Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Ben Hauck, creator of FightClimateDenial.com, joins Cara to discuss common arguments denialists use against anthropogenic climate change, and how we can be better armed to fight them. Also discussed: ocean acidification, alternative energy, and why it is so very important to engage in civic duty, like pressuring your representatives to speak up for the climate and going to the polls!

YouTuber Vanessa Hill (BrainCraft) joins Cara to talk about her journey from Australia to America and the brilliant work she does in science communication. Also discussed: the perils of being a woman on the internet, and how the USA could learn a thing or two from the land down under, specifically about elections and healthcare.

Cara is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue her conversation with paleontologist, geneticist, anatomist, and popular science author Dr. Neil Shubin (Your Inner Fish, The Universe Within). They discuss Tiktaalik's place in our evolutionary past, along with new technologies and techniques that continue to unify Darwin's prescient theory and provide new clues to the great tree of life here on Earth. Also included: answers to brilliant questions asked by previous Talk Nerdy guest, young Stella Krone.

Cara is joined by Lila Higgins, the Manager of Citizen Science for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Together, they geek out about bugs (ahem, hemiptera), urban wildlife, and how we can all participate in the scientific process through citizen science initiatives, like those at the NHMLA.

Cara joins paleontologist, anatomist, evolutionary biologist, and popular science writer Neil Shubin (Your Inner Fish, The Universe Within) to talk about his discovery of Tiktaalik roseae, a key species linking all living tetrapods to our aquatic ancestors.

Cara is joined by her FabLab cohost Nick Uhas, who also happens to host a fabulous YouTube series called Nickipedia. They talk extensively about Nick's past as a professional rollerblader, as well as how science often leads to accidental discoveries that go down in the history books.

Cara is joined once again by the President of American Atheists, David Silverman. They talk about David's new book, "Fighting God," including his firebrand approach to atheist activism.

Cara is joined by KPCC Science Reporter Sanden Totten to talk about science storytelling through an auditory medium. They also talk about the difference between journalism and reality TV, their personal identifications as skeptics, and his awesome podcast for kids, "Brains On!"

Author and artist behind Beatrice the Biologist, Katie McKissick, joins Cara to talk about why the visual medium is so important in science communication, as well as how teaching influenced her craft.

Cara celebrates the 100th episode of #TalkNerdy by letting YOU interview HER! She turns the tables in this special #AskMeAnything edition, ranging from topics like depression to science fiction to, of course, her famous two questions that end the show. THANK YOU for an incredible 100 episodes! Talk Nerdy wouldn't be possible without the support of listeners like you.