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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

628 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

Nov 09, 2026

Prepared Patient w/ Terry Adirim

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by public health expert, physician, former Senior Federal Health Official, and author, Terry Admirim MD, MPH. They discuss her newest book, The Prepared Patient: Your Guide to Surviving the Health Care System. Follow Terry: @TerryAdirimMD

01:11:42

Nov 02, 2026

Adversity's Impact w/ Eranda Jayawickreme

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Professor of Psychology and senior research fellow at the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, Dr. Eranda Jayawickreme. They discuss his new book, Is There Always Value to Adversity? Looking Beyond "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger".

01:09:35

Oct 26, 2026

Placebo and Nocebo w/ Helen Pilcher

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

01:12:32

Oct 19, 2026

The Real Sherlock Holmes w/ Lindsey Fitzharris

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

01:05:25

Oct 12, 2026

Bogland w/ Merritt R. Turetsky

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

00:57:49

Oct 07, 2026

Monstrous Bitch w/ Eleanor Johnson

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

00:58:51

Sep 28, 2026

Time Without Clocks w/ Cathy Haynes

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

01:06:59

Sep 21, 2026

Punctuation w/ Florence Hazrat

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

01:08:18

Sep 14, 2026

The Datafication of Language w/ Xiaochang Li

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

01:12:02

Sep 07, 2026

Sex Is a Spectrum w/ Agustín Fuentes

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

01:04:54

Aug 31, 2026

Cash on the Block w/ Beryl Satter

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.

01:08:03

Aug 24, 2026

Black Beyond Borders w/ Edna Bonhomme

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

01:04:19

Aug 17, 2026

Sex in Public w/ Angela Jones

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

01:04:27

Aug 10, 2026

Lost in Curiosity w/ Roberta Kwok

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

00:59:43

Aug 03, 2026

Data and Colonialism w/ Roopika Risam

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

01:07:19

Jul 27, 2026

Accents w/ Valerie Fridland

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

01:11:43

Jul 20, 2026

Arachnomania w/ Maria Tatar

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

00:53:13

Jul 13, 2026

Rarity w/ Zoe Nyssa

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.

01:01:35

Jul 07, 2026

Power of Life w/ Jessica Riskin

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

01:01:03

Jun 29, 2026

We Are All Mutants w/ Roxanne Khamsi

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

01:01:35