Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Latest Episodes:

Algorithms w/ Hannah Fry Oct 30, 2018

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara speaks with mathematician Dr. Hannah Fry about her new book, “Hello World: Being Human in the Age of Algorithms.” They talk about her work as a television presenter for the BBC and a radio presenter for “The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry.” They also discuss the use on algorithms in modern society, including her own research into the mathematics of human behavior.

Tea & Empathy w/ Kate Kenfield Oct 23, 2018

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by speaker, writer, and empathy educator Kate Kenfield. They talk about her ingenious Tea & Empathy cards, which facilitate conversation in a non-confrontational and practical manner. They also discuss the necessity of empathy for effective interpersonal communication, with a special focus on social and emotional learning, consent, and gender differences.

Sand w/ Vince Beiser Oct 16, 2018

Show notes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined in-studio by journalist Vince Beiser to talk about his new book, “The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How it Transformed Civilization.” They discuss the surprising and fascinating history of sand, from its foundational role in society to its dealings as a black market commodity.

Dinosaur Comics w/ Ryan North Oct 08, 2018

Show notes

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).

Improvisation w/ Alison Becker Oct 01, 2018

Show notes

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.

James Webb Space Telescope w/ Kevin Hainline Sep 24, 2018

Show notes

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).

Gross Anatomy w/ Mara Altman Sep 17, 2018

Show notes

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.

Super Cool Scientists w/ Sara MacSorley Sep 10, 2018

Show notes

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).

Human Genetics w/ Adam Rutherford Sep 03, 2018

Show notes

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.

Donating Your Body w/ Breanna Cox Aug 27, 2018

Show notes

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.