Here We Are

This episode comes from a conversation with the Director of Life Sciences here at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on hibernation! Why do animals do it? What's the difference between say... torpor and taking a nap? Could humans ever hibernate? Plus, we get to dive into some other fascinating research about fish species, specifically, the very cute pupfish, which someho...

Today, I sit down with Andrew Kerr, head of the Dale Etheridge Planetarium in Las Vegas!  Andrew is an astronomer and physicist who received his PhD for his work on the Gravito-Electromagnetic Effect and the Cosmological Constant. In this episode, we talk about the state of planetariums, seek to understand the utility of constellations and star classifications, try to grasp the milestones and time...

Today I'm at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville speaking with Kimberly Sheldon all about dung beetles! Kim studies the patterns and processes that determine the distribution of species and use this information to predict impacts of anthropogenic change on species and ecological communities.  Learn more about Kim's work: http://www.biogeographyresearch.org/ https://eeb.utk.edu/people/kimbe...

Today I'm learning about virtual education and how technology is helping teach students about otherwise complex topics. Shalaunda Reeves holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction and her research interests focus on how people learn in virtual environments. Learn more: https://tpte.utk.edu/people/shalaunda-reeves-phd/ https://www.shanemauss.com/ Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being...

Henry Gee is the author of ‘A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth’ - winner Royal Society Science Book Award 2022 and more notably, one of Shane's favorite books :) Henry is a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and editor at Nature.  He is also a hilarious, charming, wonderful guy who articulates the story of our existence in a poetic and accessible way. Learn more about him, his books...

Birds, animal communication, evolution, environmental pressures, and human impacts.  This conversation was very much in the Here We Are wheelhouse which made for a loose, funny, and fascinating episode! It was such a treat to talk with Associate Professor Elizabeth Derryberry in person at The University of Tennessee Knoxville  https://eeb.utk.edu/people/elizabeth-derryberry/  ....

I've got some major life updates including a residency in Vegas at https://area15.com/ Sundays starting April 23.  Tickets and details should be available by the end of the month. Stay tuned for more soon! This week Rebecca Tiffany Trout Fryxell talks about the La Crosse Virus.  What is it?  What does it do?  How is it treated or prevented? Humans, animals, plants, and the envi...

Today I'm at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville speaking with Dr. Paul Armsworth.  Paul examines how conservation investment strategies and natural resource management policies can be made more effective by integrating ecological and socioeconomic models and data. Learn more about Paul's lab: https://www.armsworthlab.com/ Learn more about Paul's research: https://eeb.utk.edu/people/paul-a...

Today I'm speaking with David and Douglas Kenrick about their new book "Solving Modern Problems With a Stone-Age Brain: Human Evolution and the Seven Fundamental Motives". Douglas Kenrick is a professor of psychology at Arizona State University. His research and writing integrate three scientific syntheses of the last few decades: evolutionary psychology, cognitive science, and dynamical systems t...

Today I'm at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville speaking with Dr. Derrick Stowell, who is the Education and Horticultural Therapy Program Administrator for the UT Gardens. Derrick is responsible for directing education programs and horticultural therapy programs for the UT Gardens, Knoxville location.  https://onehealth.tennessee.edu/ https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/ Thank you for watch...

Nina Fefferman is back! Today, I'm at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. We talk about beauty and utility of math and how to get young learners excited about mathematic reasoning. We also discuss the incredible collaborative work being done at NIMBioS, which is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Synthesis Center supported through NSF's Biological Sciences Directorate via a Cooperative Agre...

Today I'm speaking with evolutionary behavioural scientist, Tamas David Barrett. His work focuses on how the structure of social networks change during falling fertility, urbanisation, and migration; as well as, how social networks vary over the human life-course. Tamás’s current projects include the origins of inequality regulation; why the behavioural rules between women and men vary so muc...

