Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by comedian Ian Harris to talk about his new special, "ExtraOrdinary." They also discuss his work throughout the years as a so-called "skeptic comedian" and his work in the world of mixed martial arts.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by filmmaker Kelly Loudenberg to discuss her new Netflix docuseries, "The Confession Tapes." They talk about the psychology of false or coerced confessions, including unethical police practices like the "Reid technique."

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by James Askew, a PhD candidate in evolutionary biology at the University of Southern California’s Jane Goodall Research Center. They discuss his contributory work toward the recognition of a newly described species of Sumatran orangutan, the Tapanuli. They also talk about conservation of this critically endangered species, whose population numbers an estimated 800 individuals, making it the rarest great ape on the planet.

This week, Cara is joined by Natalie Newell, filmmaker and cohost of the Science Enthusiast Podcast. They discuss her new film “Science Moms” and just why skepticism is so important within the parenting community. Topics include GMOs, vaccines, and evidence-based thinking.

In this episode, Cara is joined by Nate Blakeslee, author of “American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West.” They talk about the trials of O-Six, a Yellowstone wolf who symbolizes the modern struggle between hunters, ranchers, politicians, conservationists, and the wildlife that existed long before human beings came on the scene.

Cara is joined by famed neuroendocrinologist Dr. Robert Sapolsky, author of the new book "Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst." They discuss the interplay between neurobiology, environment, development, and evolution in our decision-making processes, for better or worse. In seeking to understand why we do what we do, Dr. Sapolsky describes the very essence of what it means to be human.

Cara dives deep into gender biology with Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling, the Nancy Duke Lewis Professor Emerita of Biology and Gender Studies in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry at Brown University. They talk frankly about gender and sexuality, including a discussion of its scientific, political, and social influences.

Cara chats with computational chemist Dr. Scott Bembenek, author of "The Cosmic Machine: The Science That Runs Our Universe and the Story Behind It." They dig deep into the process of writing before exploring the history and systems of physics, from Galileo to Newton to Einstein and beyond.

This week, Cara chats with Morra Aarons-Mele, the author of "Hiding in the Bathroom: An Introvert's Roadmap to Getting Out There (When You'd Rather Stay Home)." They discuss her work as the founder of "Women Online," a digital marketing agency that brings brands to a powerful audience: women. They also talk about the problems of the conference culture, and what women and introverts alike can do to overcome them.

Cara chats with illustrator and animator Aurelie Beatley about the new Smithsonian Earth series they worked on together, “The Secret World of Animal Sleep.” They discuss Aurelie’s background in science illustration as well as the fascinating process of animating this breathtaking science series. Bonus: lots of cool tidbits about animal slumber!