Best Sciencecommunication Podcasts (2024)

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Think Alike: A Neuronline Podcast 0:45

5h ago0:45

0:45

Welcome to Think Alike, a podcast series from Neuronline that delves into the art and science of mentorship within the neuroscience community. Join for candid conversations between mentors and mentees as they share their personal stories, challenges, and triumphs, while offering valuable insights and strategies for success at every career stage. Fr…

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#33 JNeurosci Spotlight: Structural Fingerprinting of the Frontal Aslant Tract: Predicting Cognitive Control Capacity and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms 47:05

5h ago47:05

47:05

Danni Wang, Yihong Yang, and Yao Li discuss their paper, “Structural Fingerprinting of the Frontal Aslant Tract: Predicting Cognitive Control Capacity and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms,” published in Vol. 43, Issue 42 of JNeurosci in 2023, with Megan Sansevere from SfN’s Journals’ staff. Find the rest of the Spotlight collection here. With special …

1
#32 JNeurosci Spotlight: Interchangeable Role of Motor Cortex and Reafference for the Stable Execution of an Orofacial Action 39:14

7d ago39:14

39:14

Michaël Elbaz discusses his paper, “Interchangeable Role of Motor Cortex and Reafference for the Stable Execution of an Orofacial Action,” published in Vol. 43, Issue 30 of JNeurosci in 2023, with Megan Sansevere from SfN’s Journals’ staff. Find the rest of the Spotlight collection here. With special guest: Michaël Elbaz Hosted by: Megan Sansevere …

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#31 Surprising Findings From a Side Project: Orphan Receptor Shows Promise for Treating Alcohol Dependence 44:20

14d ago44:20

44:20

This year, eNeuro is celebrating 10 years of publishing by highlighting select papers from throughout its history. This episode features a 2018 paper titled “Systemic and Intra-Habenular Activation of the Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR139 Decreases Compulsive-Like Alcohol Drinking and Hyperalgesia in Alcohol-Dependent Rats” and showcases int…

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#202 Outlaw Ocean – Ian Urbina’s Book is STS1Book for 2024-25 | WeAreSTS 41:55

16d ago41:55

41:55

Ian Urbina’s 2019 book, Outlaw Ocean, brilliantly investigates hidden worlds of human activity on the high seas. From modern day pirates and traffickers to gargantuan fishing fleets to “freedom-loving” recluses and entrepreneurs, his stories build on the idea of oceans as lawless spaces well beyond the awareness of most people. He documents extreme…

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#201 Dark Matter and the Search for Elusive Evidence | WeAreSTS 29:05

1M ago29:05

29:05

What is dark matter? Mary Westover investigates, featuring insights from Dr. Joe McLaughlin and Dr. Marcello Messina. She visits the Gran Sasso Laboratory in Italy to understand how a research lab sunk deep into a mountain and holding a giant tank of liquid Xenon holds the promise of evidence for this most elusive substance. From the lab's mountain…

1
54: Science of The Phantom Menace at the Fleet Science Center 52:10

1M ago52:10

52:10

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we take the show on the road to the local science center's dome theater to talk about the science of Episode I. The panel includes neuroscientist Ashley Juavinett, cell biologist Claire Meaders, paleontologist Gabriel-Philip Santos, and engineer Mike Tolley. We chat midi-chlorians (of course) and whether they've…

1
#30 Prefrontal Regulation of Safety Learning during Ethologically Relevant Thermal Threat 1:02:08

1M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

Anthony Burgos-Robles and Ada Felix-Ortiz discuss their paper, “Prefrontal Regulation of Safety Learning during Ethologically Relevant Thermal Threat,” published in Vol. 11, Issue 2 of eNeuro, with Editor-in-Chief Christophe Bernard. Find our upcoming webinar schedule here. With special guests: Anthony Burgos-Robles and Ada Felix-Ortiz Hosted by: C…

