Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by natural history writer and author, Josh Davis. They discuss his new book, “A Little Queer Natural History”. Follow Josh: @joshlukedavis.bsky.social

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and professor of history at the University of Delaware, Rebecca L. Davis. They talk about her new book, “Fierce Desires: A New History of Sex and Sexuality in America.”

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by San Angelo-based oncologist, author and Advocate for Medical Humanities & Ethics, Dr. Fazlur Rahman MD. They discuss his just released book, Our Connected Lives: Caring for Cancer Patients in Rural Texas.

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and assistant professor at the Dept. of Logic, History, and Philosophy of Science at the National Distance Education University (UNED) in Madrid, Susana Monsó. They discuss her new book, “Playing Possum: How Animals Understand Death” which grapples with how animals conceive death—and what it can teach us about our own relationship with mortality. Follow Susana: @SusanaMonso

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer and language scientist, Julie Sedivy. They discuss her newest book, “Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love.” Follow Julie: @JulieSedivy

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Renu and Anand Dhawan Professor of History at Yale University and professor at the Yale School of the Environment, Dr. Sunil Amrith. Sunil is the author of five books, and we discuss his newest one, “The Burning Earth: A History.” Follow Sunil: @sunilamrith

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara finishes her conversation with Brown University Chancellor’s Professor of Africana Studies, Dr. Tricia Rose. They dive deeper into her book, “Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives—and How We Break Free.” Follow Tricia: @ProfTriciaRose

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by marine biologist, climate policy expert, and co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. They discuss her forthcoming book, “What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures.” Follow Ayana: @ayanaeliza

On this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by marine biologist, shark scientist, and co-founder and CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), Jasmin Graham. They discuss diversity in marine science and Jasmin’s new book, “Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist.” Follow Jasmin: @Elasmo_Gal

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by body image expert, professor of psychology and director of the Health Sciences Center at Rutgers University-Camden, Dr. Charlotte Markey. They discuss her new book, “Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life.” Follow Charlotte: @Char_Markey

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by astrobiologist, theoretical physicist, and Arizona State University professor, Sara Imari Walker. They discuss her new book, “Life as No One Knows It: THE PHYSICS OF LIFE'S EMERGENCE” Follow Sara: @Sara_Imari

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Historian of the United States, American West & Civil War, James Tejani. They discuss his new book, “A Machine to Move Ocean and Earth: The Making of the Port of Los Angeles and America.” Follow James’ work.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined bymathematician and science writer, Robyn Arianrhod. They discuss Robyn’s newest book, “Vector: A Surprising Story of Space, Time, and Mathematical Transformation.” Published by: @UChicagoPress

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning classicist and author of seven books, Dr. Daisy Dunn. We discuss her newest book, “The Missing Thread: A New History of the Ancient World through the Women Who Shaped It.” Follow Daisy: @DaisyfDunn

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Paul A. Offit, MD. He is the director of the Vaccine Education Center, an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and a professor of pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. We discuss his 2021 book, “You Bet Your Life: From Blood Transfusions to Mass Vaccinations—The Long and Risky History of Medical Innovations.” Follow Paul: @DrPaulOffit

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Los Angeles based nature conservation photographer, native bee educator and community scientist, Krystle Hickman. Her endeavors elevate awareness of the decline of native bee species while shedding light on their intricate and biodiverse ecosystems. Follow Krystle: @BeeSipOnline Krystle’s photography: BeeSip

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist and author, Brandon Keim. They discuss his forthcoming book about our relationships to wild animals and to nature, “Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human World.” Releasing July 16 2024. Follow Brandon: @9brandon

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by former NASA astronaut, retired United States Air Force colonel, scientist, and pilot Cady Coleman. They discuss Cady’s forthcoming book, “Sharing Space: An Astronaut’s Guide to Mission, Wonder, and Making Change.” Releasing July 2, 2024. Follow Cady: @Astro_Cady

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer and author Ferris Jabr to discuss his forthcoming book, “Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life.” Follow Ferris: @ferrisjabr

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and podcaster Nicola Twilley to talk about her new book,”Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves.” Follow Nicola: @nicolatwilley

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by cognitive and social scientist, Dr. Leila Takayama. They talk about Leila's work exploring human-robot interaction. Follow Leila: @leilatakayama

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by educator and learning specialist, Janalee Morris. They discuss Cara’s recent trip to speak at the Western Canadian Reason Conference, as well as Janalee’s work with protected groups in Canada to provide equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility to education and programming to faculty, staff, and students.