This week I went Arizona State University to talk with Athena Aktipis about the potential of apocalyptic events, both natural and human-caused, and how we can prepare, respond, and prevent the end of the world. Athena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University and co-Director of The Cooperation Science Network and The Human Generosity Project. This episod...

Today I'm hanging out with Dr. Keith Markman! Keith was one of the scientists that gave a talk at this year's Mind Under Matter Campout Festival. Keith's research focuses on “counterfactual thinking”, or how people imagine alternative realities, develop conspiracy theories, and connect coincidental dots dreamt up by the hyper-active human brain. Learn more about Dr. Markman's work: https://www.ohi...

Today I'm speaking with Daniele Cybulskie, who is a historian, writer, and podcaster. Daniele has written several books about medieval history, which you can find here: http://www.danielecybulskie.com/books She is also the host of The Medieval Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-medieval-podcast/id1448142533 DISCLAIMER: We are not responsible for any potential trebuchet-related inci...

This week I'm talking with Athena Aktipis about the gradients of apocalyptic events and how humans cope with the end times. Athena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University and co-Director of The Cooperation Science Network and The Human Generosity Project. This episode is a part of a new series we're working on where we present ideas from scientists in...

Today we're talking phosphorus, from exploding stars to urine. Dr. Jim Elser is a limnologist, Director of Flathead Lake Biological Station at Yellow Bay, Bierman Professor of Ecology at the University of Montana, and the Director of Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance. Phosphorus is as essential as water, carbon, or oxygen for agriculture and all life on earth. It's also a non-renewable resource with...

This episode of the Here We Are podcast was recorded live at the Mind Under Matter Campout Festival in Raleigh, NC at the beautiful Lakeside Retreats. I decided to invite one of my favorite guests and good friend, Herman Pontzer, to talk about some of the evolutionary underpinnings of why we come together and celebrate at festivals. Herman is an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at...

Today I'm speaking with Daryl R. Van Tongeren, who is an associate professor of psychology at Hope College. We discuss some of the topics he writes about in his new book, "Humble: Free Yourself From the Traps of a Narcissistic World."  Learn more about Daryl's work here: https://www.darylvantongeren.com/ Thank you for watching and being an inquisitive being.

Today I'm speaking with Tara Behrend, who is an Assoc of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Purdue University. We discuss productivity and efficiency in the work place, our cultural perception of time, the surprising and counterintuitive findings about employee privacy research, and online education and more! https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/psy/directory/faculty/Behrend,%20Tara.html Come meet Tara...

Today I'm speaking with Cassie Holmes, professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. We talk about her new book " Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most " How can we use our time more wisely and accomplish the tasks we care about most? What's the difference between pickleball and tennis? Why is it easier to brainstorm in the shower or while dri...

Today I am speaking with Anne McLaughlin, who is a psychology professor at North Carolina State University. We discuss her book "All Too Human", which takes a look at applied Human Factors. Human Factors may be a lesser known field within psychology but its implications become obvious once realized.  Huge thanks to Chris of Hygge Production House for filming this episode. Thank you for watchi...

Today I'm speaking with Hillary Anger Elfenbein, who is a professor at the Olin School of Washington University. We discuss the parallels between stand up comedy and teaching at a university, cross cultural analysis of emotional intelligence, being overly self-aware, and much more! Come and see the physical manifestation of Mind Under Matter and hang out with The WBBC™, the team, and all the other...

Today I'm hanging out with my good friend, Cole Marta. Cole is the Co-founder, Medical Director, and Clinician at California Center for Psychedelic Therapy. We do a little catching up and discuss Cole's personal journey into psychedelic research and therapy as well as touch on ways you can get involved yourself. Visit California Center for Psychedelic Therapy: https://psychedelictherapyca.com/ htt...

In this episode, I catch up with my good friend, Michael Garfield. Michael is the host of the Future Fossils podcast and the Complexity podcast. In his 4th appearance on Here We Are, we discuss topics like fatherhood, lifestyle changes, and the ever-changing world we live in.