1
Season 2 Trailer 2:19

2M ago2:19

2:19

Well, the wait is over. The time has come. Season 2 of WeAreSTS is on its way. This season we’ll feature some cracking projects from STS students. And we’ll have conversations with all sorts of folks here in the department. I’m gonna sneak in a few bonuses too, just to add that tiny bit of sparkle. WeAreSTS is your window into science and technolog…

1
#29 JNeurosci Spotlight: Subgenual and Hippocampal Pathways in Amygdala Are Set to Balance Affect and Context Processing 37:10

2M ago37:10

37:10

Mary Kate Joyce discusses her paper, “Subgenual and Hippocampal Pathways in Amygdala Are Set to Balance Affect and Context Processing,” published in Vol. 43, Issue 17 of JNeurosci in 2023, with Megan Sansevere from SfN’s Journals’ staff. Find the rest of the Spotlight collection here. With special guest: Mary Kate Joyce Hosted by: Megan Sansevere O…

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53: Urban Ecology with Sawyeurism 40:24

2M ago40:24

40:24

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we're joined by Sawyer Markham to talk about urban ecology! Known as @Sawyeurism online, our expert this month breaks down her love of delving into the science of Star Wars, just like hosts James and Melissa. Sawyer talks the effects of urbanization and climate change on reptiles and amphibians and also shares s…

1
Storytelling: A Way to Rebuild Science in the Public Mind 41:46

3M ago41:46

41:46

This special storytelling episode is filled with AAAS STPF fellows sharing personal, funny, enlightening, and science-based stories. The STEAM Team Affinity Group and Sci on the Fly recently co-sponsored a workshop for current AAAS STPF fellows and alumni titled, “Storytelling: A Way to Rebuild Science in the Public Mind”. This event was designed t…

1
#28 JNeurosci Spotlight: Differential Patterns of Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens Caused by Continuous and Interrupted Morphine Exposure 29:27

3M ago29:27

29:27

Emilia Lefevre discusses her paper, “Differential Patterns of Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens Caused by Continuous and Interrupted Morphine Exposure,” published in Vol. 43, Issue 2 of JNeurosci in 2023, with Megan Sansevere from SfN’s Journals’ staff. Find the rest of the Spotlight collection here. With special guest: Emilia Lefevre Ho…

1
#27 JNeurosci Spotlight: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors within Cells: Temporal Resolution in Cytoplasm, Endoplasmic Reticulum, and Membrane 40:31

3M ago40:31

40:31

Aaron Nichols discusses his paper, “Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors within Cells: Temporal Resolution in Cytoplasm, Endoplasmic Reticulum, and Membrane,” published in Vol. 43, Issue 13 of JNeurosci in 2023, with Megan Sansevere from SfN’s Journals’ staff. Find the rest of the Spotlight collection here. With special guest: Aaron Nichols Host…

1
52: Marine Biology 47:02

3M ago47:02

47:02

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we're joined by Gabriel-Philip Santos to talk about marine biology! Star Warsologies dives deep into the marine biology of Star Wars. Think water planets like Mon Cala and Kamino. As Qui-Gon says, there's always a bigger fish! We answer such pressing questions as: Are those thicc thala-sirens evolutionarily viab…

1
#26 Sea slugs, memory, and challenging dogma: Glanzman et al. 6 years later 57:56

3M ago57:56

57:56

This year eNeuro is celebrating 10 years of publishing by highlighting select papers from throughout its history. This episode features a 2018 paper titled, "RNA from Trained Aplysia Can Induce an Epigenetic Engram for Long-Term Sensitization in Untrained Aplysia," and showcases interviews with David Glanzman and Alexis Bédécarrats. With special gu…

1
Reclaiming Heritage as a Mixtec Scholar: A Conversation with Dr. Omar Aguilar 27:30

3M ago27:30

27:30

In this episode, AAAS STPF fellow Jose Hurtado sits down with Dr. Omar Aguilar, a Mixtec archaeologist from Oaxaca, to discuss his innovative approach to science communication through the lens of his film "Sacred Skins." Dr. Aguilar shares his journey of reappropriating Mixtec heritage and language, the challenges of balancing academic research wit…