This episode of Talk Nerdy is a live recording from Toronto Public Library’s virtual event, The Age of Magical Overthinking | Amanda Montell & Cara Santa Maria. Amanda is a podcaster and the author of “The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality.” We discuss what’s at stake when the psychological tools that once served us short-circuit. Follow Amanda: @amanda_montell

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer, crossword writer and Cornell University assistant professor in the Department of Literatures in English, Anna Schechtman. They discuss her newly released book, The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle. Follow Anna: @annashechtman

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by sociologist and author, Sarah Thornton. They talk about her newly released book, “Tits Up: What Sex Workers, Bra Designers, Milk Bankers, Plastic Surgeons and Witches Tell Us About Breasts.” Follow Sarah: @eyesthornton

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by filmmaker and documentarian, Alex Stapleton. Stapleton directed one part of the HBO documentary trilogy GOD SAVE TEXAS. We discuss her installment, GOD SAVE TEXAS: THE PRICE OF OIL which chronicles the energy industry’s impact on the African American community told through her own personal lens. The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and is released on HBO and Max. Follow Alex: @hellostapleton

In this week’s episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara celebrates the show’s 500th episode with the help of her friend and fellow podcaster Eli Bosnick (God Awful Movies, The Scathing Atheist, The Skepticrat, Citation Needed, Dear Old Dads, D&D Minus). Sourced from listener questions, Eli turns the tables on Cara to "Ask Me Anything" and celebrate this milestone. Follow Eli: @elibosnick.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by psychologist Netta Weinstein. She is the director of the European Research Council's 'Solitude: Alone but Resilient’ project and co-author of the book, “Solitude: The Science and Power of Being Alone.” Follow her work: @SOARinSolitude

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by evolutionary biologist turned science writer, Erin Zimmerman. We talk about her new book, “Unrooted: Botany, Motherhood, & the Fight to Save an Old Science” Follow Erin: @DoctorZedd

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by ocean scientist and science writer, Juli Berwald. They discuss her book; “LIFE ON THE ROCKS: Building a Future for Coral Reefs.” Follow Juli: @juliberwald

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by California-based writer, performer, and trans-activist Julia Serano. Julia is the author of four books, including a new edition of “Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity.” Follow Julia: @JuliaSerano

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by roboticist and the first female director of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Daniela Rus. We talk about her new book, “THE HEART AND THE CHIP: Our Bright Future with Robots.” Follow Daniela’s work: @MIT_CSAIL

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by sociologists Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans to talk about their book, “THE UNCLAIMED: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angel.”The book sheds light on the 150,000 Americans that go unclaimed each year with a special focus on the lost citizens of Los Angeles County. Follow their work: @pamelajprickett @StefanTimmerma6

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist and author Rebecca Boyle to talk about her debut book, "OUR MOON: How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are”. Follow Rebecca: @rboyle31

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by historian and the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought at the University of Pennsylvania, BarbaraD. Savage. We talk about her new book, “Merze Tate: The Global Odyssey of a Black Woman Scholar.” Follow Barbara: @bdsavage1

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Princeton University Professor and leading scholar in aging, Dr. Coleen T. Murphy. Coleen is the Director of the Lewis Sigler Institute of Genomics and professor of genomics and molecular biology at Princeton University. She is also director of Princeton’s Glenn Foundation for Research on Aging and the director of the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity in the Aging Brain. They discuss her new book, “How We Age: The Science of Longevity.” Follow Coleen: @ctmurphy1

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California at Davis, Dr. Charan Ranganath. We discuss his work studying the mechanisms in the brain that allow us to remember past events and his new book, “Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters.” Follow Charan: @CharanRanganath

