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Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Science

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.

Location:

United States

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Better Public Health w/ Tom Frieden

9/29/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by former CDC director, physician, and author, Dr. Tom Frieden. They discuss his newly released book, The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives—Including Your Own. Follow Tom: @drtomfrieden

Duration:00:59:06

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Period Brain w/ Sarah E. Hill

9/22/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by evolutionary social psychologist and author who studies women and health, Dr. Sarah E. Hill. They discuss her newest book, The Period Brain: The New Science of Why We PMS and How to Fix It: A Manifesto for Women. Follow Sarah: @sarahehillphd

Duration:01:01:11

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Replaceable You w/ Mary Roach

9/15/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by prolific science writer, and author of eight New York Times bestsellers, Mary Roach. They discuss her newest book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy. Follow Mary: @authormaryroach

Duration:00:59:54

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Baboons and Humans w/ Shirley C. Strum

9/8/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by renowned anthropologist, and Director of the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project in Kenya, Dr. Shirley Strum. They talk about her new book, ECHOES OF OUR ORIGINS: Baboons, Humans and Nature.

Duration:00:48:40

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Arrogant Ape w/ Christine E. Webb

9/1/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Primatologist and Assistant Professor at NYU Dept of Environmental Studies, Dr. Christine E. Webb. They discuss her new book, The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters.

Duration:01:06:35

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Social Brain w/ Virginia Sturm

8/25/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the UC San Francisco, Dr. Virginia Sturm. They discuss her book: Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science. Follow Virginia: @brainsturming

Duration:00:56:29

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Infodemiology w/ Pauline W. Hoffmann

8/18/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by scholar practitioner dedicated to truth-telling through research and education, Pauline W. Hoffmann Ph.D. We discuss Pauline’s book, Fake News, Witch Hunts, & Conspiracy Theories. Follow Pauline: @pwHoffmann

Duration:00:55:41

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Politics of Adoption w/ Gretchen Sisson

8/11/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by qualitative sociologist, Dr. Gretchen Sisson. Gretchen’s researches pregnancy, abortion and adoption at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) department at UC San Francisco. Her 2024 book is: “Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood “ Follow Gretchen: @GretchenSisson

Duration:00:57:54

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Writing Science w/ Anne E. Greene

8/4/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by biologist and Professor of science writing, Anne E. Greene. They discuss Anne’s book, “Writing Science in Plain English, Second Edition.”

Duration:01:03:24

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The Stronger Sex w/ Starre Vartan

7/28/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and Science & Environment Writer, Starre Vartan. They discuss Starre’s newest book, “The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us about the Power of the Female Body.” Follow: @StarreVartan

Duration:01:00:26

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More Than Words w/ Maryellen MacDonald

7/21/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by psycholinguist and Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Language Sciences at the University of Wisconsin−Madison, Dr. Maryellen MacDonald. They discuss her book, More Than Words: How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World. Follow Maryellen: @maryellenmacdonald

Duration:01:05:45

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Forever Chemicals w/ Rachel Frazin

7/14/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author and Energy and Environment Reporter for The Hill, Rachel Frazin. They talk about her book, “Poisoning the Well: How Forever Chemicals Contaminated America” Follow Rachel: @RachelFrazin

Duration:00:49:27

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History of Photography w/ Anika Burgess

7/7/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by photo editor and writer Anika Burgess to discuss her new book, “Flashes of Brilliance: The Genius of Early Photography and How It Transformed Art, Science, and History.” Follow Anika: @aburgessphoto

Duration:01:08:27

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Meltdown w/ Sarah Boon

6/30/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by environmental scientist turned freelance writer and editor, Sarah Boon. They discuss her new book, “Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist” Follow Sarah: @snowhydro.bsky.social

Duration:00:43:15

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Weird Universe w/ Erika Hamden

6/23/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by astrophysicist, University of Arizona Associate Professor, and Director of the Arizona Space Institute, Erika Hamden. We discuss her new book, “Weird Universe: Everything We Don’t Know About Space (and Why It’s Important).” Follow Erika: @erika.hamden

Duration:01:04:47

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Silly Science w/ Carly Anne York

6/16/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science communicator, author and associate professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Dr. Carly Anne York. They discuss her new book, “ The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog: And Other Serious Discoveries of Silly Science.” Follow Carly: @CarlyAnneYork

Duration:00:54:00

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Reefs of Time w/ Lisa S. Gardiner

6/9/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science writer, author, and geoscientist, Dr. Lisa S. Gardiner. They discuss her newly released book, Reefs of Time: What Fossils Reveal about Coral Survival . Follow Lisa: @Lisasgardiner

Duration:01:01:27

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Animal Illness w/ Liz Kalaugher

6/3/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by science journalist and author, Liz Kalaugher. They discuss Liz’s newly released book, “The Elephant in the Room: How to Stop Making Ourselves and Other Animals Sick.” Follow Liz: @LizKalaugher

Duration:00:54:22

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Proteins & SciComm w/ Maggie Fink

5/26/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by microbiologist, science communicator, Adjunct Professor at Indiana University South Bend and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Maggie M. Fink. They discuss her newest co-authored book, “The Color of North: The Molecular Language of Proteins and the Future of Life.” Follow Maggie: @MaggieMFink

Duration:00:56:30

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The Intermediaries w/ Brandy Schillace

5/19/2025
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, historian, journalist and mystery novelist, Brandy Schillace, PHD. They discuss Brandy’s newest book, “The Intermediaries: A Weimar Story.” Follow Brandy: ‪@bschillace.brandyschillace.com

Duration:00:58:37