1
Navigating AI Policy and Ethics with Dr. Ravit Dotan 26:09

3M ago26:09

26:09

In this podcast, we explore the rapidly evolving landscape of AI policy and ethics with Dr. Ravit Dotan. With AAAS STPF fellow Jose Hurtado, the two begin by discussing how AI policy has become a major topic in recent headlines, sharing insights on the importance of integrating ethics into AI development and policymaking. They delve into the challe…

1
51: Car Culture in Star Wars 36:46

4M ago36:46

36:46

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we're joined by the curator of the San Diego Automotive Museum and chat about ships, speeders, and other vehicles in Star Wars! What does the state of the Millennium Falcon say about Han Solo, especially since we know it was much nicer when Lando owned it? Why is it important that the Imperial and Rebel are so d…

1
#25 Neuronal Population Encoding of Identity in Primate Prefrontal Cortex 1:01:01

4M ago1:01:01

1:01:01

Keshov Sharma and Lizabeth Romanski discuss their paper, “Neuronal Population Encoding of Identity in Primate Prefrontal Cortex,” published in Vol. 44, Issue 6 of JNeurosci, with Editor-in-Chief Cabine Kastner. Find our upcoming webinar schedule here. With special guests: Keshov Sharma and Lizabeth Romanski Hosted by: Sabine Kastner On Neuro Curren…

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#24 Progressive Peer Review: A Conversation Between Two Editors-in-Chief 45:02

5M ago45:02

45:02

In this episode, the Editors-in-Chief of the Journal of Neuroscience and eNeuro, Sabine Kastner and Christophe Bernard, discuss the importance of peer review and the progressive review models they have worked to implement at their respective journals. Both agree that, while imperfect, peer review is still a valuable part of the research process. Li…

1
50: Environmental Apocalypse 41:15

5M ago41:15

41:15

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we hear from an ornithologist about birds in Star Wars, along with invasive species and extinction events! Justin Hite joins us for this episode to chat about his career studying birds and the environmental chaos they put up with. We get into whether Rey was exposed to harmful chemicals during her years salvagin…

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49: Empathy and Compassion 38:44

6M ago38:44

38:44

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we learn the difference between empathy, compassion, and sympathy and how each is represented in Star Wars! Professor Maureen Day shares her insights with James and Melissa about virtue ethics and vices, and their roles in our galaxy and in Star Wars. Can we forgive the atrocities of Vader and Kylo Ren knowing t…

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48: Conflict Resolution in Star Wars 50:22

7M ago50:22

50:22

In this episode of Star Warsologies, conflict resolution experts weigh in on the wars, negotiations, and other conflicts in Star Wars! Jen Reynolds and Noam Ebner authored the book "Star Wars and Conflict Resolution: There Are Alternatives To Fighting" and speak with us about the lessons we can learn from Padme, Obi-Wan, and other characters who fi…

1
“But Does It Change Anything?”: A Conversation with Dr. Irma McClaurin on Science, Policy and Writing to Change the World 31:07

8M ago31:07

31:07

“Change minds, change hearts, change behavior, achieve transformation.” That’s bio-cultural anthropologist Dr. Irma McClaurin’s motto and through writing and science communication, she’s been able to achieve that. STPF alum Saira Mehmood and current STPF fellow Meryleen Mena, both anthropologists, have a conversation with Irma McClaurin, who is als…

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47: Anthropology in Alien Design 46:51

8M ago46:51

46:51

In this episode of Star Warsologies, an anatomy professor weighs in on the importance of designing aliens that make sense! Dr. Elizabeth Rega is an anatomy professor who consults on movies and video games to help creators add an element of realism to their projects. She worked on Mulan, The Emperor's New Groove, and even the Madden series. Melissa …

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#23 Writing a Computational Neuroscience Manuscript for The Journal of Neuroscience 59:56

8M ago59:56

59:56

JNeurosci Reviewing Editors Bruno Averbeck and Anne-Marie Oswald discuss best practices for writing computational neuroscience papers for The Journal of Neuroscience. They offer tips and strategies for how to organize the paper and clearly present technical material to the broad neuroscience community that is the readership of the journal. To see t…

