Explore every episode of the podcast Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by acclaimed science writer, science reporter, and former neuroscientist, Helen Pilcher. They discuss her new book,  This Book May Cause Side Effects: The Curious and Dangerous Power of the Nocebo Effect, Placebo’s Evil Twin. Follow Helen: @HelenPilcher

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by New York Times bestselling author, television host, and medical historian, Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris. They discuss her newest book, Sleuth-Hound: The Case of the Real Sherlock Holmes. Follow Lindsey: @drlindseyfitzharris

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by professor, ecosystem ecologist, and climate scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, Merritt R. Turetsky. They discuss her Merritt’s new book, Bogland: The Secret World That Defies Death and Protects Life. Follow Merritt: @queenofpeat

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, and the author of five books, Dr. Eleanor Johnson. They discuss her most recent book, Monstrous Bitch: A History of Terrifying Women. Follow Eleanor’s substack: @eleanorsHorrors

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by UK based curator, writer, artist, and educator Cathy Haynes. Cathy has been researching, writing, and developing a creative practice on aspects of time for more than two decades. They discuss her book, The Fullness of Time: Marking the Day by Birdsong, Blooms, Shadows, and Stars. Follow Cathy: @Cathy.Haynes.UK

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by researcher, writer, and punctuation expert, Florence Hazrat. They discuss her latest book, On the Mark: From Periods to Interrobangs, How Punctuation Remade the World. Follow Florence: @thepunctuationlady

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford University, Dr. Xiaochang Li. They discuss her book, Divination Engines: Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence, and the Making of Algorithmic Culture. Follow Dr. Li: @xiaochang

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by biological anthropologist and the chair of the Department of Anthropology at Princeton University, Agustín Fuentes. They discuss his new book, Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary. Follow Agustín: @Anthrofuentes

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Professor Emerita of History at Rutgers University-Newark, Dr. Beryl Satter. They discuss her newest book, Cash on the Block: The Broken Promise of Reinvestment in Black Urban Neighborhoods.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by American critic, historian of science, and journalist, Dr. Edna Bonhomme. They discuss her latest book, Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic Memoir. Follow Edna: @bonhomme

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer, and Stony Book University professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies, Angela Jones. They discuss Angela’s latest book, Sex in Public: The Transformative Social Power of Our Erotic Lives. Follow Angela: @angelajwriter

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and award-winning freelance journalist, Roberta Kwok. They discuss Roberta’s latest book, Lost in Curiosity: Field Notes from Scientists' Adventures into the Unknown. Follow Roberta: @robertakwok

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Associate Professor of Digital Humanities and Social Engagement at Dartmouth, Roopika Risam. They discuss her new book, Data Empire: The Power of Information to Organize, Control, and Dominate. Follow Roopika: @roopikarisam

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno, Valerie Fridland. They discuss Valerie’s new book, Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents. Follow Valerie: @liketotallydude

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Harvard professor of Literature and of Folklore and Mythology, Dr. Maria Tatar. They discuss her new book, Arachnomania: Spiders and the Cultural Work They Do for Us. Follow Maria: @mariamtatar

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by anthropologist, author, and associate professor of anthropology at Purdue University, Dr. Zoe Nyssa. They discuss her new book, Rarities: Conservation Science in a Time of Unintended Consequences.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Frances and Charles Field Professor of History at Stanford University, Jessica Riskin. They discuss her latest book, The Power of Life: The Invention of Biology and the Revolutionary Science of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.Follow Jessica’s work: @JessicaRiskin

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist, author, and contributing writer at The Atlantic, Roxanne Khamsi. We discuss her latest book, Beyond Inheritance: Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health. Follow Roxanne: @roxannekhamsi

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by theoretical physicist, and associate professor of physics and astronomy, and core faculty in women’s and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire, Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein. They discuss her newest book, The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie. Follow Chanda: @chanda

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by professor of complex systems at Williams College and cofounder of the QSIDE Institute, Chad M. Topaz. They discuss his book, Unlocking Justice: The Power of Data to Confront Inequity and Create Change. Follow Chad: @chadtopaz

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer and researcher focused on bees, agriculture, and the environment, Dr. Jennie Durant. They discuss her new book, Bitter Honey: Big Ag’s Threat to Bees and the Fight to Save Them. Follow Jennie: @jennie.durant

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Professor, researcher, and speaker empowering adult daughters, Dr. Allison M. Alford. They discuss her book, Good Daughtering: The Work You’ve Always Done, the Credit You’ve Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough. Follow Allison: @daughtering101

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by British astrophysicist and Royal Society Research Fellow, Dr. Emma Chapman. They discuss her new book The Echoing Universe: How Radio Astronomy Helps Us See the Invisible Cosmos. Releasing in the US tomorrow, 5/19.
Follow Emma: @dremmachapman

