Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by  Professor of Psychology and senior research fellow at the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, Dr. Eranda Jayawickreme. They discuss his new book, Is There Always Value to Adversity? Looking Beyond "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger".

Helen Pilcher is a science writer and former neuroscientist with a PhD in cell biology. She explores the nocebo effect, placebo expectations, and how mind and body interact in illness. They discuss cancer, anticipatory nausea during chemotherapy, open-label placebos, patient communication, medical disclosure, empathy, and the powerful role of words and therapeutic relationships in care.

Lindsey Fitzharris, medical historian, bestselling author, and television presenter, explores the real-life inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes: surgeon Joseph Bell. They discuss Victorian forensics, Bell’s crime-solving partnership, Conan Doyle’s medical training, and how archives reveal the line between historical evidence and legend. They also examine medical breakthroughs, patient care, and the craft of turning research into compelling narrative nonfiction.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by professor, ecosystem ecologist, and climate scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, Merritt R. Turetsky. They discuss her Merritt’s new book, Bogland: The Secret World That Defies Death and Protects Life. Follow Merritt: @queenofpeat

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, and the author of five books, Dr. Eleanor Johnson. They discuss her most recent book, Monstrous Bitch: A History of Terrifying Women. Follow Eleanor’s substack: @eleanorsHorrors

Cathy Haynes is a UK-based curator, writer, artist, and educator exploring how we experience time. She discusses natural rhythms beyond clocks, historical sleep patterns, twilight, artificial light, and sun-based timekeeping. They explore work songs, flowers as living clocks, the social value of inefficiency, and how noticing birdsong, stars, and ordinary moments can reshape our relationship with time.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by researcher, writer, and punctuation expert, Florence Hazrat. They discuss her latest book, On the Mark: From Periods to Interrobangs, How Punctuation Remade the World. Follow Florence: @thepunctuationlady

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford University, Dr. Xiaochang Li. They discuss her book, Divination Engines: Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence, and the Making of Algorithmic Culture. Follow Dr. Li: @xiaochang

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by biological anthropologist and the chair of the Department of Anthropology at Princeton University, Agustín Fuentes. They discuss his new book, Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary. Follow Agustín: @Anthrofuentes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Professor Emerita of History at Rutgers University-Newark, Dr. Beryl Satter. They discuss her newest book, Cash on the Block: The Broken Promise of Reinvestment in Black Urban Neighborhoods.