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11: FasTEN Your Seat Belts, with science advisor Erin Macdonald 1:21:22

9M ago1:21:22

1:21:22

It's the finale! Lisa and Melissa chat about the physics of the final franchise installment (for now). They're joined by Dr. Erin Macdonald, the science advisor for all the current Star Trek shows. Together, they answer important questions like, is a dam just a vertical road? Do bad guys make good shock absorbers in plummeting elevators? Just how m…

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10: F9: The Facts Saga, with Bobak Ferdowsi from NASA 59:28

9M ago59:28

59:28

Faaaaaaaacts in Spaaaaaace! Melissa and Lisa welcome NASA JPL systems engineer Bobak Ferdowsi (aka the Mohawk Guy!) to chat about the pros and cons of launching a Pontiac Fiero into space. But that's not the only physics nonsense in this movie - there's also magnets, mines, and more! As Bobak eloquently states, the science of Fast & Furious movies …

1
9: Hobbs & Shaw-ence, with experts in immunology and medical devices 1:13:24

9M ago1:13:24

1:13:24

Does Brixton's heads-up display actually give him helpful information? Can you really hold a helicopter down with a tow truck? Our resident physicist Lisa weighs in on those questions and more. There's plenty of medical jargon in the spin-off movie Hobbs & Shaw, but it turns out the physics holds up for the most part! Melissa and Lisa also intervie…

1
Science Helps Us… Create the Future of Computing 36:25

10M ago36:25

36:25

Computing is a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives and rapid advances continue to shape the way we work and live. In the fourth episode of our “Science Helps Us…” series, Dr. Margaret Martonosi, acclaimed computer scientist and leader of the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate at the National Science Foundation (NS…

1
46: Science Advisors in Science Fiction LA Comic Con panel 52:01

10M ago52:01

52:01

Melissa moderates this panel of scientists who consult on everything from books and video games to the MCU and Disney animation! Panelists include paleontologist Stuart Sumida (How To Train Your Dragon, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), registered nurse Toby Wareham (9-1-1: Lone Star, How To Get Away With Murder), physicist Clifford Johnson (Avenger…

1
#22 JNeurosci Spotlight: Temporal Dynamics of Neural Responses in Human Visual Cortex 38:12

10M ago38:12

38:12

Iris Groen discussed her paper, “Temporal Dynamics of Neural Responses in Human Visual Cortex,” published in Vol. 42, Issue 40 of JNeurosci, with Megan Sansevere from SfN’s Journals’ staff. Find the rest of the Spotlight collection here. With special guest: Iris Groen Hosted by: Megan Sansevere On Neuro Current, we delve into the stories and conver…

1
Risk and Reward in Alzheimer's disease 47:09

10M ago47:09

47:09

Alzheimer's Disease Risk and Reward When they hear about my work as a neurodegeneration researcher, people always ask me about Alzheimer's disease risk factors. What really causes Alzheimer's disease? Plaque and tangle buildup The truth is there's no one secret to staving off dementia, other than living your best life. This doesn't mean following e…

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45: The Science of Ahsoka panel at LA Comic Con 1:05:41

10M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

Melissa moderates this panel of Star Warsologies favorites! Sam Wynns and Gabe Santos share their critter knowledge when it comes to Loth cats and purgill! Lisa Will and Paul Wynns talk navigation from one galaxy to the next! And James brings us up to date with all the Star Wars lore sprinkled throughout the show. We had a great audience with tons …

1
Rethinking Our Defense Against Unknown Biothreats 46:45

10M ago46:45

46:45

Dr. Harshini Mukundan, Program Manager and Scientist for Chemical and Biological Technologies at the Office of National and Homeland Security, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and visiting Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory sat down with host and AAAS STPF fellow Dr. Adejare (Jay) Atanda to discuss her research on pathogen agnostic d…

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8: Shift+F8 of the Furious, with a computer scientist 54:25

