Rephonic
Artwork for Big Biology
Evolutionary Biology
Evolution
Ecology
Climate Change
Natural Selection
Phenotypic Plasticity
Covid-19
Darwin's Finches
Behavioral Ecology
Science Communication
National Science Foundation
Genomics
Thermal Physiology
Sars-Cov-2
Marine Biology
Adaptive Evolution
Niche Construction
Speciation
Birds
Agency

The biggest biology podcast for the biggest science and biology fans. Featuring in-depth discussions with scientists tackling the biggest questions in evolution, genetics, ecology, climate, neuroscience, diseases, the origins of life, psychology and more. If it's biological, groundbreaking, philosophical or mysterious you'll find it here. bigbiology.substack.com

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes184Founded9 years ago
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Life SciencesNatural SciencesScience

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Artwork for Big Biology

Latest Episodes

How can organismal choices drive adaptive evolution? Can plasticity act as a kind of selection?

In this episode, we talk with Pim Edelaar, a professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering at the University Pablo de Olav... more

How do you find an invasive species that no net can catch? What happens to the scientist whose research samples end up in federal court?

In this episode, we talk with David Lodge, a freshwater ecologist at Cornell University and past president of th... more

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit bigbiology.substack.com

What was distinctive about Bob Ricklefs’ mentorship style, and how did he influence his students and collaborators? What were Bob’s major contributions to biology,... more

How have flowers shaped the modern world? Why do we and many other species have such intimate and long-term relationships with them?

On this special episode, we talk with David George Haskell, a writer and biologist. We discuss his most recent book,... more

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Recent Guests

Pim Edelaar
Professor of molecular biology and biochemical engineering and author of The Selective Organism
Universidad Pablo de Olavide
Episode: The Selective Organism with Pim Edelaar
David Lodge
Freshwater ecologist, Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability; former ESA president; PhD advisor
Cornell University
Episode: Conservation in a cup with David Lodge
Suzanne Renner
Emeritus professor, spouse of Bob Ricklefs; ecologist
University of Munich, Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: A tribute to slow science: remembering Bob Ricklefs
Alan Cohen
Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Episode: A tribute to slow science: remembering Bob Ricklefs
David George Haskell
Biologist, author of How Flowers Made Our World
University/Author (as described in episode)
Episode: Flower power (Ep 153)
Diego Vázquez
Community ecologist, Conicet Mendoza
Conicet, Argentine Institute for Dryland Research
Episode: A coevolutionary conundrum (Ep 152)
Matt Kaplan
Science correspondent at The Economist; author of I Told You So, Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled and Imprisoned for Being Right
The Economist
Episode: The cost of correctness (Ep 151)
John Wingfield
distinguished professor emeritus in neurobiology, physiology and behavior at UC Davis
University of California, Davis
Episode: Hormones gone wild (Ep 150)
Dan Simberloff
Gore Hunger Professor of Environmental Science, University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
Episode: Invasion of the ecosystem snatchers (Ep 149)

Hosts

Marty Martin
Cameron Gallambour

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 463 ratings
  • Another unsubscribe

    Yeah keep your free previews. We have gas and groceries to pay for, I’m not paying to listen to someone talk

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JohnTheAthiest
    United States6 months ago
  • Wonderful

    It makes my day every time a new episode comes out- such a wonderful resource for biology and science! 💕💕💕

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    am so C all go go d
    United States2 years ago
  • Serious lapses of judgement regarding the Alina Chan interview.

    They interview overall some good scientists and thinkers who speak well for themselves and their ideas, I have no criticism really. A bit plodding but good for lay audiences maybe not for me.

    However they made a serious lapse of judgement when they interviewed Alina Chan. I have not idea of their motives for doing so when there were several better qualified and reliable biologists and virologists who had done direct work on the topic for some time.

    I won’t obviously spell out the whole scient... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TudorEynon
    United States2 years ago
  • The biology podcast that we need

    This podcast is the biology podcast that I always wanted. Great and curious hosts, who interview not only biology scientists, but anthropologists, philosophers of biology, etc. most episodes are also transcribed in their website and they interview fantastic guests!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anatarah
    United States2 years ago
  • we need this right now

    with so much changing and so much at stake, we need scientists who care about the future of our global community. this podcast is essential listening for those who want to better understand where we came from, where we are in this chaotic moment, and how to affect transformative change in the future. these guys care and, frankly, entertaining. that matters. we need complicated information presented in a consumable, actionable way. congratulations. a must listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    blueback
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many find complex biology accessible without losing scientific detail, and value the wide range of topics and guests.
Some listeners describe the pacing as slow, and one notes that guest audio can be difficult to hear.
Listeners praise the hosts' curiosity and the engaging, welcoming tone of the expert interviews.
A few listeners object to editorial choices around a past guest, while another criticizes paid previews and subscriptions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Selective Organism with Pim Edelaar
Q: Can you summarize how you've expanded this standard theory and what are the main, you know, bullet points or take homes that you think are the, the main, main things that, that the reader should take away from, from the book?
Edelaar proposes treating environments as more influenced by organisms, recognizing non-genetic inheritance alongside genetic inheritance, and considering organismal plasticity and choice as another form of selection. Together, these expansions can help explain biological change beyond the standard framework.
The Selective Organism with Pim Edelaar
Q: What are you plainly, what are you trying to fix?
Edelaar says evolutionary biology is highly successful but does not readily explain every phenomenon, including cultural evolution and some cases of adaptive divergence through habitat choice. He proposes broadening how variation, inheritance, and selection are understood.
A coevolutionary conundrum (Ep 152)
Q: What has TapNet added to the field, and did it outperform simpler models?
TapNet integrated abundance, traits, and phylogeny, but in practice abundance alone remained the best predictor, highlighting a strong neutral component in interactions.
A coevolutionary conundrum (Ep 152)
Q: Why is predicting exact interactions between species so challenging?
Because predicting exact matches requires more than traits and abundances; it involves complex, often unknown rules that govern matching, including context, sampling limits, and unmeasured factors.
A coevolutionary conundrum (Ep 152)
Q: What is often the best predictor of interactions in plant-pollinator networks, beyond specific traits?
Abundance is the single most influential feature; it often explains interaction patterns better than traits or phylogenies, though it doesn't capture all nuances and there remains a lot we don't know.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Big Biology

What is Big Biology about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form conversations with researchers and other experts examine biology across scales, from the chemistry of life's origins to evolution, ecology, genetics, animal behavior, and conservation. Regular hosts Marty Martin and Cameron Gallambour guide interviews that combine scientific explanations with personal histories, fieldwork, research methods, and the institutional or ethical questions surrounding discovery. Guests include senior academics, working scientists, conservationists, and science writers, often discussing a recent book or a body of research in depth. The distinctive approach pairs substantial technical detail with a curious, conversational style, making complex ideas approachable without flattening the science. The range al... more

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How many subscribers and views does Big Biology have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Big Biology?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Biology:

1. The Joy of Why
2. The Quanta Podcast
3. Origin Stories
4. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
5. This Week in Microbiology

How many episodes of Big Biology are there?

Big Biology launched 9 years ago and published 184 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Big Biology?

Recent guests on Big Biology include:

1. Pim Edelaar
2. David Lodge
3. Suzanne Renner
4. Alan Cohen
5. David George Haskell
6. Diego Vázquez
7. Matt Kaplan
8. John Wingfield

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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