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PODCAST

Earth on the Rocks

Welcome to Earth on the Rocks, a show where we get to know the person behind the science over drinks. Each episode will highlight a new scientist in the earth and atmospheric sciences to learn more about their journey, what interests them, and who they are outside of their science. Host: Shelby Rader Producer: Cari Metz Artwork: Connor Leimgruber Board Operator: Kate Crum, Betsy Leija Funding for this podcast was provided by the National Science Foundation grant EAR-2422824.

science earth sciences

All Episodes

43:22

All I want for Christmas is my two shark teeth - with...

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/12/26

On the season 2 midseason finale we welcome Molly Karnes, a stable isotope ecologist and lab technician. Hear about a new regional drink - Cheerwine, using shark teeth (both modern and ancient) to understand the environment in four dimensions, predatory snails, how a lab technician is a bit like an instrument mechanic, and a new crossover between Sonic and Jello.

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40:57

Just add water - with Janie Wittmer

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/12/19

Joining the show today is Janie Wittmer, a PhD student focusing on hydrogeochemistry. Hear what happens if you were to drink incredibly pure water (hint: it's not great), what life is like in environmental consulting, how rocks can actually help with carbon emissions, and a recommendation for a potential electronic album of the year.

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45:18

The defense rests (congratulations Doctor!) - with...

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/12/12

Joining us today is the newly minted Dr. Danielle (Danny) Peltier, a paleontologist or geologist/paleoanthropologist that studies human evolution through time. Ever wondered what it means when someone says they've defended their PhD? Listen to hear about everything that leads up to and then what happens during that process, culminating in becoming a doctor, along with learning about the volcanic connections to human evolution, working at White Sands National Park through Geoscientists in

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45:44

Sliiiide to the left, sliiiide to the right,...

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/12/05

Joining us today is Dr. Ginny Gong, an observational and earthquake seismologist studying what causes earthquakes and what they can tell us about our planet. Learn about white coffee, how we can tell the structure of the Earth deep below the surface, what a seismometer is and how we install or deploy them, the logistics of measuring plate movement and deformation in the oceans (which can involve a cruise, some melting metal, and balloons), and IU's connection to CBS's Sunday Morning.

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44:30

You are what you eat - with Dr. Peter Sauer

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/11/28

Join us today to hear from Dr. Peter Sauer, a low-temperature geochemist who specializes in stable isotopes and organic chemistry. Learn about his work on Earth's surface that encompasses living things, geology, and history (both Earth and human history), how isotopes were applied to identify and understand the life of King Richard III, lake sediments and their connection to ice sheets, the art to problem solving and troubleshooting, and the benefit to being curious.

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48:01

Mountain lions, birds, and bears - oh my! - with Dr....

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/11/21

Join us today to hear from Dr. Erika Elswick, a low temperature geochemist and Director of the IU Field Station. Learn about the aggressive squirrels in the Grand Canyon, museum work, legacy mines and Superfund sites (including the Berkeley Pit), a bit about the IU Field Station, and some fun side quests of Erika's including her impressive birding abilities.

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46:27

No bones about it - with Owen Madsen

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/11/14

On this episode, hear from Owen Madsen, a current Ph.D. candidate studying paleontology and self-proclaimed professional question asker. Learn about the Gray Fossil Site, an unusually fossil-rich site in eastern Tennessee that gives us a window into the climate of the past for this region, the importance of science communication and how that works at different levels, the North American lion - a now extinct lion species that is a favorite of Owen's, and the appeal of physical media.

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41:22

Navier-Stokes for different folks - with Dr. Paul Staten

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/11/07

Join us as we talk with Dr. Paul Staten, an atmospheric and climate dynamicist interested in large-scale wind patterns that impact weather and climate. Hear about the importance of the winds near the tropics for our weather all across the globe, orchestral video game music, how we can understand fluid behaviors through Navier-Stokes (and Paul's attempt at a million dollar prize), and one of the (IMO) greatest scientific success stories - the ozone hole - and its relation to weather and

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57:01

Until next time - with Dr. Kaj Johnson

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/05/02

We have a few surprises for our season 1 finale featuring Dr. Kaj Johnson, a geophysicist studying earthquakes remotely. Hear about Kaj's journey into the field, the connection between show choirs and teaching, listen in on a couple of potential new segments he promotes (including a drink of non-choice and a friendly competition), hear from a couple of new voices with familiar names - Cari Metz (our producer) and Betsy Leijas (our technical board operator), and stick around for Walther's

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45:38

Blowing your socks off - with Dr. Arndt Schimmelmann

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/04/25

Dr. Arndt Schimmelmann joins us today, a geochemist focusing on organics in both natural systems and when developing lab standards. Listen in to hear about a couple of close calls in the lab, exciting field work in caves and lakes in Vietnam, his well-known reference materials program (including a range of standards from foods to hydrocarbons to caffeine!), and his views on the current state of the public trust in science.