10M ago54:25

54:25

Melissa and Lisa talk about the (relatively) toned down physics nonsense in the 8th installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, Fate of the Furious. Lisa and Melissa are also joined by Bea Gandica, a computer scientist, to talk about all the hacking, ghost flights, and of course Cipher and the Gods Eye. Listen in to answers to important questions …

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#21 JNeurosci Spotlight: JUN Regulation of Injury-Induced Enhancers in Schwann Cells 36:23

10M ago36:23

36:23

Raghu Ramesh and John Svaren discuss their paper, “JUN Regulation of Injury-Induced Enhancers in Schwann Cells,” published in Vol. 42, Issue 34 of JNeurosci, with Megan Sansevere from SfN’s Journals’ staff. Find the rest of the Spotlight collection here. With special guests: Raghu Ramesh and John Svaren Hosted by: Megan Sansevere On Neuro Current, …

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7: Serious 7, with a psychologist 1:07:00

11M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

Melissa and Lisa break down the physics nonsense in Furious 7. Can you jump between skyscrapers in a car? What happens when you drop cars out of an airplane with only a parachute? Clinical psychologist Dr. Drea Letamendi joins for a discussion about grief and forgiveness. How important is found family? Should Dom be in therapy? How does Brian's end…

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44: Paleontology 51:41

11M ago51:41

51:41

James and Melissa chat about the megafauna of The Mandalorian with Dr. Stuart Sumida. Stuart is a paleontologist, a teacher, and a science consultant for movies, TV shows, and video games. He answers questions for us, including: Do mythosaurs use echolocation? How many Mandalorians would those raptor babies be able to eat in one sitting? Would ridi…

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#20 JNeurosci Spotlight: Distinct Progressions of Neuronal Activity Changes Underlie the Formation and Consolidation of a Gustatory Associative Memory 32:38

11M ago32:38

32:38

Anan Moran and Elor Arieli discuss their paper, “Distinct Progressions of Neuronal Activity Changes Underlie the Formation and Consolidation of a Gustatory Associative Memory,” published in Vol. 42, Issue 5 of JNeurosci, with Megan Sansevere from SfN’s Journals’ staff. Find the rest of the Spotlight collection here. With special guests: Anan Moran …

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#30 Don’t Look Up! How Hollywood Imports Science Policy into Films | WeAreSTS 34:18

11M ago34:18

34:18

Hollywood chooses to portray experts in particular – sometimes peculiar – ways. Those choices have profound impacts on how audiences think about subjects as diverse as dinosaurs, robots, and climate catastrophes. But do those portrayals also change the way we think about the experts themselves and the process of expertise? Does Hollywood play some …

1
Chemicals in Cosmetics: Understanding the Risks 11:40

11M ago11:40

11:40

We're delving into a crucial topic: toxic chemicals in the products we use to enhance our beauty. In this episode, we discuss: What are some toxic chemicals in cosmetics? Understanding the Link between Toxic Chemicals and Health Conditions Reducing Exposure to Toxic Chemicals Thank you for tuning in! We hope this episode has empowered you to make i…

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6: Fast & Curious 6, with a movie locations expert 1:05:32

12M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Fast & Furious 6 gives us perhaps the most physics-defying hijinks of the franchise. Dom's leap of faith, him taking a bullet, and that epically long runway - there's a lot to discuss. Melissa and Lisa also chat with locations scout Kerry Patten, who worked on the movie. Hear from her about the logistics of filming a car chase in the streets of (no…

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43: Music and Melodies 53:05

12M ago53:05

53:05

Let's look at the music of Star Wars! So much of what we associate with the galaxy far, far away is connected to the soundtracks composed by John Williams. We take a look at the diagetic music of the films, from the cantina band tracks to the celebratory songs by Ewoks and Gungans. We also examine the common musical themes that John Williams built …

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5: Facts Five, with city planning and visual effects experts 1:16:58

12M ago1:16:58

1:16:58

Melissa and Lisa welcome two guest experts to cover Fast Five, the movie that really accelerates the franchise into greatness. Prison escapes, train heists, and a bank vault crashing through the streets of Rio make up the action, but the movie is also about family (of course) and reunites some of our favorite characters. A city planner and a visual…

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