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Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

Kevin Folta
Glyphosate
Biotechnology
Agriculture
Cancer
Monsanto
Artificial Intelligence
International Agency For Research On Cancer
Covid-19
Proteins
Immunotherapy
Neurodegenerative Diseases
ALS
Disinformation
Science Communication
Genetically Engineered Corn
Antimicrobial Resistance
Genetic Engineering
Cancer Therapy
Public Health
Machine Learning

Talking Biotech is a weekly podcast that uncovers the stories, ideas and research of people at the frontier of biology and engineering. Each episode explores how science and technology will transform agriculture, protect the environment, and feed 10 billion people by 2050. Interviews are led by Dr. Kevin Folta, a professor of molecular biology and genomics.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes493Founded11 years ago
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ScienceLife Sciences

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Artwork for Talking Biotech

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Talking Biotech, we explore cutting-edge biotech tools that are transforming how we detect and address indoor environmental health issues, particularly mold and microbes. With new, highly sensitive methods, we're moving beyond trad... more

Plants can't get up and walk away from stress or predators, so they've evolved sensitive systems to sense and in some cases anticipate changes in their environment. Now, there's sensors to light, to humidity, to touch, to gravity, to dozens of other ... more

The proteins that give cheese its unique elasticity and eating quality are challenging to create outside of the cow.  However, the team at Mozza has developed a method to generate the milk proteins in soybeans, exploiting the potential massive scale ... more

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Severe burns require specialized care and long healing times at great expense. This week's Talking Biotech podcast explores the latest advancements in burn treatment technology with Dr. Katie Bush from Aveda Medical. Discover how innovative cell ther... more

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Recent Guests

Neil Stewart
Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee, co-director of Agricultural Synthetic Biology
University of Tennessee
Episode: Dr. Neil Stewart-Radiation Sensing Potatoes
Dr. Cory Tobin
Co-founder and chief scientist at Mozza Foods
Mozza Foods
Episode: Milk Proteins without the Dairy - Adam Tarshis and Dr. Cory Tobin
Adam Tarshis
Co-founder and CEO of Mozza Foods
Mozza Foods
Episode: Milk Proteins without the Dairy - Adam Tarshis and Dr. Cory Tobin
Katie Bush
Senior Vice President for Scientific and Medical Affairs at Aveda Medical
Aveda Medical
Episode: New Technology in Severe Burn Care - Dr. Katie Bush
Nathan Montgomery
Vice President of Medical Services at Neo Genomics Laboratories
Neo Genomics Laboratories
Episode: Molecular Residue Cancer Detection - Dr. Nate Montgomery
Salvador Viscomi
CEO and Founder of Carna Health
Carna Health
Episode: Strategies in Combating Chronic Kidney Disease - Dr. Salvatore Viscomi
Emilia Javorsky
Director of Futures at the Future of Life Institute
Future of Life Institute
Episode: AI and the Future of Healthcare -- Dr. Emilia Javorsky
Dr. Steven Lindow
Emeritus Professor, UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: The First Environmental GE Organism Release - almost! Dr. Steven Lindow
Dr. Karsten Eastman
CEO and co-founder of Sathera Therapeutics
Sathera Therapeutics
Episode: New Frontiers in Therapeutic Peptides - Dr. Karsten Eastman

Host

Kevin Folta
Host of Driving biotech conversations with a focus on translating research into real-world solutions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 417 ratings
  • Essential listening in an increasingly anti-science world. Dr Folta explains things clearly and has fascinating guests to talk about all areas of science

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Sasha Napier
    3 months ago
  • Science based

    Great science based podcast that explains it to my level. Thanks for the continued work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HooperParents
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Podcast!

    There are not enough fantastic scientific resources like this. It is unbiased, accurate and educational. In this world of science misinformation, I applaud Dr. Flora for being a steady voice for objective evidence-based reason.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Movie Minifan
    United States3 years ago
  • Amazing for life science lovers!

    Kevin is a great host, inviting experts to discuss a wide array of biotech related subjects. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1657730000
    Israel3 years ago
  • This podcast is timely and helps keep one current on biotech issues. I enjoy listening each week

    Audible
    5
    Beth
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback highlights high-quality guests and thoughtful discussions, with occasional critiques about ad content or pacing.
Listeners value a broad, well-researched range of topics from medicine to agriculture and policy implications.
Audience appreciates clear, evidence-based science communication and accessible explanations of complex biotech topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dr. Neil Stewart-Radiation Sensing Potatoes
Q: How do you make a plant detect radiation and report it?
By using synthetic promoters built around DNA damage response genes (RAD51) to control a reporter gene like GFP; the system senses radiation through DNA damage signaling and outputs a visible signal in the leaves, with transcriptional activity driven by engineered promoter sequences.
Dr. Neil Stewart-Radiation Sensing Potatoes
Q: You've invented a potato plant that senses radiation. Why do we need a plant radiation sensor?
The plant sensor fits into a broader phyto-sensor platform aimed at reporting environmental dangers; plants can act as self-powered reporters that indicate exposure to ionizing radiation like gamma rays from Fukushima and Chernobyl, potentially enabling monitoring in challenging environments.
Strategies in Combating Chronic Kidney Disease - Dr. Salvatore Viscomi
Q: What tests does Carna Health use to detect CKD early, and how do they deploy these tests in various settings?
Carna Health uses biomarker testing (creatinine with eGFR and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio) via labs or point-of-care devices, enabling real-time staging of kidney disease and allowing screening in clinics, pharmacies, and other community venues.
Strategies in Combating Chronic Kidney Disease - Dr. Salvatore Viscomi
Q: How many people are affected by chronic kidney disease globally, and is it increasing in certain regions?
CKD affects at least 850 million people worldwide, with the true figure likely higher; prevalence is rising in many regions and can involve younger populations due to heat stress, occupational exposure, and environmental factors.
AI and the Future of Healthcare -- Dr. Emilia Javorsky
Q: What regulatory or systemic changes could accelerate safe medical innovation?
Regulatory systems should evolve to keep pace with biology, allowing preliminary approvals with strong real-world confirmation requirements and aligning incentives to fund research for under-served areas, including rare diseases, while maintaining safety.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Talking Biotech

What is Talking Biotech about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A biotech-forward show featuring in-depth conversations with scientists, entrepreneurs, and clinicians who are pushing the boundaries of biology, agriculture, and health. Episodes range from CKD prevention platforms and AI-enabled healthcare, to peptide therapeutics, plant propagation, plasmid-based cancer therapies, and biotech-enabled consumer products. The host steers technical discussions toward practical implications, real-world applications, and policy or public perception challenges, making complex science accessible for professionals and educated lay audiences alike. A notable through-line is translating cutting-edge research into scalable solutions, whether in medicine, agriculture, or industry, and critically examining safety, reg... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Talking Biotech?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talking Biotech:

1. Science Friday
2. Radiolab
3. This Week in Virology
4. Nature Podcast
5. Science Magazine Podcast

How many episodes of Talking Biotech are there?

Talking Biotech launched 11 years ago and published 493 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 Talking Biotech?

Recent guests on Talking Biotech include:

1. Neil Stewart
2. Dr. Cory Tobin
3. Adam Tarshis
4. Katie Bush
5. Nathan Montgomery
6. Salvador Viscomi
7. Emilia Javorsky
8. Dr. Steven Lindow

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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