Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Emma Asiedu-Akrofi, the Executive Director of the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women's Empowerment. They talk about how society benefits when girls have access to opportunities, including a reduction in poverty and increased social justice overall. Follow Emma's work: @JACentre4Girls

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by paleontologist Dr. Elsa Panciroli to talk about her book, "Beasts Before Us: The Untold Story of Mammal Origins and Evolution." They discuss how many of us have our timelines all wrong, as mammals have been evolving since far before the asteroid impact that rendered the dinosaurs extinct.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined once again by science writer Dr. Emily Willingham to talk about her newest book, "The Tailored Brain: From Ketamine, to Keto, to Companionship, A User's Guide to Feeling Better and Thinking Stronger." They discuss how our cognitive needs are not one-size-fits-all while applying much-needed skepticism to the gimmicks and tricks often offered by the self...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Jessica Nordell, the award-winning author of "The End of Bias: A Beginning: The Science and Practice of Overcoming Unconscious Bias." They discuss the evidence behind unconscious (also known as implicit) bias, including what we can do to work toward a more egalitarian society.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning investigative journalist Katie Worth to talk about her new book, "Miseducation: How Climate Change Is Taught in America." Kate reveals how the fossil fuel industry, libertarian think-tanks, legislators, and textbook publishers across the country are sowing doubt and distrust about the climate crisis, resulting in a young populace suffu...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by University of Sydney Professor of Animal Behavior Dr. Ashley Ward to talk about his new book, "The Social Lives of Animals." From termites to fish to chimpanzees, they discuss the ways animals form societies, communicate with one another, and engage in culture.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by moral philosopher Dr. Elizabeth Cripps to talk about her new book, "What Climate Justice Means and Why We Should Care." They discuss the inextricable link between racism, social justice, and climate policy in addition to the importance of accountability and action.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by neuroscientist Dr. Theanne Griffith to talk about her STEM-themed chapter book series, "The Magnificent Makers." They discuss the importance of diversity and inclusive representation in children's storytelling as well as her work investigating sensations like pain and temperature.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by mathematician Dr. Cathy O’Neil to talk about her newest book, “The Shame Machine: Who Profits in the New Age of Humiliation.” They highlight the pernicious influence of America’s “shame-industrial complex” as well as shame’s role in effecting social change.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by astronaut Nicole Stott to talk about her new book, "Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet--And Our Mission to Protect It." Nicole shares about her time in space and how it continues to influence her work here on Earth, including the inspirational Space Art Foundation.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by computer scientist, engineer, maker, and content creator Estefannie. They talk about her fun and wacky builds, including a smart litterbox, Jurassic goggles, and Daft Punk helmet.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist and broadcaster Mary Ann Sieghart to talk about her new book, “The Authority Gap: Why Women Are Still Taken Less Seriously Than Men, and What We Can Do About It.” They discuss gender bias in work, school, media, politics, and larger society, with an emphasis on power, class, and privilege.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by NYU psychology professor Dr. Tessa West to talk about her new book, "Jerks at Work: Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them." They talk about the types of conflicts you're likely to encounter in the workplace and evidence-based approaches for dealing with toxic bosses, annoying coworkers, and all-around jerks at work.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by futurist Amy Webb to talk about her new book, "The Genesis Machine: Our Quest to Rewrite Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology." They discuss the promises of a future shaped by synthetic biology, as well as the risks and unintended consequences such a future may hold.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Sidarta Ribeiro, professor of neuroscience and founder of the Brain Institute at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in Natal, Brazil. They talk about his new book, "The Oracle of Night: The History and Science of Dreams." Topics include what dreaming is (and isn't), why we dream, and what contemporary neuroscience, biochemistry, and g...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Florence Williams to talk about her new book, “Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey.” They discuss what happens to your brain and body when grieving the loss of love, with a special focus on healing after loneliness.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Brendan Borrell, author of “The First Shots: The Epic Rivalries and Heroic Science Behind the Race to the Coronavirus Vaccine.” They highlight the incredible global achievement of developing multiple mRNA vaccines effective against a deadly new virus. Also discussed: how America’s audacious goals were accomplished against a political backdrop of...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Anthony Harris, owner of HFit Health and board-certified physician in occupational and environmental medicine. They talk about the American healthcare system with a special focus on COVID-19 and wellness disparities.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist Jude Stewart to talk about her new book, "Revelations in Air: A Guidebook to Smell." They talk about the biology, physics, chemistry, psychology, and even the art of olfaction, a sense about which we have so much more to learn.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by physicist and science writer Laurie Winkless to talk about her new book, "Sticky: The Secret Science of Surfaces." They discuss the role of friction in stickiness, why different surfaces stick differently, and how scientists and engineers use this information to create innovative materials.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by University of Oregon Biophysicist Dr. Raghuveer Parthasarathy to talk about his new book, "So Simple a Beginning: How Four Physical Principles Shape Our Living World." They discuss how the principles of self-assembly, regulatory circuits, predictable randomness, and scaling underpin all of life on Earth.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Stella Kafka, the Chief Executive Officer and Director of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). They talk about what variable stars are, why they matter, and how you can be involved in global citizen science efforts!

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Talya Miron-Shatz, author of “Your Life Depends on It: What You Can Do to Make Better Choices About Your Health.” They discuss the power and purpose of medical decision-making, with a focus on improving our choices through increased comprehension, compassion, and self-efficacy.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Health Program, Dr. Sarah Olson. They talk about the link between human activity and emerging zoonotic pathogens, including her work on Ebola in hammer-headed fruit bats and coronaviruses in rodents.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Larisa DeSantis, paleontologist and associate professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University. They talk about the devastating effects of climate change on both living and extinct species, as well as the remote possibility for a warming arctic full of "pizzly bears."