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, Dr. Ayelet Fishbach. She is the author of, "GET IT DONE: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation." Follow Ayelet: @ayeletfishbach

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by England based writer, producer, and science communicator, Tracy King. We talk about her upcoming memoir, “Learning to Think: A Memoir of Faith, Superstition, and the Courage to Ask Questions.” Publishing April 2024 by @PenguinUKBooks

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by physician and founder of Advancing Health Equity, Dr. Uché Blackstock. We talk about her new book, “Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine.” Follow Uché: @uche_blackstock

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer and editor Manjula Martin to talk about her new book, "The Last Fire Season: A Personal and Pyronatural History." Follow Manjula: @manjulatm.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce. They talk about her new book, "Transient and Strange: Notes on the Science of Life." Follow Nell: @nellgreenfieldboyce.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by neuroendocrinologist Dr. Robert Sapolsky to talk about his new book, "Determined: The Science of Life Without Free Will."

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by KNAU (Arizona Public Radio) science journalist Melissa L. Sevigny. They talk about her new book, winner of the 2023 National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography, "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon." Follow Melissa: @MelissaSevigny.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Sabine Stanley, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Space Exploration Sector of the Applied Physics Lab. They talk about her newest book, "What's Hidden Inside Planets?" with a special emphasis on planetary magnetism.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Ashley Shew, an Associate Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech, who has a special interest in technology and disability studies. They talk about her new book, "Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement."

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined byDr. Jane Gregory, clinical psychologist at the University of Oxford. They discuss her new book, "Sounds Like Misophonia: How to Stop Small Noises from Causing Extreme Reactions." Follow Jane: @drjanegregory.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. C. Renée James, professor of physics and astronomy at Sam Houston State University. They talk about her new book, "Things That Go Bump in the Universe: How Astronomers Decode Cosmic Chaos." Follow Renée: @drcrj.

Recorded live from the QED Conference in Manchester, UK, this episode of Talk Nerdy features community engagement advocate and menopause activist Anita Powell. She tells Cara about her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially for women of color experiencing menopause. Follow Anita: @IamAnitaPowell.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Oxford professor and medeival literature researcher Dr. Jenni Nuttall to talk about her new book, "Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Words." They discuss the history of feminist language from the Middle Ages to the present.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by bioethicist Dr. Jessica Pierce to talk about her new book, "Who's a Good Dog?: And How to Be a Better Human." They discuss the complex ethics of dog-human relationships, including topics like animal welfare, canine enrichment, and end-of-life care.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Gloria Dickie, a global climate and environment correspondent at Reuters News Agency. They talk about her new book, "Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future." Follow Gloria: @gloriadickie.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Lena Andrews, foreign policy expertand military analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. They talk about her new book, "Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II."

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by materials scientist Dr. Anna Ploszajski to talk about her new book, "Handmade: A Scientist's Search for Meaning Through Making." They discuss the science and culture of handmade objects, with an emphasis on the craftspeople who make them. Follow Anna: @AnnaPloszajski.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Michèle Lamont, Professor of Sociology and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. They talk about her new book, "Seeing Others: How Recognition Works and How It Can Heal a Divided World."

