

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria
Cara Santa Maria
Cara Santa Maria is a science communicator, television host, producer, and journalist. She is excited to present "Talk Nerdy," a place for conversations with interesting people about interesting topics.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 12, 2023 • 52min
Planetary Magnetism w/ Sabine Stanley
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.

Dec 4, 2023 • 1h
Against Technoableism w/ Ashley Shew
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."

4 snips
Nov 27, 2023 • 54min
Misophonia w/ Jane Gregory
In this podcast, they discuss misophonia and its impact on daily life. They explore the concept of testing hypotheses related to unpleasant sounds and the phenomenon of reactivity in the brain. The speakers delve into the categorization of misophonia as a neurodevelopmental condition and discuss therapeutic approaches for managing it. They also talk about the book 'Sounds Like Misophonia: How to Stop Small Noises from Causing Extreme Reactions'.

Nov 20, 2023 • 59min
Things That Go Bump in the Universe w/ C. Renée James
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.

Nov 13, 2023 • 1h 5min
Covid Pseudoscience w/ Jonathan Howard
Debunking COVID pseudoscience and the impact on anti-vaccine movement. Navigating the conversation around COVID, fueling anti-vax rhetoric. Exploring natural immunity in newborns and its relationship with measles and COVID. Motives of contrarian doctors in downplaying COVID-19. Examining COVID-19 disinformation on social media and personal biases. Reflecting on the early days of vaccine release and addressing misinformation about COVID-19.

Nov 6, 2023 • 52min
Live from QED w/ Anita Powell
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.

Oct 30, 2023 • 1h 10min
Mother Tongue w/ Jenni Nuttall
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.

Oct 23, 2023 • 1h 11min
Good Dogs w/ Jessica Pierce
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.

Oct 16, 2023 • 1h 4min
Eight Bears w/ Gloria Dickie
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.

Oct 9, 2023 • 57min
Women Soldiers w/ Lena Andrews
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Lena Andrews, foreign policy expert and 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."