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by physician, author, and illustrator, Dr. Grace Farris. They discuss her new book, See One, Do One, Teach One: The Art of Becoming a Doctor: A Graphic Memoir. Follow Grace: @GraceFarris

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by neurogastroenterologist, and instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Trisha Pasricha. They discuss her new book, You've Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy. Follow Trisha: @trishapasrichamd

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning science journalist, editor, author and communicator, Helen Pearson. They discuss her newly released book, Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works. Follow Helen: HelenPearson

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by academic economist, and head of the Criminal Justice program at philanthropy Arnold Ventures, Jennifer Doleac. They discuss her recently released book, The Science of Second Chances: A Revolution in Criminal Justice. Follow Jen: @JenniferDoleac

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by writer, anthropologist, and associate professor of African and African diaspora studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Ashanté M. Reese. They discuss her new book, Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness. Follow Ashanté: @dramreese

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Duke University professor of political science, and author, Candis Watts Smith. They discuss her latest book, Black Evidence: A History and a Warning. Follow Candis’ work: @CandisSmith

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Regents Professor of ecology, evolution, and behavior at the University of Minnesota, Professor Marlene Zuk. We discuss her book, Outsider Animals: How the Creatures at the Margins of Our Lives Have the Most to Teach Us.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by behavioral scientist, and Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Julie Minson. They discuss her latest book, How to Disagree Better. Follow Julia: @juliaminson

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist Dr. Caroline Tracey to talk about her debut book, Salt Lakes: An Unnatural History. Follow Caroline: @ce_tracey

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Professor of Social Sciences at Harvard University, Affiliated Research Professor at the American Bar Foundation, and member of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. Robert J. Sampson. They discuss his new book, Marked by Time: How Social Change Has Transformed Crime and the Life Trajectories of Young Americans. Follow Robert’s work: @RobertJSampson

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Bioethicist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, Dr. Daphne O. Martschenko. They discuss her book, What We Inherit: How New Technologies and Old Myths Are Shaping Our Genomic Future. Follow Daphne: @daphmarts  

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science and environmental journalist, Laura Poppick. They discuss her book, Strata: Stories from Deep Time. Follow Laura: @LauraPoppick

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer and media producer, Mindy Weisberger. They discuss her 2025 book, Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control. Follow Mindy: @laminda

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by clinical and research psychologist, passionate knitter, and writer -- Dr. Nicole Nehrig. They discuss her book, With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories. Follow Nicole: @nicolenehrig

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by UC Irvine Law Professor, and acclaimed author, Mehrsa Baradaran. They talk about her latest book, The Racial Wealth Gap: A Brief History. Follow Mehrsa: @mehrsab

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist and author of four previous books, Rose George. They discuss her newest book, Every Last Fish: A Deep Dive into Everything They Do for Us and We Do to Them. Follow Rose: Substack.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Bloomberg investigative journalist, and author, Ellen Huet. They discuss her 2025 book about OneTaste, Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Follow Ellen: @ellenhuet

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by licensed clinical psychologist, author, speaker, and educator, Dr. Jonathan Mathias Lassiter. They discuss his new book, How I Know White People are Crazy and Other Stories: Notes from a Frustrated Black Psychologist. Follow Jonathan: @lassiterhealth

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by American historian, writer, and author, Dr. Christine Rosen. They discuss her newest book, The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World.

In this week’s episode of Talk Nerdy, we revisit a 2022 episode with former Research Director at GiveDirectly, Dr. Miriam Laker-Oketta. Talk Nerdy is joining podcasts across the globe in the Pods Fight Poverty Campaign. If you’re able, please consider helping 3 villages in Rwanda out of extreme poverty by donating to givedirectly.org/nerdy. Follow: @GiveDirectly

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by MIT research scientist, and science photographer, Felice Frankel. They discuss her book, Phenomenal Moments: Revealing the Hidden Science Around Us. Follow Felice: @Felice_Frankel

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by climate change researcher, and Associate Professor of Political Science at Providence College, Dr. Thea Riofrancos. They discuss her newest book, Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer and longtime independent journalist, Melanie D. G. Kaplan. They discuss Melanie’s newest book, Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research. Follow Melanie: @melaniedgkaplan

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by acclaimed climatologist,  geophysicist, and University of Pennsylvania distinguished Professor, Dr. Michael Mann. They discuss his latest co-authored book, Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World. Follow Dr. Mann: @MichaelEMann

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by prolific author and University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Colorado State University, Dr. Ellen Wohl. They discuss Ellen’s newest book, Following the Bend: How to Read a River and Understand Its Nature.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by founder and chief designer of the toy company Heroes Will Rise and a former Professor of Industrial Design at RISD, Cas Holman. They discuss her new book, Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity. Follow Cas: @casholman

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by associate professor in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University, Dr. Eram Alam. They discuss her highly relevant book, The Care of Foreigners: How Immigrant Physicians Changed US Healthcare.