Cara is joined by graduate student Raquel Nuno, from UCLA's Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences. They talk science communication, water in our solar system, and how a non-traditional academic path can sometimes lead to exactly where you wanted to be all along. Follow Raquel: @raquelnuno.
Cara is joined by wildlife photographer Jeff Cremer to discuss life in the Amazon, including how ecotourism can support local communities. Follow Jeff: @JCremerPhoto.
Doctors are people too, y'all! This week, Cara peers behind the proverbial surgical mask to demystify medical school and beyond with the help of Dr. Varshana Gurusamy. Follow Varshana: @DrVarshana.
Talk Nerdy thanks Audible for their support! For a free audiobook download, visit audiblepodcast.com/cara.
Cara is joined by ex-Seventh Day Adventist pastor Ryan Bell to talk about his "Year Without God" and how he's now spending his "Life After God." Also discussed: how secular individuals can be community leaders by practicing the empathy we all possess. Follow Ryan: @ryanjbell.
Financial planner Phil Ferguson (Polaris Financial Planning) joins Cara to talk about what you can do to protect yourself and invest your money in a wise, evidence-based way. (Hint: start with a fiduciary!) Follow Phil: @skepticmoney.
Dr. Chad Hanson, ecologist with the John Muir Project, informs Cara about current legislative efforts to deregulate logging in America's forests. Myths are also busted regarding forest fires (hint: they're necessary for this habitat to thrive!).
Astrophysicist Dr. Leslie Rogers joins Cara to talk about exoplanets, specifically those that are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. They offer an exciting opportunity to learn about planetary bodies that are different from anything in our own solar system. Also discussed: why Kepler-452b likely isn't Earth's twin.
Science writer Brooke Borel joins Cara to discuss the differences between science journalism and science communication, as well as the ethical quandaries journalists sometimes face. They then turn the conversation to bed bugs, the topic of Brooke's new book, "Infested." Follow Brooke: @BrookeBorel.
Cara is joined by independent author Steven Paul Leiva ("Traveling In Space") to talk about the power of storytelling, the difference between genre fiction and literary fiction, and why it's okay to be a nerd, even if you aren't all that into sci-fi. Follow Steven: @StevenPaulLeiva.
Dr. Casey Handmer braves the broken A/C at Cara's apartment to inform her of the wonders of black holes, gravitational wave simulations, space robots, and the HYPERLOOP! "Interstellar" and "The Martian" thrown in for good measure. Follow Casey: @CJHandmer.
This episode of Talk Nerdy is sponsored by Warby Parker. CLICK HERE for free three-day shipping on a kick-ass new pair of glasses!
Cara is joined by Megan Rosenbloom (Associate Director for Collection Resources, Norris Medical Library) to talk about the importance of library science in medical school and how she's working to change our perceptions of death through initiatives like the Death Salon. Follow Megan: @LibraryAtNight.
Human rights activist Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar speaks out about growing up in Iraq under Sadam Hussein's oppressive regime, the global effects of extremism in the Middle East, and how we can help secular progressives in closed societies achieve freedom of expression and religion.
Faisal is the founder of the Global Secular Humanist Movement and actively works with the civil rights crowdsourcing platform Movements.org. Follow him: @faisalalmutar.
Global health scientist and science communicator Dr. Jessica Taaffe joins Cara to discuss the importance of health initiatives aimed at the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases worldwide, including HIV. Follow Jessica: @JessicaTaaffe.
This episode of Talk Nerdy is brought to you by @GeekWrapped, the world's largest collection of cool science-themed products. Enter to win one of three fun science gifts by clicking here!
Cara is joined in studio by Dr. Gad Saad, an evolutionary psychologist who specializes in consumer behavior. They discuss what evolutionary psychology is and isn't, and what makes us universally human, regardless of culture or geography. Follow Gad: @gadsaad.
Cara is pleased to welcome science diplomat Dr. Marga Gual Soler to the podcast to discuss how evidence-based diplomacy can be used to achieve peace through the universal language of science. Follow Marga: @margagual.
Cara welcomes reporter Asher Price (the Austin American-Statesman) to the podcast to talk about his new book, "Year of the Dunk." It's Talk Nerdy's first foray into the science of sports! Exciting! Follow Asher: @AsherPrice.
Dr. Steven Novella (The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, NeuroLogica) joins Cara to talk about the history of the SGU and his 20+ year involvement in the skeptic movement. Also discussed: the importance of science-based medicine and the impact universal healthcare would have on the US. Follow Steven: @SkepticsGuide.
Desi Doyen of the Green News Report talks with Cara about the culture of climate denialism in America, including who's really pulling the strings and how we can be empowered to effect change. Follow Desi: @GreenNewsReport.
Dr. Chiara Mingarelli, Marie Curie Fellow in Theoretical Astrophysics at Caltech, gives Cara a primer on gravitational waves. She talks about using pulsar timing arrays to detect and analyze gravitational waves, and she throws in some black hole physics for good measure! Follow Chiara: @gravitate_to_me.
Today's episode is sponsored by Audible.com. Click here for a free audiobook and help support Talk Nerdy!
Seth Andrews (The Thinking Atheist) tells Cara stories about his past as a fundamentalist Christian. Also discussed: how to be an example to atheists and religious people alike, and atheist activism in the new media landscape. Follow Seth: @TheThinkingAtheist.
