Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with the creator and author of “Dinosaur Comics,” computer programmer-turned-writer Ryan North. From his incredible new book “How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler,” they discuss how one might build a civilization from scratch (if, you know, it comes to that).

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with actress Alison Becker (Parks and Recreation) about the ups and downs of the television industry with a special emphasis on the #MeToo era. They also discuss her work in sketch comedy, as well as her super cool side gig teaching improv to help people improve their communication skills.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Kevin Hainline, a postdoctoral researcher in astrophysics at the Steward Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. They discuss the nature of black holes and galaxies, the value of science communication, and his work on the upcoming JWST NIRCam (the imager for the James Webb Space Telescope).

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara sits down in studio with Mara Altman, author of the hilarious and enlightening new book, “Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back).” They talk about the writing that originally inspired the book (her Kindle single “Bearded Lady”) as well as Mara’s journey to understand the origins of embarrassment and shame that often accompany our relationships with our bodies.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Sara MacSorley, the author of "Super Cool Scientists: A Coloring Book Celebrating Women in Science." They talk about her work in science communication, with a specific focus on what Sara is doing to promote inclusion and representation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Dr. Adam Rutherford, author of "A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived: The Human Story Retold Through Our Genes." They dive deep into human genetics, including what consumer DNA tests can and can't tell you about your genetic history. They also discuss the sordid history of eugenics as a scientific discipline.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Breanna Cox, the Quality Assurance Manager at MedCure, Inc., a whole-body donation program. They detail what happens when you donate your body for science (education and research), including the care that is taken to maintain compassion and respect for your remains after you die.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with Ben Goldfarb, environmental journalist and author of the new book "Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter." Ben informs Cara of little-known beaver facts and she admits to having never seen one in the wild! They also talk about the ecological importance of this strange, magnificent creature.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with the Director General of the International Baccalaureate (IB), Dr. Siva Kumari. They discuss her role as the first-ever woman to lead the IB, a 50-year-old multinational, not-for-profit foundation focused on delivering exceptional global education to students around the world.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara chats with Dr. Adam Frank, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. They talk about his new book, "Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth." Topics include: how we can shift our perspective on climate change to be better prepared for its challenges, and why we're likely not alone in the universe.