Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Erin Macdonald, astrophysicist and consultant for the Star Trek franchise. They talk about STEM, sci-fi, and her new board book, "Star Trek: My First Book of Space." Follow Erin: @drerinmac.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Kimberly Perkins, pilot and PhD student at the University of Washington. They talk about her research on the impact of cognitive biases on flight safety, including perspectives from psychology, neuroscience, and aviation.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Karen Bakker, Fellow of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies and multidisciplinary professor at the University of British Columbia. They talk about her new book, "The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology Is Bringing Us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants."

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Fenwa Milhouse to talk about all things urology! They discuss common urological conditions, like erectile dysfunction, urinary tract infections, urogynecoloigical issues, and even the dreaded broken penis!

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined once again by author and illustrator Rachel Ignotofsky to talk about her newest book, "The History of the Computer: People, Inventions, and Technology that Changed Our World." They discuss how learning about history changes our relationship with the present and the future, with a special emphasis on the empowerment that comes from using technology to c...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by evolutionary biologist and geneticist Dr. Joseph L. Graves Jr. to talk about his new book, "A Voice in the Wilderness: A Pioneering Biologist Explains How Evolution Can Help Us Solve Our Biggest Problems." They discuss his incredible career, beginning as the first African American to earn a PhD in evolutionary biology, and continuing in the fight ag...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by structural engineer Roma Agrawal to talk about her new children's book, "How Was That Built? The Stories Behind Awesome Structures." They discuss her incredible career designing bridges, skyscrapers, and structures, as well as the quintessentially human tendency to build things, take them apart, and build them up again. Follow Roma: @RomaTheEngineer...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined for the third time by Dr. Sean Carroll, theoretical physicist and professor of natural philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. They talk about his new book, "The Biggest Ideas in the Universe: Space, Time, and Motion" as well as the fascinating relationship between physics, philosophy, politics, psychology, and so much more. Follow Sean: @seanmcarroll

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Susan Rogers, author of "This Is What it Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You." They talk about her illustrious career as an award-winning music producer turned cognitive neuroscientist at Berklee College of Music. They also discuss the relationship between our musical tastes and our own psychology.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Haider Warraich, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the VA Boston Healthcare System. They talk about his new book, "The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain," including the multidimensionality of chronic pain and how the healthcare profession can better serve those who suffer from it.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by astronomers Dr. Virginia Trimble and Sara Seager to talk about the book "The Sky Is for Everyone: Women Astronomers in Their Own Words." Virginia discusses her work as a trailblazing astrophysicist and one of the first women to earn a doctorate in the field from Caltech. Sara shares how she and her team are learning about the possibility of life on...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Jessica Silbey, Professor of Law at Boston University and author of the new book "Against Progress: Intellectual Property and Fundamental Values in the Internet Age." They talk about the complex interplay between social justice, ownership, and innovation against a legal framework that purports to promote the "progress" of science and art. Follow...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Jayshree Seth, Corporate Scientist and Chief Science Advocate at 3M. They discuss the prevalence of chemical engineering in our everyday lives, as well as the importance of science appreciation and representation.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Drs. Karen Cerulo and Janet Ruane, sociologists and authors of the new book "Dreams of a Lifetime: How Who We Are Shapes How We Imagine Our Future." They discuss how our gender, race, age, and social positions deeply influence the nature of our dreams, which, in turn, affects the futures we pursue.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by National Geographic Explorer Lucy Cooke to talk about her new book, "Bitch: On the Female of the Species." They discuss gender in the animal kingdom, how science has long gotten it wrong, and how studying female animals can teach us about ourselves.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Jingmai O'Connor, also known as the Punk Rock Paleontologist. They talk about her work as Associate Curator of Fossil Reptiles at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, including the transition from dinosaurs to birds, flying dinosaurs, and the importance of science communication.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Olivia Castellini, Senior Exhibit Developer at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. They talk about her incredible science museum installations, including a 40-foot interactive tornado!

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist Lina Zeldovich to talk about her new book "The Other Dark Matter: The Science and Business of Turning Waste into Wealth and Health." They discuss the value of human excerement, including ways we can better care for our planet and make smarter economic decisions while doing so.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by neuroscientist Dr. Jancy McPhee, the Founder and Executive Director of SciArt Exchange. They talk about SciArt Exchange's mission to engage people around the intersection of science and art, as well as her work as the Multidisciplinary Program Scientist in the NASA Human Research Program's Chief Scientist's Office.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson, Principle Beauty Scientist at Procter & Gamble. They talk about the chemistry of skin and hair products, including her role in developing and testing them for safety and efficacy. They also discuss the importance of representation and product diversity, especially for varied skin colors and hair textures.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about her new book, "Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage." They discuss the incredible anatomy and physiology of women (and trans men, nonbinary, and intersex folx!), with an emphasis on biomedical science's minimizations and misunderstandings. Cara also opens up about her upcoming hysterecto...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Miriam Laker-Oketta, Research Director at GiveDirectly. They talk about her work in tropical medicine, international health, and research methods, as well as the evidence-based model used by the non-profit, GiveDirectly: putting cash directly in the hands of people living in poverty.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Natasha Datoo, a pediatric palliative care physician at Canuck Place Children's Hospice. They talk about the power of communication, the importance of a whole-person approach to care, as well as common misunderstandings about palliative medicine.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by UCLA Egyptologist Dr. Kara Cooney to talk about her new book, "The Good Kings: Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and the Modern World." They discuss power, privilege, and patriarchy in ancient Egypt, with a special focus on how they relate to modern authoritarianism.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by historian Dr. Lisa T. Sarasohn to talk about her new book, "Getting Under Our Skin: The Cultural and Social History of Vermin." They discuss how our view of lice, fleas, bedbugs, and rats evolved with the advent of modern science, as well as the tendency to dehumanize, ostracize, and perpetrate violence against those deemed to be "other."