Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Mario Livio, astrophysicist and author of the new book "Galileo and the Science Deniers." They talk about the pernicious anti-science sentiment that has persisted from Galileo Galilei's time all the way to the present, including its effect on the planet and on human lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Susan Vinocour, the author of "Nobody's Child: a Tragedy, a Trial, and the History of the Insanity Defense." They talk about her history as both a lawyer specializing in child abuse and victims' rights as well as a clinical and forensic psychologist. In addition, they dive into the nebulous waters of insanity as a legal term and how it relates to mental illness.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by David Shariatmadari, editor at the Guardian and author of "Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language." They talk about the science of modern linguistics, including a lengthy discussion of how language may be changing during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by ecologist and author of "The Secret Lives of Bats: My Adventures with the World's Most Misunderstood Mammals," Dr. Merlin Tuttle. They talk about his lifelong work in bat conservation, including ways you can contribute to the preservation of bat species worldwide. They also discuss how fear has strained our relationships with bats and how this relates to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by philosopher and author of "Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness," Dr. Philip Goff. They talk about the role of consciousness in modern science, including the philosophy of panpsychism, a view that consciousness is ubiquitous within the natural world.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by the founder, executive director, and host of For the Wild, Ayana Young. They talk about her mission to effect ecological change through conservation efforts, advocacy, and storytelling, all through the lens of intersectional social and environmental justice.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Kevin Hand, planetary scientist and astrobiologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, director of the Ocean Worlds Lab, and pre-project scientist for NASA's Europa Lander mission concept. They talk about his new book, "Alien Oceans: the Search for Life in the Depths of Space."

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer Lydia Denworth to talk about her new book, "Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life's Fundamental Bond." They discuss the science of friendship, from genetics to anthropology and beyond, as well as its extraordinary effects on our physical and mental health.

In this very special episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara celebrates her 300th episode with award-winning science communicator Ann Druyan. They talk about her life and work with her late husband Carl Sagan as well as her role as the creator, writer, and director of Cosmos: Possible Worlds (the new book and television series). Finally, they discuss the dire consequences of a planet without compassion, empathy, and deep humanity--characteristics we need now more than ever.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Ramesh Srinivasan, Professor in the UCLA Department of Information Studies and Director of the UC Digital Cultures Lab. They talk about his newest book, "Beyond the Valley: How Innovators around the World are Overcoming Inequality and Creating the Technologies of Tomorrow."