Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Latest Episodes:

Amazon Rainforest w/ Hilary Scheppers & Daniel Couceiro Jan 21, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Hilary Scheppers and Daniel Couceiro, both of whom previously worked at Rainforest Expeditions in the Tambopata National Reserve of the Peruvian Amazon.
Hilary is a former volunteer for the Macaw Project, focused on the conservation and management of large parrots in the Amazon rainforest. After her service, Hilary's poem Unbridled received an honorable mention for the Thomas Merton Poetry Prize (Published in Parabola Magazine, Winter Issue 2018).
Daniel Couceiro is a National Geographic Explorer working in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. He is currently developing an avian environmental education program for rural youth in the area. While at Rainforest Expeditions, he was the project lead for the Wired Amazon project.

Honeybees w/ Thomas Seeley Jan 13, 2020

Show notes

In this week's episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Thomas Seeley, professor of biology at Cornell University and international expert on bees. They talk about his new book, "The Lives of Bees: The Untold Story of the Honeybee in the Wild." Topics include honeybee physiology and behavior, backyard beekeeping, and what we can learn from wild bees to improve our relationship with these fascinating creatures.

Letters from an Astrophysicist w/ Neil deGrasse Tyson Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with American Museum of Natural History astrophysicist and science popularizer Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson about his new book, “Letters from an Astrophysicist.” They venture behind Neil’s public persona to discuss the deeply personal correspondence that makes up the book, focusing on themes like faith, philosophy, and skepticism.

Just a Girl w/ Lucinda Jackson Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Lucinda Jackson, author of "Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious." They discuss her personal experiences navigating the pernicious institutional sexism of academia and corporate America, as well as its implications for broader society.

All the Rage w/ Darcy Lockman Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by clinical psychologist, journalist, and author of the new book, "All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership," Dr. Darcy Lockman. They discuss the inequities of gendered labor that persist to this day, as well as the physical and psychological burden wives and mothers are all too often forced to carry.

Science and Authority w/ Robert Crease Dec 03, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Robert P. Crease, Chair of the Philosophy Department at Stony Brook University. They dive into the important topics covered in his newest book, "The Workshop and the World: What Ten Thinkers Can Teach Us About Science and Authority," including history's lessons for restoring society's trust in the scientific community.

The Last Butterflies w/ Nick Haddad Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Nick Haddad, Senior Terrestrial Ecologist in the Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University and Kellogg Biological Station. They discuss his newest book, "The Last Butterflies: A Scientist's Quest to Save a Rare and Vanishing Creature."

Air Quality w/ Marilyn Black Nov 18, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by vice president and senior technical advisor of Underwriter Laboratories Inc. and founder of Air Quality Science Inc. as well as The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, Dr. Marilyn Black. They talk about the science of assessing indoor and outdoor air quality, including the toxic chemicals often released by products like 3-D printers and furniture treated with flame retardants.

Genuine Fakes w/ Lydia Pyne Nov 12, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer and historian Dr. Lydia Pyne to talk about her new book, “Genuine Fakes: How Phony Things Teach Us About Real Stuff.” Lydia describes the fuzzy line between what’s real and what’s fake, sharing stories about nature documentaries, art forgeries, fossil hoaxes, lab-grown diamonds, and everything in between.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria w/ Miriam Barlow Nov 04, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by molecular cell biologist at the University of California Merced, Dr. Miriam Barlow. They talk about her research on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including how they evolve, the impact on public health, and what we can do to prevent or mitigate the spread of infection.