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Jennifer Banks, senior executive editor at Yale University Press. They talk about her new book, "Natality: Toward a Philosophy of Birth." Follow Jennifer: @jenniferabanks.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the Director of Strategic Litigation for the Innocence Project, M. Chris Fabricant. They talk about his new book, "Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System," including how forensic pseudoscience perpetuates a racist system resulting in wrongful convictions.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by mathematician Dr. Eugenia Cheng to talk about her new book, "Is Math Real? How Simple Questions Lead Us to Mathematics' Deepest Truths." They discuss the power of curiosity in grappling with abstract concepts in math, as well as the power of representation. Follow Eugenia: @DrEugeniaCheng.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the University of Adelaide's Head of the School of Psychology, Dr. Elaine Fox, to talk about her new book "Switch Craft: The Hidden Power of Mental Agility." They discuss the importance of cognitive flexibility in navigating the uncertainties of life.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by investigative journalist Karen Pinchin to talk about her new book, "Kings of Their Own Ocean: Tuna, Obsession, and the Future of Our Seas." They discuss the plight of the bluefin tuna, a fundamentally human problem with consequences reaching far beyond our species. Follow Karen: @KarenPinchin.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by quantum computing researcher Sola Mahfouz and human rights advocate Malaina Kapoor, authors of the new book, "Defiant Dreams: The Story of an Afghan Woman Who Risked Everything for Education." Together, they tell Sola's story of defiance and courage as she fought for an education in a country where her basic rights were stripped away because of her gender. Follow Sola: @MahfouzSol94817 and Malaina: @MalainaKapoor.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by University of Chicago psychologist Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadlow to talk about her new book, "Thinking with Your Hands: The Surprising Science Behind How Gestures Shape Our Thoughts." They discuss gestural communication, including what has been learned from home signers, deaf children who develop their own sign language spontaneously.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital psychologist Dr. Luana Marques. They talk about her new book, "Bold Move: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power," with a special emphasis on theory and intervention for anxiety in clinical psychology.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Ilana Yurkiewicz, oncologist, internal medicine physician, and professor at Stanford University. They talk about her new book, "Fragmented: A Doctor's Quest to Piece Together American Healthcare," with a special emphasis on patient advocacy, continuity of care, and potential solutions to a broken managed care system.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by sociocultural anthropologist Dr. Amber Benezra to talk about her new book, "Gut Anthro: An Experiment in Thinking with Microbes." They discuss her work at the interface of biomedical science and anthropological inquiry, with an emphasis on racial, gender, and cultural considerations.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by toxicologist Dr. Emily Monosson to talk about her new book, "Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic." They discuss the devastating consequences of pathogenic fungal infection in humans, animals, and plants, including how climate change is paving the way for the next pandemic.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Barbara Rae-Venter to talk about her new book, "I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever." They discuss the fascinating science of investigative genetic genealogy, including how the Golden State Killer was caught after 44 years.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Erin Kimmerle, forensic anthropologist and author of "We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys." They talk about the true story of the ArthurG. Dozier Boys School in Florida, and how her work in forensic anthropology is leading to justice for some of the families.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Cal Flyn, author, investigative journalist, and MacDowell fellow from the Highlands of Scotland. They talk about her new book, "Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape."

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and participation designer Lizzie Stark to talk about her new book, "Egg: A Dozen Ovatures." They talk about her personal fascination with eggs, and she shares incredible stories about the cultural, culinary, and biological meaning behind the largest cell.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by game designer Adrian Hon to talk about this new book, "You've Been Played: How Corporations, Governments, and Schools Use Games to Control Us All." They discuss how gamification is often used as a tool for profit and coercion in the modern world. Follow Adrian: @AdrianHon.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by mathematician and writer Dr. Katie Spalding to talk about her new book, "Edison's Ghosts: The Untold Weirdness of History's Greatest Geniuses." They talk about how Edison, Newton, the Curies, and many more renowned thinkers were also up to some really dumb shit. Follow Katie: @supermathskid.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined once again by science writer and television presenter Angela Saini. They talk about her new book, "The Patriarchs: The Origins of Inequality." Together, they explore the history of the patriarchy, with an emphasis on matrilineal societies and what's really underlying gender inequality the world over.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by history writer Jennifer Wright to talk about her new book, "Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist." They talk about the state of abortion in the mid-1800s and how it is being recapitulated in today's political and legal war on women's reproductive rights.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by clinical development scientistLeah Elson to talk about her new book, "There Are (No) Stupid Questions...In Science." They discuss the importance of science communication in an increasingly polarized world as well as the joy of scientific curiosity and discovery. Follow Leah: @gnarlybygnature

