Groks Science Radio Show and Podcast

The problems facing the American health care system are perhaps nowhere else more evident than in small rural hospitals. On this episode, Brian Alexander discussed his book, The Hospital.

What is life? At the boundaries of science, the definition of what constitutes life remains ill-defined. On this episode, Carl Zimmer discussed the scientific quest to define life.

A good diet and exercise are important for optimal health, but are they equally important for weight loss? On this episode, Dr. Herman Pontzer discussed these issues and his new book, Burn.

The world of espionage is filled with individuals that one may not think would be a spy. On this episode, Larry Loftis discussed the story of Aline Griffith in his book, The Princess Spy.

The opioid epidemic continues to have severe repercussions in society, enabled by both giant pharmaceutical companies and unscrupulous physicians who profited from these drugs. On this episode, Charlotte Bismuth discussed her book, Bad Medicine.

How can enduring change be implemented through psychotherapeutic practices? How can the neuroscience of memory inform these clinical approached? On this episode, Dr. Richard Lane discussed his book, The Neuroscience of Enduring Change.

The history of women would be quite different were it not for the pioneering work of Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell. On this episode, Janice Nimura discussed their story and her new book, The Doctors Blackwell.

Wisdom is a trait that appears to increase with age, but what are the scientific roots of these changes and can they be facilitated? On this episode, Dr. Dilip Jeste discussed his new book, Wiser.

Ritualistic behaviors are not limited to humans, but abound in the animal kingdom. What can we learn from these ritualistic animal behaviors? On this episode, Dr. Caitlin O'Connell discussed her new book, Wild Rituals.

The problem of homelessness may seem insurmountable, but there are possible solutions requiring the will to implement them. On this episode, Dr. Marybeth Shinn discussed her new book, In the Midst of Plenty.

Medical care in the United States continues to face serious challenges in improving the health of the populace. What are the problems and solutions? On this episode, Dr. Michael J. Young discussed his book, The Illness of Medicine.

What are the essential features for growing a business? Are there methods to align these necessary features? On this episode, Dr. Phillipe Bouissou discussed his book, Aligning the Dots.

The travails that are part of our lives may sometimes seem insurmountable, but our ability to embrace these challenges may be trainable. On this episode, Brent Gleeson discussed his book, Embrace the Suck.

Exoplanets are now a common feature of astronomical discoveries, but what do some of these exoplanets look like? On this episode, Michael Carroll discussed his new book, Envisioning Exoplanets.

The concept of time is one whose physical theory continues to elude scientists. What are advances in the theories of time? On this episode, Dr. Julian Barbour discussed his book, The Janus Point.

The conduct of most meetings often leaves something to be desired. How can meetings be more effective, engaging and enjoyable? On this episode, Mamie Kanfer Stewart discussed her new book, Momentum.

The concept of sin is one that has evolved from the middle ages to the present day. How have we arrived at our current concept of sin? On this episode, Dr. David Salomon discussed his new book, The Seven Deadly Sins: How Sin Influenced the West from the Middle Ages to the Modern Era.

Tribalism is a pervading influence in the structure of society, but is it possible to mitigate the deleterious effects of this mentality? On this episode, Allen Buchanan discussed his book, Our Moral Fate: Evolution and the Escape from Tribalism.

Eating a healthy diet is important for maintaining optimum body health. But is the time when you eat as important as what you eat? On this episode, Dr. Michael Roizen discussed his new book, What to Eat When.

James Smithson may be best known as the namesake of the Smithsonian Institution, but his scientific accomplishments are often overlooked. On this episode, Steven Turner discussed his new book, The Science of James Smithson.

The sense of smell is of profound importance, but few may realize it until it is gone. The diversity of chemicals producing smells is even more astounding. On this episode, Harold McGee discussed his new book, Nose Dive.

Although the advances in artificial intelligence have been striking in recent years, has as much thought been given to the ethical issues surround the design of these systems? On this episode, Brian Christian discussed his new book, The Alignment Problem.

The natural history of the earth and solar system can be surprisingly gleaned from the study of meteorites. On this episode, Dr. Tim Gregory discussed his new book, Meteorite: How Stones From Outer Space Made Our World.

Bones may be some of the most remarkable biological structures in our bodies, but few may stop to realize their many functions. On this episode, Dr. Roy A. Meals discussed his book, Bones: Inside and Out.

Did the early Christian church inherit a psychedelic Eucharist from the Greeks? What evidence exist from the historical record and archeological chemistry? On this episode, Brian C. Muraresku discussed his new book, The Immortality Key.