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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
Coral Reefs
Monsters
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes623Founded13 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 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 Pr... more

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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 Wo... more

YouTube

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,... more

YouTube

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: @thepunctuationl... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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
Edna Bonhomme
Historian of science, journalist
Princeton PhD, author of Tending to Our Wounds, A Diasporic Memoir
Episode: Black Beyond Borders w/ Edna Bonhomme
Angela Jones
Professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University
Episode: Sex in Public w/ Angela Jones

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
  • 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 States8 months ago
  • Lots of interesting perspectives and engaging conversations. Love the diversity of guests featured here.

    Podchaser
    5
    parikhg01
    8 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
  • Science communication is all about timing

    The ads would have changed to Nevada ads when we all moved out here, not when James told you we all moved out here.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    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.

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.
Time Without Clocks w/ Cathy Haynes
Q: What sparked your interest in time as a social and artistic practice, and how did your path lead you to focus on public engagement?
My trajectory started from a broad curiosity about different cultures' ways of modeling time, moving from an art and public realm background into interdisciplinary projects with scientists, ecologists, musicians, and community members. This blend of collaboration and conversation helped me see time not as a abstract metric but as a lived, embodied experience we share in the world.
The Datafication of Language w/ Xiaochang Li
Q: What are the major forces shaping how these technologies developed and why do they persist the way they do?
Li highlights the historical influence of corporate funding, the prioritization of data-intensive approaches, path dependence, and the social incentives that keep data-centric models dominant, while acknowledging alternative approaches that could have been pursued.
The Datafication of Language w/ Xiaochang Li
Q: Do you think researchers fully understand the mechanisms behind these models, or is there a sense of mystery about how they work?
Li argues that while models can be understood in terms of data inputs and outputs, the internal mechanisms are often opaque, and there is concern about overestimating what the models can explain or predict, emphasizing the need to scrutinize the underlying data and power structures.
The Datafication of Language w/ Xiaochang Li
Q: How did you get to where you are and what did you study academically to develop your expertise?
Li describes a circuitous journey from comparative literature to media studies, ethnography, and eventually a PhD in Media, Culture and Communication, with a focus on the historical development of text prediction and the sociotechnical context around language as data.

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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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. Cognitive Dissonance
4. TheThinkingAtheist
5. Skeptoid

How many episodes of Talk Nerdy are there?

Talk Nerdy launched 13 years ago and published 623 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 Talk Nerdy?

Recent guests on Talk Nerdy include:

1. Merritt R. Turetsky
2. Dr. Eleanor Johnson
3. Cathy Haynes
4. Florence Hazrat
5. Xiaochang Li
6. Agustín Fuentes
7. Beryl Satter
8. Edna Bonhomme

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