Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Ben Hauck, creator of FightClimateDenial.com, joins Cara to discuss common arguments denialists use against anthropogenic climate change, and how we can be better armed to fight them. Also discussed: ocean acidification, alternative energy, and why it is so very important to engage in civic duty, like pressuring your representatives to speak up for the climate and going to the polls!

YouTuber Vanessa Hill (BrainCraft) joins Cara to talk about her journey from Australia to America and the brilliant work she does in science communication. Also discussed: the perils of being a woman on the internet, and how the USA could learn a thing or two from the land down under, specifically about elections and healthcare.

Cara is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue her conversation with paleontologist, geneticist, anatomist, and popular science author Dr. Neil Shubin (Your Inner Fish, The Universe Within). They discuss Tiktaalik's place in our evolutionary past, along with new technologies and techniques that continue to unify Darwin's prescient theory and provide new clues to the great tree of life here o...

Cara is joined by Lila Higgins, the Manager of Citizen Science for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Together, they geek out about bugs (ahem, hemiptera), urban wildlife, and how we can all participate in the scientific process through citizen science initiatives, like those at the NHMLA.

Cara joins paleontologist, anatomist, evolutionary biologist, and popular science writer Neil Shubin (Your Inner Fish, The Universe Within) to talk about his discovery of Tiktaalik roseae, a key species linking all living tetrapods to our aquatic ancestors.

Cara is joined by her FabLab cohost Nick Uhas, who also happens to host a fabulous YouTube series called Nickipedia. They talk extensively about Nick's past as a professional rollerblader, as well as how science often leads to accidental discoveries that go down in the history books.

Cara is joined once again by the President of American Atheists, David Silverman. They talk about David's new book, "Fighting God," including his firebrand approach to atheist activism.

Cara is joined by KPCC Science Reporter Sanden Totten to talk about science storytelling through an auditory medium. They also talk about the difference between journalism and reality TV, their personal identifications as skeptics, and his awesome podcast for kids, "Brains On!"

Author and artist behind Beatrice the Biologist, Katie McKissick, joins Cara to talk about why the visual medium is so important in science communication, as well as how teaching influenced her craft.

Cara celebrates the 100th episode of #TalkNerdy by letting YOU interview HER! She turns the tables in this special #AskMeAnything edition, ranging from topics like depression to science fiction to, of course, her famous two questions that end the show. THANK YOU for an incredible 100 episodes! Talk Nerdy wouldn't be possible without the support of listeners like you.

USC PhD candidate Chris Cantwell joins Cara to talk about his recent labor of love, Quantum Chess. He tells the story of how the came was conceived and some of the challenges he's faced on his road through academia, including a spinal cord injury in high school that left him with limited mobility.

Cara is joined by Caltech PhD candidate Sarah Gossan, a researcher in the LIGO Lab who contributed to the recent detection of gravitational waves. They discuss what this discovery means--not just for physics, but for humanity--and just how they were able to detect two black holes merging 1.3 billion light years away.

Cara chats with "mini-nerd" Stella Krone about what it's like being a ten year-old who loves to learn! They discuss her interest in genetics, the perks and challenges of taking high school and college courses, and why she isn't terribly fond of the label "gifted."

Cara is joined by the SciBabe herself, Yvette D'Entremont, to talk about science and skepticism. They dive into Yvette's turn from forensics and chemistry to science communication, as well as her work debunking health gurus and charlatans, like the Food Babe.

Cara reminisces with her old roommate and labmate, Michael Matthews, while she's visiting her home state of Texas. They talk about the good old days at the Center for Network Neuroscience, the guilt associated with using non-renewable resources, like and oil and gas, and the American culture of perpetual debt. Also included: SHIPLEY'S DONUTS!!!

Kevin Roose (News Director, Fusion) chats with Cara about their new television show, "Real Future." They offer an inside look at the production process, sharing stories of how technology is shaping our future in ways we never imagined.

Cara is joined by Noemie Sportiche, a public health planner and research analyst for the Boston metropolitan area. She shares the story of her windy path from cognitive science to public health, and they discuss evidence-based strategies for encouraging community wellness.

Cara is joined by fellow "The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe" rogue Evan Bernstein! They talk exorcisms, politics, and how Evan came to become a skeptical activist.

Cara chats with science writer Dr. Jason Goldman about urban wildlife in Southern California, including the pumas/mountain lions/panthers/cougars of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Catalina Island foxes. Also discussed: what we've learned about domestication from Dmitry Belyaev's silver fox study.

Cara is joined by science education activist and reporter Zack Kopplin, to talk about his work to repeal Louisiana's "creationism law," as well as why we continue to fight to uphold the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution.

Cara is joined by the "Master of Disaster" herself, geophysicist and science writer Mika McKinnon. They discuss her work as the science consultant on Stargate, how life was a driving force behind an explosion of earthly minerals, and the improvements Canadians are hopeful for under their new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

Cara is joined by graduate student Raquel Nuno, from UCLA's Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences. They talk science communication, water in our solar system, and how a non-traditional academic path can sometimes lead to exactly where you wanted to be all along.

Cara is joined by wildlife photographer Jeff Cremer to discuss life in the Amazon, including how ecotourism can support local communities.

Doctors are people too, y'all! This week, Cara peers behind the proverbial surgical mask to demystify medical school and beyond with the help of Dr. Varshana Gurusamy.

Cara is joined by ex-Seventh Day Adventist pastor Ryan Bell to talk about his "Year Without God" and how he's now spending his "Life After God." Also discussed: how secular individuals can be community leaders by practicing the empathy we all possess.