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Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Cara Santa Maria
Climate Change
Mental Health
Science Communication
Science Journalism
Colonialism
Feminism
PFAS
Public Health
Psychology
Monsters
Coral Reefs
Animal Research
Neuroscience
Systemic Racism
Native Bees
Zoning
Transgender Activism
Ethics Of Animal Testing
Women's Health
Covid-19

Dr. Cara Santa Maria is a clinical health psychologist, television presenter, and science communicator. Since 2014, her podcast Talk Nerdy has been a place for conversations with interesting people about interesting topics.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes627Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Talk Nerdy

Latest Episodes

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 Sy... more

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 Ad... more

YouTube

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, ... more

YouTube

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: @drl... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Helen Pilcher
Science writer, science reporter, and former neuroscientist with a PhD in cell biology
Episode: Placebo and Nocebo w/ Helen Pilcher
Lindsey Fitzharris
New York Times bestselling author, television host, and medical historian
Episode: The Real Sherlock Holmes w/ Lindsey Fitzharris
Merritt R. Turetsky
Professor of Ecology, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
Episode: Bogland w/ Merritt R. Turetsky
Dr. Eleanor Johnson
Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University
Columbia University
Episode: Monstrous Bitch w/ Eleanor Johnson
Cathy Haynes
Curator, writer, artist, educator; author of The Fullness of Time, Marking the Day
Birdsong Blooms, Shadows and Stars
Episode: Time Without Clocks w/ Cathy Haynes
Florence Hazrat
Researcher and writer on the history and culture of punctuation
Independent scholar/Author
Episode: Punctuation w/ Florence Hazrat
Xiaochang Li
Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford University; affiliate faculty in STS and Modern Thought and Literature
Stanford University
Episode: The Datafication of Language w/ Xiaochang Li
Agustín Fuentes
Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: Sex Is a Spectrum w/ Agustín Fuentes
Beryl Satter
Professor Emerita of History, Rutgers University–Newark
Rutgers University–Newark
Episode: Cash on the Block w/ Beryl Satter

Host

Cara Santa Maria
Host of Talk Nerdy; science communicator with a focus on accessible explanations and thoughtful interviews.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Beautiful Podcast

    Cara has a wonderful way of having her guests open up and get into the meat of their subjects in almost a poetic, but very poignant, way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Howard L B
    United Statesa month ago
  • All good science

    Great podcast for current science, medical, historical and related cultural topics. Mostly interviews of recent authors. Always based on good science and academic research.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    grdavis53
    United States9 months ago
  • Lots of interesting perspectives and engaging conversations. Love the diversity of guests featured here.

    Podchaser
    5
    parikhg01
    9 months ago
  • A very unique and special podcast that people should listen to.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Larian
    a year ago
  • Science is the limit

    You should cover the HPV Vaccine that came out to help prevent cervical cancer that was so popular in 2010 or 2011. Despite the Catholic Church being opposed to it, a lot of women in that community got it, including an ex friend with benefits.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ray Reesey
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guest lineup spans science, humanities, and policy; great for researchers and curious listeners.
Hosts bring thoughtful questions and clear explanations.
Consistently strong interviews with experts and authors.
High-quality, evidence-based conversations with diverse experts.
Some listeners criticize interruptions or pacing in certain episodes.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Placebo and Nocebo w/ Helen Pilcher
Q: Can explaining the nocebo effect to patients reduce symptoms during chemotherapy?
Pilcher cites a controlled study in which patients who learned how expectations can intensify side effects experienced less severe nausea during chemotherapy, though the symptoms did not disappear.
Placebo and Nocebo w/ Helen Pilcher
Q: What is the nocebo effect, and how can it affect health?
Pilcher describes it as the way beliefs, thoughts, and expectations can influence health negatively. Expectations can contribute to real symptoms, including side effects and anticipatory nausea, and may affect how strongly symptoms are experienced.
The Real Sherlock Holmes w/ Lindsey Fitzharris
Q: I'm curious. Let's maybe take a step back and tell us then who Arthur Conan Doyle, like the real writer was, and who Joseph Bell was in real life, and how that translated then to the character.
Conan Doyle studied medicine in Edinburgh, where Joseph Bell taught him to observe details about patients as clues. Bell's diagnostic demonstrations influenced Conan Doyle's creation of Sherlock Holmes, while Bell's work with Littlejohn exposed him to real investigations and forensic practice.
The Real Sherlock Holmes w/ Lindsey Fitzharris
Q: How did you choose this story to tell, because obviously there are so many fascinating medical, there's so much fascinating medical history in general?
Fitzharris wanted to examine Joseph Bell as a doctor and person rather than treat him only as a footnote to Sherlock Holmes. Newly available archival material, including Bell's diary, helped her tell the story through medical history, Bell's relationship with Conan Doyle, and his work with police surgeon Henry Duncan Littlejohn.
Time Without Clocks w/ Cathy Haynes
Q: How do you describe 'time without clocks' to someone?
I describe it as tuning into the rhythms that arise from our environment—sun position, birdsong, flower opening, the motion of stars—and allowing those signs to structure our day. It's a practice of noticing and stepping outside the constant measurement of time to feel connected to a larger present.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Talk Nerdy

What is Talk Nerdy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thought-provoking interview show centered on science, culture, and how knowledge shapes society. Episodes feature in-depth conversations with researchers, authors, and journalists who illuminate topics from data, linguistics, and folklore to conservation, medicine, and criminal justice. A distinctive thread is connecting rigorous academic insight with accessible storytelling, often exploring how power, culture, and policy interact with science. Noteworthy is the breadth of disciplines and the willingness to tackle controversial or interdisciplinary ideas through thoughtful dialogue and narrative context, making complex subjects relatable for curious listeners who want evidence-based perspectives.

Listeners who enjoy rigorous yet approach... more

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How many listeners does Talk Nerdy get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Talk Nerdy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talk Nerdy:

1. Political Reality
2. Skeptics with a K
3. Skeptoid
4. Cognitive Dissonance
5. The Skepticrat

How many episodes of Talk Nerdy are there?

Talk Nerdy launched 13 years ago and published 627 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Talk Nerdy?

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What guests have appeared on Talk Nerdy?

Recent guests on Talk Nerdy include:

1. Helen Pilcher
2. Lindsey Fitzharris
3. Merritt R. Turetsky
4. Dr. Eleanor Johnson
5. Cathy Haynes
6. Florence Hazrat
7. Xiaochang Li
8. Agustín Fuentes

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