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Kate Clancy, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois and intersectional feminist biology researcher. They talk about her new book, "Period: The Real Story of Menstruation," with a special focus on the function, variability, and stigma connected to our periods.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, professor and head of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College, Columbia University. They talk about her newest book, "The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves." Also discussed is the special relationship we have with our dogs and the developmental stages they experience, from puppy to older adult.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Duke Law and Philosophy professor Dr. Nita Farahany to talk about her new book, "The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology." They discuss the concept of cognitive liberty from a legal and ethical framework, including how privacy and convenience will continue to shift as technology allows deeper access to our internal worlds.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Stanford University professor Dr. Brian Lowery joins Cara to talk about his new book, "Selfless: The Social Creation of "You." They discuss the complex psychology of identity, intersubjectivity, and humanity in a reality shaped by social pressures and norms.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Danielle Clode to talk about her new book, "Koala: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future." They discuss the behavior, evolutionary biology, and ecology of this enigmatic yet threatened species.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer Susanne Wedlich to talk about her new book, "Slime: A Natural History." They discuss what slime is (and isn't), why it evokes disgust, and how it may improve medicine and technology in the future.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science and technology writer Sally Adee to talk about her new book, “We Are Electric: Inside the 200-Year Hunt for Our Body's Bioelectric Code, and What the Future Holds.” They discuss the history of bioelectricity, as well as the promise it may hold for our biomedical future.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer Kristin Ohlson to talk about her new book, "Sweet in Tooth and Claw: Stories of Generosity and Cooperation in the Natural World." They discuss mutualism (cooperative relationships) between microbes, fungi, plants, and animals (including humans) across the natural world. Follow Kristin: @kristinohlson.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by University of Pennsylvania clinical neurologist Dr. Sara Manning Peskin. They talk about her new book, "A Molecule Away from Madness: Tales of the Hijacked Brain," including a deep dive into the fascinating causes and outcomes of various type of dementia.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by accelerator physicist Dr. Suzie Sheehy to talk about her new book, "The Matter of Everything: How Curiosity, Physics, and Improbably Experiments Changed the World." They discuss how particle accelerators came to be, what they actually do, and their applications from fundamental particle physics to nuclear medicine and beyond. Follow Suzie: @suziesheehy.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Gloria Mark, Chancellor's Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. They talk about her new book, "Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity." They highlight how our brains are affected by modern technology, including social media, entertainment, and vocational demands.

Hosted by Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart from the hit show Morbid. When 90-year-old Laurence Pilgeram drops dead on the sidewalk outside his condo, you might think that’s the end of his story. But, really, it’s just the beginning. Because Laurence and others like him have signed up to be frozen and brought back to life in the future. And that belief will pull multiple generations of the Pilgeram family into a cryonics soap opera filled with dead pets, gold coins, grenades, fist fights, mysterious packages, family feuds, Hall of Fame baseball legends, and frozen heads — lots of frozen heads. From Wondery, comes a story about life, death, and what comes next. Follow Frozen Head on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery App. Listen to Frozen Head: Wondery.fm/FH_TN

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Erica Thompson to talk about her new book, "Escape From Model Land: How Mathematical Models Can Lead Us Astray and What We Can Do About It." They discuss the intersection of science, mathematics, and humanity, including how we make sense of data and use it to predict future outcomes.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Samantha Zwicker, a tropical biologist and wildlife rehabilitation specialist. Sam is also the co-founder of Hoja Nueva, a conservation organization that confronts threats to biodiversity in the Peruvian Amazon. They discuss her work with elusive Amazonian felids, as is featured in a new documentary called Wildcat.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the California Regional Executive Directorof the National Wildlife Federation, Beth Pratt. They celebrate the extraordinary life and mourn the death of Los Angeles Mountain Lion P-22. In addition, Beth shares aboutP-22’s legacy, including the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Feryal Özel, chair of the School of Physics at Georgia Tech. They talk about her incredible career as a theoretical astrophysicist, her important work on the recent imaging of a black hole with the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration, and the critical need for representation in science.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Indigenous (Ojibwe) queer robotics inventor Danielle Boyer. They talk about her work making technical education accessible and representative for her community, primarily through the STEAM Connection, a nonprofit she founded to supply kids with no-cost, Indigenous language revitalization robots.

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 create.