Sing for Science
Talkhouse
Sing For Science is a science and music podcast produced with Talkhouse where musicians talk to scientists about science as it connects to their most famous songs. Created and hosted by New York musician, Matt Whyte, the podcast’s goal is to increase science literacy for as many people as possible by reaching a variety of different musicians’ fan bases. Listeners come to the show through their love of music and leave with a new piece of knowledge. Science literacy and respect for expertise are perhaps more vital now than ever before. The show’s chief tenet is that a more science and scientific process literate society can only contribute towards greater support for more fair, evidence-based policy in government. Sing For Science is listener supported; please contribute today at singforscience.org.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 20, 2023 • 57min
Encore: MGMT: A Family of Trees (Forest Ecology with Suzanne Simard)
A FAMILY OF TREES: UNCOVERING NETWORKS IN OUR FORESTS' UNDERSTORY with Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser of MGMT and Dr. Suzanne Simard, forest ecology professor.In this episode we discuss:- how trees communicate with one another- the folly of industrialized logging- how trees help other trees- Native American ancestral DNA in cedar- where to buy mushrooms in Connecticut
Nov 29, 2023 • 44min
Cat Power: Cat Power Sings Dylan (Nostalgia Neuroscience with Hetvi Doshi)
Chanteuse Chan Marshall, best known as the artist Cat Power talks about her recreation of the historic 1966 Bob Dylan concert album at the Royal Albert Hall with Cornell University neuroscientist and nostalgia expert, Hetvi Doshi. We cover the origins of nostalgia study, the growing body of scientific evidence that suggests nostalgia has health benefits and improves social cohesion with one another. We also talk about the dynamics of food nostalgia and Hetvi’s community nostalgia initiative. For more information on Cat Power’s tour and Hetvi’s work please visit catpowermusic.com, hetvidoshi.com, aclab.human.cornell.edu, and thecommunitynostalgiaproject.com.
Nov 9, 2023 • 35min
Universe of Art | How Star Trek Incorporates Real-Life Science
Special BONUS episode featuring the Science Friday/Universe of Art Podcast! Sing For Science host Matt Whyte welcomes Universe of Art host, D. Peterschmidt to talk about their show, Universe of Art. Like Sing For Science, Universe of Art is a science and art podcast that showcases “artists who use science to bring their creations to the next level.” Following our brief chat D shares with us a very special Universe of Art episode entitled “How Star Trek Incorporates Real-Life Science”. For more information about the show please visit https://singforscience.org/episodes/universeofart.
Oct 18, 2023 • 40min
Encore: Mac DeMarco: Chamber of Reflection (Acoustics with Russ Berger)
MAC DEMARCO: CHAMBER OF REFLECTION: UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE OF SOUND withMac DeMarco and Russ Berger, acoustician.In this episode we discuss:- what sound is- how speakers work- how sound affects the human body- how the brain interprets sound in a space- Astronautical elimination
Sep 27, 2023 • 38min
Ice Nine Kills: Hip To Be Scared (Horror Movie Science with Sarah Rose Cavanagh)
Recorded live at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, MA on 9/18/23: Heavy Metal frontman and horror movie expert Spencer Charnas chats with psychologist Dr. Sarah Rose Cavanagh about his favorite horror movies, why we like to be scared, the difference between fictional and real violence, monster theory, recreational fear lab research and more.
Sep 27, 2023 • 22min
Ice Nine Kills (Audience Q&A MIT Museum Taping)
Spencer and Sarah field questions aplenty from the sold out crowd at the MIT Museum on 9/18/23. Lots of territory covered including favorite on-screen monsters, what we fear most, scary music, and how to take a class with Sarah in Boston.
Sep 6, 2023 • 36min
Eartheater: Mitosis (Cell Biology with Elizabeth Hénaff)
Multidisciplinary artist Eartheater talks with NYU computational biologist and artist, Dr. Elizabeth Hénaff about cell division, snails, horseshit, gut biome health, artist residencies and more at this very special live event!This episode was recorded at DEMO2023, presented by NEW INC and the New Museum, June 2023
Aug 16, 2023 • 52min
311: All Mixed Up (Building Utopia with Rutger Bregman)
311 lead singer and eternal optimist Nick Hexum talks about their breakout hit “All Mixed Up” with best-selling author and Dutch Historian, Rutger Bregman. Rutger’s books “Utopia For Realists” and Humankind” draw on scientific evidence that demonstrate our inherent capacity for good and the viability of ideas like Universal Basic Income, a 15 Hour Work Week, Open Borders and more.
Jul 26, 2023 • 45min
Ted Hearne: Farming (Agriculture Science with Dr. Sarah Taber)
Pulitzer Nominated composer, Ted Hearne talks about his epic work “Farming”, a hybridized piece written for a 24 piece choir with text taken from William Penn correspondence, a Jeff Bezos speech, the Uber Eats Twitter feed and more. Dr. Sarah Taber joins us for a conversation about the impacts of settler colonialism on modern day agriculture, the romantic myth of the American family farm and more!
Jul 7, 2023 • 33min
Ringo Starr: Send Love, Spread Peace (Meditation Science with Bob Roth)
Fab Four drummer and peace activist, Ringo Starr talks about going to see the Maharishi with John and George, his upbringing in violent Liverpool of the 1950s and being saved by music and then the gift of meditation. Bob Roth, renowned meditation teacher of 60 years and CEO of the David Lynch Foundation, talks to Matt and Ringo about the scientifically documented capacity of meditation to cultivate peace for the individual and the collective. This episode is being released on July 7th in celebration of Ringo’s 83rd birthday on which he invites anyone to say or think peace and love at noon, their local time.
