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Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes500Founded11 years ago
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Life SciencesScience

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Artwork for Talking Biotech

Latest Episodes

This episode explores the fascinating history and science behind GLP1 receptor agonists, their development from animal venom to life-changing diabetes and obesity treatments, and the importance of basic research in medical breakthroughs.

In this episode, Dr. Alexia Groff discusses her groundbreaking research on expressing mammalian myoglobin in plants using chloroplast transformation. We explore the implications for food production, biosecurity, and future applications in meat substi... more

This episode explores the cutting-edge advancements in ALS diagnostics and treatment, highlighting how AI and digital health are transforming patient care and research. Guest Indo Navar shares her journey from Silicon Valley entrepreneurship to pione... more

In this episode, Kevin Folta interviews Dr. Erik Ingelsson about innovative RNA-based therapies for obesity, focusing on the potential of silencing RNA and gene editing to target visceral fat and improve metabolic health.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Alexia Groff
PhD graduate focused on plant-based expression of myoglobin
Imperial College London (alumna), sponsored by Kiyome
Episode: Meat Proteins in Plants
Indo Navar
CEO and founder of Everything ALS
Everything ALS
Episode: New Strategies in Early ALS Detection
Erik Ingelsson
Chief Science Officer, Wave Life Sciences
Wave Life Sciences
Episode: A new strategy in the war on obesity - Dr. Erik Ingelsson
Cameron English
Journalist and writer
American Council on Science and Health (ACSH)
Episode: Cameron English-The Debate on Conventional vs Organic Farming
Colette Delawalla
Founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science
Stand Up for Science
Episode: Stop Political Interference in Federal Science Grants! With Dr. Colette Delawalla
Dr. Scott Engel
Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Florida
University of Florida
Episode: The Future of Agriculture -- Dr. Scott Angle
Brian Karr
Founder of The Dust Test and We Inspect
The Dust Test / We Inspect
Episode: Biotech Mold Detection and Health - Brian Karr
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

Host

Dr. Kevin Folta
Host of Talking Biotech; guides interviews and explains complex biotech topics to a broad audience.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 419 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
    5 months ago
  • Science based

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HooperParents
    United States2 years 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 States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Host is praised for clear explanations and strong guest choices, making biotech accessible.
Broad range of topics keeps the show engaging for both lay listeners and professionals.
High-quality interviews with deep dives into biotech applications and policy.
Science-based and educational, a steady source of evidence over misinformation.
Some negative feedback notes perceived bias or controversial funding disclosures.

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 Future of Agriculture -- Dr. Scott Angle
Q: How can universities adapt to changing educational needs in agriculture?
By offering more flexible, two-year degrees and certificates, expanding state college partnerships, and designing curricula around real-world agricultural technology like autonomous tractors and data-driven farming.
The Future of Agriculture -- Dr. Scott Angle
Q: What are the biggest obstacles to advancing agricultural technology today?
Funding, public trust, and the challenge of translating research into practical, scalable solutions are the main hurdles, but partnerships between universities and industry, along with retraining the workforce, can help bridge the gap.
Stop Political Interference in Federal Science Grants! With Dr. Colette Delawalla
Q: What would be the practical impact of tightening control over dissemination and communication of funded research?
If dissemination requires approval from political appointees, researchers would need clearance to publish or share results, potentially delaying or restricting public communication and undermining the public's ability to access taxpayer-funded findings.
Stop Political Interference in Federal Science Grants! With Dr. Colette Delawalla
Q: Could you generally take me through the federal grant process and how NOFOs are reviewed?
The process begins with a government notice (NOFO) announcing opportunities, followed by applications that are reviewed by expert peers. Top-ranked proposals, typically in the top quartile, are recommended for five-year government contracts to support the research, with the goal of providing stability for researchers and institutions.
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.

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-focused show that brings together researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders to unpack how biology and engineering are shaping agriculture, medicine, and environmental stewardship. Episodes span obesity therapies, plant-based proteins, AI in healthcare, data-driven farming, and policy debates around science funding and public perception. The host tends to feature technically deep conversations with guests who can translate complex science for a broad audience, often connecting cutting-edge research to real-world impact. This mix of rigorous science, practical applications, and policy context makes it a strong fit for listeners who want evidence-based biotech insights and the implications for society, business, and innovation.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Talking Biotech. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Talking Biotech and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Talking Biotech get?

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What are the audience demographics for Talking Biotech?

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How many subscribers and views does Talking Biotech have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Talking Biotech has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Talking Biotech?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talking Biotech:

1. Biotech Hangout
2. Making Sense with Sam Harris
3. Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda
4. Ground Truths
5. Conversations with Tyler

How many episodes of Talking Biotech are there?

Talking Biotech launched 11 years ago and published 500 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 Talking Biotech?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Talking Biotech?

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What guests have appeared on Talking Biotech?

Recent guests on Talking Biotech include:

1. Alexia Groff
2. Indo Navar
3. Erik Ingelsson
4. Cameron English
5. Colette Delawalla
6. Dr. Scott Engel
7. Brian Karr
8. Neil Stewart

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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