

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria
Cara Santa Maria
Dr. Cara Santa Maria is a clinical health psychologist, television presenter, and science communicator. Since 2014, her podcast Talk Nerdy has been a place for conversations with interesting people about interesting topics.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 7, 2026 • 59min
Monstrous Bitch w/ Eleanor Johnson
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

Sep 28, 2026 • 1h 7min
Time Without Clocks w/ Cathy Haynes
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by UK based curator, writer, artist, and educator Cathy Haynes. Cathy has been researching, writing, and developing a creative practice on aspects of time for more than two decades. They discuss her book, The Fullness of Time: Marking the Day by Birdsong, Blooms, Shadows, and Stars. Follow Cathy: @Cathy.Haynes.UK

Sep 21, 2026 • 1h 8min
Punctuation w/ Florence Hazrat
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

Sep 14, 2026 • 1h 12min
The Datafication of Language w/ Xiaochang Li
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

Sep 7, 2026 • 1h 5min
Sex Is a Spectrum w/ Agustín Fuentes
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

Aug 31, 2026 • 1h 8min
Cash on the Block w/ Beryl Satter
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.

Aug 24, 2026 • 1h 4min
Black Beyond Borders w/ Edna Bonhomme
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by American critic, historian of science, and journalist, Dr. Edna Bonhomme. They discuss her latest book, Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic Memoir. Follow Edna: @bonhomme

Aug 17, 2026 • 1h 4min
Sex in Public w/ Angela Jones
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer, and Stony Book University professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies, Angela Jones. They discuss Angela’s latest book, Sex in Public: The Transformative Social Power of Our Erotic Lives. Follow Angela: @angelajwriter

Aug 10, 2026 • 60min
Lost in Curiosity w/ Roberta Kwok
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and award-winning freelance journalist, Roberta Kwok. They discuss Roberta’s latest book, Lost in Curiosity: Field Notes from Scientists' Adventures into the Unknown. Follow Roberta: @robertakwok

Aug 3, 2026 • 1h 7min
Data and Colonialism w/ Roopika Risam
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Associate Professor of Digital Humanities and Social Engagement at Dartmouth, Roopika Risam. They discuss her new book, Data Empire: The Power of Information to Organize, Control, and Dominate. Follow Roopika: @roopikarisam


