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Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria

Cara Santa Maria 620 episodes Nov 9, 2026

Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria is hosted by Dr. Cara Santa Maria, a clinical health psychologist, television presenter, and science communicator. Since 2014, the show has featured conversations with scientists, thinkers, artists, and other interesting people. Episodes explore a wide range of topics, often through a science-informed and curious lens. The podcast aims to make complex ideas accessible while showcasing diverse perspectives.

Episodes

Prepared Patient w/ Terry Adirim
Prepared Patient w/ Terry Adirim Nov 9, 2026 1:11:42 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 System. Follow Terry: @TerryAdirimMD
Adversity's Impact w/ Eranda Jayawickreme
Adversity's Impact w/ Eranda Jayawickreme Nov 2, 2026 1:09:35 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 Adversity? Looking Beyond "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger".
Placebo and Nocebo w/ Helen Pilcher
Placebo and Nocebo w/ Helen Pilcher Oct 26, 2026 1:12:32 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, Placebo’s Evil Twin. Follow Helen: @HelenPilcher
The Real Sherlock Holmes w/ Lindsey Fitzharris
The Real Sherlock Holmes w/ Lindsey Fitzharris Oct 19, 2026 1:05:25 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: @drlindseyfitzharris
Bogland w/ Merritt R. Turetsky
Bogland w/ Merritt R. Turetsky Oct 12, 2026 57:49 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 Protects Life. Follow Merritt: @queenofpeat
Monstrous Bitch w/ Eleanor Johnson
Monstrous Bitch w/ Eleanor Johnson Oct 7, 2026 58:51 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 Women. Follow Eleanor’s substack: @eleanorsHorrors
Time Without Clocks w/ Cathy Haynes
Time Without Clocks w/ Cathy Haynes Sep 28, 2026 1:06:59 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, The Fullness of Time: Marking the Day by Birdsong, Blooms, Shadows, and Stars. Follow Cathy: @Cathy.Haynes.UK
Punctuation w/ Florence Hazrat
Punctuation w/ Florence Hazrat Sep 21, 2026 1:08:18 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: @thepunctuationlady
The Datafication of Language w/ Xiaochang Li
The Datafication of Language w/ Xiaochang Li Sep 14, 2026 1:12:02 In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford University, Dr. Xiaochang Li. They discuss her book, Divination Engines: Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence, and the Making of Algorithmic Culture. Follow Dr. Li: @xiaochang
Sex Is a Spectrum w/ Agustín Fuentes
Sex Is a Spectrum w/ Agustín Fuentes Sep 7, 2026 1:04:54 In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by biological anthropologist and the chair of the Department of Anthropology at Princeton University, Agustín Fuentes. They discuss his new book, Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary. Follow Agustín: @Anthrofuentes
Cash on the Block w/ Beryl Satter
Cash on the Block w/ Beryl Satter Aug 31, 2026 1:08:03 In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by author, and Professor Emerita of History at Rutgers University-Newark, Dr. Beryl Satter. They discuss her newest book, Cash on the Block: The Broken Promise of Reinvestment in Black Urban Neighborhoods.
Black Beyond Borders w/ Edna Bonhomme
Black Beyond Borders w/ Edna Bonhomme Aug 24, 2026 1:04:19 In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by American critic, historian of science, and journalist, Dr. Edna Bonhomme. They discuss her latest book, Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic Memoir. Follow Edna: @bonhomme

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