Inquiring Minds
Indre Viskontas
Each week we bring you a new, in-depth exploration of the space where science and society collide. We’re committed to the idea that making an effort to understand the world around you though science and critical thinking can benefit everyone—and lead to better decisions. We want to find out what’s true, what’s left to discover, and why it all matters.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 11, 2015 • 59min
101 Lucky Yates - The Science of Archer
This week we have an extra special episode: It was recorded live on stage in Atlanta for this year’s Dragon Con. We talk about the science of Archer—the hit FX series TV series created by Adam Reed. To do that, we welcome to the show Dr. Krieger himself, Lucky Yates, as well as forensic chemist and former Inquiring Minds guest Raychelle Burks—a.k.a. Dr. Rubidium.Check out behind the scenes photos and video of the entire show at patreon.com/inquiringminds.Note: We swear more than usual on this episode and you might not want to listen to it with your kids. Sorry about that. Or, you're welcome.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Sep 4, 2015 • 1h 6min
100 Steve Silberman - Remembering Oliver Sacks / The Legacy of Autism
This week, on our 100th episode, we remember Oliver Sacks, neurologist, author, and mentor to Indre. We talk to Steve Silberman—who was also close with Sacks, about his legacy and influence on, among many other things, Silberman's latest book, NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Aug 21, 2015 • 52min
99 Marc Lewis - Why Addiction Is Not a Disease
Marc Lewis is a neuroscientist, professor of developmental psychology, and author of the new book The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease. On the show this week we talk to Lewis about the biology of addiction—and what it does to our brains.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Aug 14, 2015 • 60min
98 Fred Perlak - Inside the Mind of a Monsanto Scientist
The science behind genetically modified food is a very divisive issue for a lot of people. We’ve already talked about it a few times on the show, but this week we sought out a new perspective and talked to Fred Perlak, a Monsanto Distinguished Science Fellow. He’s been with Monsanto since 1981 and his work has focused on Bt genes, insect control, and plant gene expression. In this episode, he talks about his research and responds to concerns about GM health safety, risks to our eco-system, and the economics associated with food security.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Aug 7, 2015 • 49min
97 Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis - How Music Plays the Mind
Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis was trained as a concert pianist and is now the director of the Music Cognition Lab at the University of Arkansas. On the show this week we talk to Margulis about her latest book On Repeat: How Music Plays the Mind.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Jul 31, 2015 • 50min
96 David Casarett - A Doctor's Case for Medical Marijuana
On the show this week we talk to David Casarett, M.D. about his latest book Stoned: A Doctor's Case for Medical Marijuana.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Jul 24, 2015 • 1h 1min
95 Wade Roush - How Disasters Affect Science
On the show this week we talk to journalist and educator Wade Roush about how disasters can affect our appreciation of the science behind them—and what we can do to be sure the right story gets out.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Jul 17, 2015 • 55min
94 Michael Hiltzik - The Invention That Launched the Military-Industrial Complex
On the show this week we talk to Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Michael Hiltzik about his new book Big Science: Ernest Lawrence and the Invention that Launched the Military-Industrial Complex.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Jul 10, 2015 • 58min
93 Alvin Roth - The New Economics of Who Gets What—and Why
On the show this week we talk to Nobel Memorial Prize winning economist Alvin Roth about his latest book Who Gets What—and Why: The New Economics of Matchmaking and Market Design.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
Jun 26, 2015 • 51min
92 Will Walker & Kevin Czinger - The Future of 3D Printing
On the show this week we explore the future of 3D Printing. To do so, Indre goes to SolidCon—a conference about “Hardware, Software & the Internet of Things”—and talks to people from two companies in attendance: Will Walker, a sculptor, designer, and educator from Formlabs and Kevin Czinger, the founder and CEO of Divergent Microfactories, Inc.iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inquiring-minds/id711675943RSS: feeds.feedburner.com/inquiring-mindsStitcher: stitcher.com/podcast/inquiring-mindsTumblr: http://inquiringshow.tumblr.comSupport the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds
