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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

616 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

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

Jun 15, 2026

Intersectional Cosmology w/ Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

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

01:13:19

Jun 08, 2026

Unlocking Justice w/ Chad M. Topaz

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

00:55:29

Jun 01, 2026

Bitter Honey w/ Jennie Durant

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

01:00:46

May 25, 2026

Daughtering w/ Allison M. Alford

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

00:57:35

May 18, 2026

Radio Astronomy w/ Emma Chapman

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

00:58:36

May 11, 2026

Art of Medicine w/ Grace Ferris

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

00:57:14

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