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48:29

A dose of vitamin sea - with Dr. Claudia Johnson

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/04/18

On the show today is Dr. Claudia Johnson, a geobiologist studying ecosystems of the past and present to understand what adaptations things like corals have made to survive environmental changes over geologic time. Hear about coral reefs and coral farming (or growing baby corals to then place in various spots in our oceans), the role of reefs in our daily lives (even when we don't realize it, like for fisheries, hurricane protection, and the global economy), how we are always evolving as

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43:33

Ice, ice baby - with Dr. David Lilien

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/04/11

Joining us today is Dr. David Lilien, a glaciologist studying glaciers and ice sheets and how ice moves. Learn about party ice - popping and fizzy glacier ice, how ice flows and moves (and how we measure it!), what goes into a field excursion to study ice (like in Antarctica or Greenland), and mushroom hunting!

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42:29

In the AI of the hurricane - with Dr. Chanh Kieu

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/04/04

Joining us today is Dr. Chanh Kieu, an atmospheric scientist using modeling and machine learning to understand weather phenomena, particularly hurricane intensity and prediction. Listen to learn more about all that goes into weather prediction (and be thoroughly impressed that we can do what we can in that field!), the role of AI (artificial intelligence) in improving weather predictability, how you can think of training a model as building with LEGO bricks, and his transition from growing

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43:27

I lava good volcano - with Dr. Elizabeth Kenderes

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/03/28

On today's show we have Dr. Elizabeth Kenderes, an igneous petrologist interested in the stories that lavas and igneous rocks may tell about how or why a volcano erupted (or didn't!). Hear about some weird volcanoes that drew her into the field as a student, what makes a good gemstone for jewelry, underground mines and drilling blast holes, and fluid inclusions - literal pockets of fluid trapped in solid, crystallized rock!

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44:09

I'm gonna make him a proxy he can't refuse - with Dr....

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/03/21

On the show today is Dr. Simon Brassell, a molecular biogeochemist who specializes in organic matter and isotope geochemistry. Hear about his revolutionary work that has earned him the nickname "the Godfather of alkenones", his experiences at sea (including finding out about 9/11 while on a research cruise), the current uncertainties with US-based research cruises moving forward, and his favorite British cuisines.

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44:37

Head in the geoengineered clouds - with Dr. Paul Goddard

Earth on the Rocks ·

2025/03/14

We are back for the second half of our first season! Joining us to kick things off is Dr. Paul Goddard, a climate scientist and modeler who looks at how Earth may react to CO2 emissions and how we may combat some of those changes. Hear about geoengineering, or large-scale attempts to counteract anthropogenic climate change, Cincinnati chili (a warm-spiced chili with things from cinnamon to chocolate - but so, so good!), and a new way to think about golf course design. You can find more

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37:37

A river runs through it (and quickly aggrades) - with...

Earth on the Rocks ·

2024/12/27

On our midseason finale we hear from Dr. Brian Yanites, a geomorphologist looking at how changes on Earth's surface can impact or are impacted by people, weather, animals, and even ore deposits. Learn a little bit about the history of topography, how the geosciences incorporates drones and lasers (and a time when the drones weren't very well received by some folks on the ground), and his time pre-geomorphology as a collegiate athlete playing football.

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43:11

Here comes the rain again (get on the porch!) - with...

Earth on the Rocks ·

2024/12/20

Joining us today is Dr. Cody Kirkpatrick, a meteorologist who is interested in weather phenomena and related events. We hear about the Golden Guide that set his course, some aspects of storm chasing (and storm watching), and his passion and skill for sports analytics and prediction (apologies in advance to any Auburn fans that may listen).

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43:03

Insane in the big brain, insane in the brain - with...

Earth on the Rocks ·

2024/12/13

Joining us today is Dr. Jackson Njau, a paleoanthropologist working to understand how early humans evolved and why. Hear about his work in Olduvai Gorge, a key anthropology site in Tanzania, how our brains have grown over time (as hard as that may be to believe sometimes), and a favorite dish of his - Ndizi.

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38:25

Super(computer climate)model - with Dr. Travis O'Brien

Earth on the Rocks ·

2024/12/06

Today we get to know Dr. Travis O'Brien, a climate scientist who looks at and models extreme weather and other climate phenomena that could impact our day-to-day lives. We get to hear about some of his more recent work, including using climate models, his time at a national lab and how that works, and a really interesting time living on an alpaca ranch.

en

25 results

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