical competition. Professor Groth unpacks the shift from globalization 1.0 to a fragmented world of competing economic blocs and...

What makes a photograph truly timeless? How do curators decide which images define an era? In this episode, Rebecca Senf, Chief Curator at the Center for Creative Photography (CCP), takes us behind the scenes of photography curation. We dive into the legacy of Ansel Adams, the ongoing debate over photography as fine art, and how museums shape what the world remembers. Becky also unpacks the comple...

In this episode, Anastassia Fedyk, Assistant Professor of Finance at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, breaks down the psychology of financial markets, revealing how investors overreact to recombined news and inflated narratives. She also discusses her research on the risks of hype-driven investing and explores AI’s real impact on corporate growth, workforce dynamics, and innovation. Beyond f...

In this episode, Professor Darren Zook takes us on a journey from his early days as a math student to becoming a global studies expert at UC Berkeley. He shares his unique approach to travel, emphasizing the value of immersion in local cultures to build trust and foster deeper understanding. Zook recounts pivotal experiences in India and North Korea, offering rare insights into cultural identity,...

Today we talk with David Riemer, a noteworthy author, seasoned marketing executive, and expert in storytelling, who brings decades of experience at the intersection of creativity, business, and innovation. Having held leadership roles at companies like Yahoo! and worked with entrepreneurs, artists, and executives, David has honed the art of turning ideas into transformative narratives. In this epi...

In this episode, UC Davis Professor Adam Zientek takes us on a deep dive into the unexpected role of alcohol in World War I, explaining how wine rations sustained French soldiers, boosted morale, and even played a role in mutinies. He unpacks the cultural and medical perceptions of alcohol in early 20th-century France, where wine was seen as a patriotic and medicinal necessity, while distilled spi...

In this episode, Professor Stephen Garcia unpacks the psychology of competition, revealing how it often exists more in our minds than in reality. He explores how rankings, social categories, and personality traits shape competitive behaviors, sometimes hindering collaboration and long-term success. Garcia discusses motivators like love and fear, explaining how love drives sustainable growth while...

Today we talk with Lerone Martin, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Centennial Chair and Director of the MLK Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. His work looks at the intersection of race and religion within American culture and politics. In this episode, we focus on his second book about J. Edger Hoover and how the FBI used religion and...

Today we talk with David Segal, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the UC Davis School of Medicine. His research focuses on genome engineering and targeted gene regulation for applications in neurological disorders, particularly Angelman Syndrome. In this episode we talk about the main mechanisms and challenges of molecular medicine – from CRISPR and zinc finger proteins to editin...

Today, we talk with James Adams, a Distinguished Professor of Political Science at UC Davis. His research examines affective polarization—the deepening divide and hostility between political parties. In this episode, we discuss the growing polarization in the U.S., particularly in comparison to other Western democracies, and explore the economic and social factors behind this rapid division. We al...