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PODCAST

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Cara Santa Maria

Cara Santa Maria is a science communicator, television host, producer, and journalist. She is excited to present "Talk Nerdy," a place for conversations with interesting people about interesting topics.

science natural sciences

All Episodes

84:34

Anti-Vax Origins w/ Brian Deer

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/12/14

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning investigative journalist Brian Deer to talk about his new book, "The Doctor Who Fooled the World: Science, Deception, and the War on Vaccines." They discuss the incredible story of how Andrew Wakefield's fraudulent research sparked an anti-vax movement that swept the globe.

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82:54

Scientific Racism w/ Angela Saini

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/12/07

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning science journalist Angela Saini to talk about her book "Superior: The Return of Race Science." They discuss the deep roots of scientific racism from taxonomy to eugenics and beyond, including its present-day incarnations. They also talk about emergent themes of her previous book, "Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong- and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story."

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65:08

Bones w/ Roy A. Meals

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/11/30

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Roy A. Meals to talk about his new book, "Bones: Inside and Out." They discuss the structure and function of bone, its iconographic role in art, music, and culture, and our own relationship with this dynamic, yet persistent substance.

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80:22

Why Fish Don't Exist w/ Lulu Miller

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/11/23

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science reporter, producer, and Radiolab co-host Lulu Miller to talk about her new book, "Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life." Lulu shares the incredible story of taxonomist David Starr Jordan, and in doing so, opens up the conversation to the power and consequences of imposing order on the world around us in the form of labels, categories, and impossible constraints.

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94:06

Alternative Facts w/ Asheley Landrum

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/11/16

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by her old high school pal, psychologist and science communication expert Dr. Asheley Landrum. They discuss why a large portion of the public doesn't believe the scientific consensus on topics like climate change, evolution, vaccines, and COVID-19. From pseudoscience to conspiracy theories to extreme denial of reality, Asheley dives deep into the distrust of authority, political propaganda, and psychosocial pressures that lead to belief in "alternative

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73:01

Tree Migration w/ Zach St. George

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/11/09

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science reporter Zach St. George to talk about his book "The Journeys of Trees: A Story About Forests, People, and the Future." They discuss the phenomenon of forest migration as well as the sometimes misguided yet passionate and heartfelt efforts of environmental activists to secure a lusher, greener future for us all.

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65:38

Phallacy w/ Emily Willingham

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/11/02

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer Dr. Emily Willingham to talk about her newest book, "Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis." Emily guides Cara through a demystification of the so-called male member, including its imposed relationship to dominance, masculinity, and the vagina (or other counterparts in nature).

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70:26

Books Bound in Human Flesh w/ Megan Rosenbloom

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/10/26

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined once again by UCLA librarian and Death Salon director Megan Rosenbloom to talk about her new book, "Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin." They discuss the rare practice known as anthropodermic bibliopegy, in which published works are covered with the tanned flesh of deceased people. They bust myths, address medical ethics, and get downright spooky just in time for Halloween!

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72:36

Cystic Fibrosis w/ Bijal Trivedi

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/10/19

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist and editor at The Conversation, Bijal Trivedi, to talk about her newest book, "Breath from Salt: A Deadly Genetic Disease, a New Era in Science, and the Patients and Families Who Changed Medicine Forever." They discuss the history of cystic fibrosis as well as the incredible advancements in its treatment that may one day provide a path to curing a host of rare genetic diseases.

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73:07

Bubonic Plague w/ David K. Randall

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/10/12

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Reuters senior reporter David K. Randall to discuss his newest book, "Black Death at the Golden Gate: The Race to Save America from the Bubonic Plague." In telling of the similarities between the 1900 plague and today's coronavirus pandemic, he shares stories about racism, science, and the individual personalities who shaped public policy for better or worse.

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64:18

The Hot Hand w/ Ben Cohen

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/10/05

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Ben Cohen, a sports reporter for the Wall Street Journal and author of "The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streaks." They talk about whether and when the "hot hand" is a cognitive bias or an actual phenomenon, including its effect on the player who thinks they are on a streak.

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68:59

Death Denial w/ Caitlin Doughty

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/09/28

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Caitlin Doughty (mortician, death positive activist, and author of "Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? And Other Questions About Dead Bodies." They talk about the denial of death in modern western culture, ways to improve mortality salience, and of course, whether or not your cat will actually eat your eyeballs when you die.

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63:58

Industrial Espionage w/ Mara Hvistendahl

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/09/21

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Mara Hvistendahl, Pulitzer Prize finalist, investigative reporter for the Intercept, and author of “The Scientist and the Spy: A True Story of China, the FBI, and Industrial Espionage.” Mara tells the thrilling story of a Chinese company’s conspiracy to steal trade secrets from Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer as well as the ethical dangers of America’s counterintelligence efforts.

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65:18

Science News w/ Maya Ajmera

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/09/14

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the President and CEO of the Society for Science and the Public, as well as the publisher of Science News, Maya Ajmera. They talk about the Society’s mission to promote the understanding and appreciation of science. They also discuss the challenges of such a mission in America’s current landscape of fake news, distrust in scientific institutions, anti-vaccine rhetoric, and politicization of scientific principles.

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55:44

Hacking Planet Earth w/ Thomas Kostigen

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/09/08

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the author of “Hacking Planet Earth: How Geoengineering Can Help Us Reimagine the Future,” Thomas Kostigen. They discuss the hype and the promise of technological advancements leading the fight against anthropogenic climate change.

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66:47

Electric Brain w/ R. Douglas Fields

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/08/31

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by neurologist Dr. R. Douglas Fields to talk about his new book, "Electric Brain: How the New Science of Brainwaves Reads Minds, Tells Us How We Learn, and Helps Us Change for the Better." They discuss the discovery of brain waves in the 1920s and how this incredible science has more recently led to innovation in understanding human behavior, treating disease, and beyond.

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68:31

Biggest Bluff w/ Maria Konnikova

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/08/24

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer and psychologist Dr. Maria Konnikova to talk about her newest book, "The Biggest Bluff: How I learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win." They discuss her journalistic interest in game theory which ultimately led her to learn to Texas Hold 'Em, resulting in an incredible transformation to a professional poker player with over a quarter of a million dollars in winnings.

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97:14

How to Argue with a Racist w/ Adam Rutherford

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/08/17

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, broadcaster, and scientist Dr. Adam Rutherford to talk about his newest book, "How to Argue With a Racist: What Our Genes Do (and Don't) Say About Human Difference." They discuss the racist history of academic science and psychology, what ancestry DNA tests can and can't tell you about your past, and of course, how to argue with a racist.

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82:19

Life Changing w/ Helen Pilcher

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/08/10

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with comedian and author Dr. Helen Pilcher about her newest book, "Life Changing: How Humans are Altering Life on Earth." They talk about everything from de-extinction to fascinating animal adaptations to the fate of the planet if we as a species don't act quickly to right some of our most egregious wrongs.

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64:53

Archaeology of Burning Man w/ Carolyn White

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria ·

2020/08/03

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Dr. Carolyn White, professor of anthropology and director of the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. They talk about her newest book, "The Archaeology of Burning Man: The Rise and Fall of Black Rock City."

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