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Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

by Cara Santa Maria

602 Episodes

Cara Santa Maria is a science communicator, television host, producer, and journalist. She is excited to present "Talk Nerdy," a place for conversations with interesting people about interesting topics.

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

by Cara Santa Maria

May 04, 2026

Neurogastroenterology w/ Trisha Pasricha

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

01:10:50

Apr 27, 2026

Evidence w/ Helen Pearson

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

01:06:27

Apr 20, 2026

Criminal Justice w/ Jennifer Doleac

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

01:08:08

Apr 13, 2026

Gather w/ Ashanté M. Reese

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

01:13:53

Apr 06, 2026

Black Evidence w/ Candis Watts Smith

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

01:03:37

Mar 30, 2026

Outsider Animals w/ Marlene Zuk

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.

01:09:25

Mar 23, 2026

Disagreement w/ Julia Minson

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

01:03:42

Mar 16, 2026

Salt Lakes w/ Caroline Tracey

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by journalist and writer, Dr. Caroline Tracey. They discuss Tracey’s debut book, Salt Lakes: An Unnatural History. Follow Caroline: @ce_tracey

00:47:38

Mar 09, 2026

Societal Change and Criminology w/ Robert J. Sampson

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

01:06:23

Mar 09, 2026

Societal Change and Criminology w/ Robert J. Sampson

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

01:06:23

Mar 02, 2026

Social Genomics w/ Daphne O. Martschenko

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

01:06:12

Feb 23, 2026

Strata and Deep Time w/ Laura Poppick

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

00:56:20

Feb 16, 2026

Zombie Bugs w/ Mindy Weisberger

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

00:57:16

Feb 09, 2026

Women Weaving Stories w/ Nicole Nehrig

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

01:04:01

Feb 02, 2026

Racist Economy w/ Mehrsa Baradaran

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

00:59:29

Jan 26, 2026

Every Last Fish w/ Rose George

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.

01:07:55

Jan 19, 2026

Corporate Sex Cult w/ Ellen Huet

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

01:11:55

Jan 12, 2026

White People Are Crazy w/ Jonathan Mathias Lassiter

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

00:59:54

Jan 05, 2026

Disembodied World w/ Christine Rosen

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.

01:02:02

Dec 22, 2025

Pods Fight Poverty w/ Miriam Laker

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

00:57:50