Best Sciencecommunication Podcasts (2024)

1
Season 2 Trailer 2:19

5d 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

14d 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…

1
53: Urban Ecology with Sawyeurism 40:24

1M 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

28d 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

28d 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

1M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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…

1
#24 Progressive Peer Review: A Conversation Between Two Editors-in-Chief 45:02

4M 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

4M 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…

1
49: Empathy and Compassion 38:44

5M 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…

1
48: Conflict Resolution in Star Wars 50:22

6M 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

6M 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…

1
47: Anthropology in Alien Design 46:51

7M 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 …

1
#23 Writing a Computational Neuroscience Manuscript for The Journal of Neuroscience 59:56

7M 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…

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

8M 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…

1
10: F9: The Facts Saga, with Bobak Ferdowsi from NASA 59:28

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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

8M 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…

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

9M 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

9M 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…

1
8: Shift+F8 of the Furious, with a computer scientist 54:25

9M 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 …

1
#21 JNeurosci Spotlight: JUN Regulation of Injury-Induced Enhancers in Schwann Cells 36:23

9M 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, …

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

9M 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…

1
44: Paleontology 51:41

9M 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…

1
#20 JNeurosci Spotlight: Distinct Progressions of Neuronal Activity Changes Underlie the Formation and Consolidation of a Gustatory Associative Memory 32:38

9M 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 …

1
#30 Don’t Look Up! How Hollywood Imports Science Policy into Films | WeAreSTS 34:18

10M 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

10M 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…

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

10M 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…

1
43: Music and Melodies 53:05

10M 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 …

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

11M 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…

1
4: Fast & Physics, with a medical doctor 58:22

11M ago58:22

58:22

Melissa and Lisa discuss Fast & Furious, the fourth movie in the Fast saga. The car chases and stakes are finally high! Letty's (maybe) dead! Dom is bulletproof! Lots to discuss. Melissa and Lisa also welcome Dr. Jackson Vane to the show to discuss medical issues throughout the franchise, including the most important question - how are these charac…

1
#19 Reactivation of Early-Life Stress-Sensitive Neuronal Ensembles Contributes to Lifelong Stress Hypersensitivity 59:30

11M ago59:30

59:30

Julie-Anne Balouek and Catherine Jensen Peña discuss their paper, “Reactivation of Early-Life Stress-Sensitive Neuronal Ensembles Contributes to Lifelong Stress Hypersensitivity,” published in Vol. 43, Issue 34 of JNeurosci, with reviewing editor Mary Kay Lobo. Find our upcoming webinar schedule here. With special guests: Julie-Anne Balouek and Cat…

1
42: Blue Food Science 44:07

11M ago44:07

44:07

We chat blue food in Star Wars and here on Earth, where's it's not nearly as prevelant. Dr. Changqi Liu from San Diego State University shares his expertise about flowers, berries, and other foods. But does he know why blue raspberry flavoring exists? Cook up some blue noodles, pour yourself a glass of blue milk, and enjoy! More about butterfly pea…

1
3: The Facts & The Furious: Toying with Drift, with a stunt driver 1:01:17

11M ago1:01:17

1:01:17

In this episode, Melissa and Lisa chat about Tokyo Drift and interview a stunt driver. Lisa explains the physics of drifting and Melissa posits whether the saga takes place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie may feel out of place, but all is forgiven because it introduces Han to the franchise. Check out the Motion Picture Driving Clini…

1
41: Voice acting and storytelling with Vanessa Marshall 40:19

1y ago40:19

40:19

Voice actor extraordinaire Vanessa Marshall joins us on this episode of Star Warsologies! She is the voice (and soul) of "space mom" Hera Syndulla from Star Wars: Rebels, among many other credits. We talk about the importance of found family, fandom, and Joseph Campbell's hero's journey template. Vanessa is such a force for good and we are so excit…

1
#18 Language Exposure and Brain Myelination in Early Development 55:15

12M ago55:15

55:15

Laia Fibla and John Spencer discuss their paper, “Language exposure and brain myelination in early development”, published in Vol. 43, Issue 23 of JNeurosci, with Reviewing Editor Elana Zion-Golumbic. Find our upcoming webinar schedule here. With special guests: Laia Fibla and John Spencer On Neuro Current, we delve into the stories and conversatio…

1
Science Helps Us… Bring Nations Together 39:32

1y ago39:32

39:32

In the third episode in our “Science Helps Us…” series, we explore how hydrologic science can help bring people to the negotiation table. Water is a resource that defies political boundaries – managing it effectively can serve as a catalyst to international diplomacy. Our three guests highlight the important role that science plays in the shifting …

1
#29 Can Comedy Help Us Tackle Conversations About Climate Change? | WeAreSTS 24:28

1y ago24:28

24:28

Ever heard of climate change comedy? Here’s the idea. The climate crisis dominates our news. But more and more, messages about action are ignored. Fatalism is growing. People seem frozen with the scale of the problem. It’s clear we need new ways to tackle these tough conversations. In this episode, STS’s very own Grace Tyrrell explores the growing …

1
2: 2 Facts 2 Physics, with a legal expert 51:12

1y ago51:12

51:12

No Dom, no problem! Lisa and Melissa dive into the physics of 2003's 2 Fast 2 Furious. Welcome Roman, welcome Tej. Don't let those pesky laws of gravity keep you down. Also weighing in is legal expert Stephen Lee, a former federal prosecutor. Hear what he has to say about Brian's terrible record as an undercover cop, can you earn a "clean record," …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Sciencecommunication Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide