Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Frances and Charles Field Professor of History at Stanford University , Jessica Riskin. They discuss her latest book, The Power of Life: The Invention of Biology and the Revolutionary Science of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck .Follow Jessica’s work: @JessicaRiskin

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist, author, and contributing writer at The Atlantic , Roxanne Khamsi. We discuss her latest book, Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health . Follow Roxanne: @ roxannekhamsi

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by theoretical physicist, and associate professor of physics and astronomy, and core  faculty in women’s and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire , Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein. They discuss her newest book, The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie . Follow Chanda: @chanda

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by professor of complex systems at Williams College and cofounder of the QSIDE Institute , Chad M. Topaz. They discuss his book, Unlocking Justice: The Power of Data to Confront Inequity and Create Change . Follow Chad: @ chadtopaz

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer and researcher focused on bees, agriculture, and the environment , Dr. Jennie Durant. They discuss her new book, Bitter Honey: Big Ag’s Threat to Bees and the Fight to Save Them . Follow Jennie: @jennie.durant

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Professor, researcher, and speaker empowering adult daughters, Dr. Allison M. Alford. They discuss her book, Good Daughtering: The Work You’ve Always Done, the Credit You’ve Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough . Follow Allison: @daughtering101

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by British astrophysicist and Royal Society Research Fellow, Dr. Emma Chapman. They discuss her new book The Echoing Universe: How Radio Astronomy Helps Us See the Invisible Cosmos . Releasing in the US tomorrow, 5/19. Follow Emma: @dremmachapman

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by physician, author, and illustrator , Dr. Grace Farris. They discuss her new book, See One, Do One, Teach One: The Art of Becoming a Doctor: A Graphic Memoir . Follow Grace: @ GraceFarris

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by neurogastroenterologist, and  instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School , Dr. Trisha Pasricha. They discuss her new book, You've Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy . Follow Trisha: @trishapasrichamd

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning science journalist, editor, author and communicator , Helen Pearson. They discuss her newly released book , Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works . Follow Helen: HelenPearson

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by academic economist , and head of the Criminal Justice program at philanthropy Arnold Ventures , Jennifer Doleac. They discuss her recently released book, The Science of Second Chances: A Revolution in Criminal Justice . Follow Jen: @ JenniferDoleac

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer , anthropologist , and associate professor of African and African diaspora studies at the University of Texas at Austin , Dr. Ashanté M. Reese. They discuss her new book, Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness . Follow Ashanté: @dramreese

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Duke University professor of political science , and author , Candis Watts Smith. They discuss her latest book, Black Evidence: A History and a Warning . Follow Candis’ work: @CandisSmith

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Regents Professor of ecology, evolution, and behavior at the University of Minnesota , Professor Marlene Zuk. We discuss her book,  Outsider Animals: How the Creatures at the Margins of Our Lives Have the Most to Teach Us .

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by behavioral scientist , and Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government , Julie Minson. They discuss her latest book, How to Disagree Better . Follow Julia: @juliaminson

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist Dr. Caroline Tracey to talk about her debut book, Salt Lakes: An Unnatural History . Follow Caroline: @ce_tracey

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Professor of Social Sciences at Harvard University , Affiliated Research Professor at the American Bar Foundation, and member of the National Academy of Sciences , Dr. Robert J. Sampson. They discuss his new book, Marked by Time: How Social Change Has Transformed Crime and the Life Trajectories of Young Americans . Follow Robert’s work: @RobertJSamp...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Bioethicist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, Dr. Daphne O. Martschenko. They discuss her book, What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future . Follow Daphne: @daphmarts  

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science and environmental journalist , Laura Poppick. They discuss her book, Strata: Stories from Deep Time . Follow Laura: @LauraPoppick

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer and media producer , Mindy Weisberger. They discuss her 2025 book, Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control . Follow Mindy: @laminda

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by clinical and research psychologist, passionate knitter , and writer -- Dr. Nicole Nehrig. They discuss her book, With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories . Follow Nicole: @nicolenehrig

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by UC Irvine Law Professor , and acclaimed author , Mehrsa Baradaran. They talk about her latest book, The Racial Wealth Gap: A Brief History . Follow Mehrsa: @mehrsab

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist and author of four previous books , Rose George. They discuss her newest book, Every Last Fish: A Deep Dive into Everything They Do for Us and We Do to Them . Follow Rose: Substack .

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Bloomberg investigative journalist , and author, Ellen Huet. They discuss her 2025 book about OneTaste, Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult . Follow Ellen: @ellenhuet

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by licensed clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and educator , Dr. Jonathan Mathias Lassiter. They discuss his new book, How I Know White People are Crazy and Other Stories: Notes from a Frustrated Black Psychologist . Follow Jonathan: @ lassiterhealth