Books and Ideas with Dr. Ginger Campbell

This episode of Books and Ideas is an interview with David Shariatmadari author of "Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language." We explore some of the common myths about language. This includes a follow up of our recent discussion on Brain Science about the evidence against the assumption that language is an instinctive. Links and References: Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language by David Shariatmadari Cognitive Gadgets: The Cultural Evolution of Thinking by Cecilia Heyes Interviewed in Brain Science 168 Pullum, GK and Schultz, BC, (2002) Empirical assessment of stimulus of poverty arguments. The Linguistic Review, 19, ?. Hsu, H J, and Bishop, DV (2014) Sequence-specific procedural learning deficits in children with specific language impairment. Developmental Science,17(3), 352-365. Tomblin, J B, Shribirg, L , Murray, J, Patil, S, and Williams, C. (2004). Speech and Language characteristics associated with a 7/13 translocation involving FOXP2. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 130, 97-?. Both books have extensive references. For more please see show notes of BS 168. Announcements: Coming in early May 2020: new expanded edition of re You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia "Ginger" Campbell, MD. Sign up for Brain Science Newsletter for updates. Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Books and Ideas is going on hiatus until November 2020 so that Dr. Campbell can work on her neuroscience writing project. Please subscribe in your favorite podcasting app so that you don't miss the next episode. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas

Several years ago I interviewed Terrence Deacon about his fascinating book Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter. His goal was to propose a theory of how purpose evolved in a universe without purpose. His argument was persuasive, but highly technical. In this month’s episode of Books and Ideas I interview his longtime colleague Jeremy Sherman. His book Neither Ghost nor Machine: The Emergence and Nature of Selves makes Deacon’s ideas highly accessible to a wider audience. Join us as we explore the question: How did purpose arise from a purposeless universe? (Hint: the answer is not supernatural!) Links and References: Neither Ghost nor Machine: The Emergence and Nature of Selves by Jeremy Sherman Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter by Terrence W. Deacon The Symbolic Species: The Co-Evolution of Language and the Brain by Terrence W. Deacon Books and Ideas 47 with Terrence Deacon Metaphors We Live By by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins Consciousness Explained by Daniel Dennett The Life of the Mind by Hannah Arendt Announcements: Coming April 28, 2020: a new expanded version of Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty by Virginia “Ginger” Campbell, MD (links coming soon) Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Please support Books and Ideas via Patreon at http://patreon.com/booksandideas. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas

This episode of Books and Ideas is a follow up of my previous interview of Becky Hale, past-president of the American Humanist Association (AHA). I am fascinated by the relationship between modern Humanism and Unitarian Universalism. Listen to my interview with Amanda Poppei from the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association (UUHA) to learn why. Links and References: Humanist Voices in Unitarian Universalism, ed. by Gibbons and Murray Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association (UUHA) American Humanist Association (AHA) BI 53 with AHA president Becky Hale The Humanist Manifesto (Wikipedia)  The Secular Coalition Announcements: Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Please support Books and Ideas via Patreon at http://patreon.com/booksandideas. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas Humanist Unitarians of Birmingham (Facebook Group)

This month's episode of Books and Ideas is an interview with astronomer Brian Keating about his memoir Losing the Nobel Prize: A Story of Cosmology, Ambition, and the Perils of Science's Highest Honor. His book is a first hand look at the hard work behind the scientific effort to determine how the universe really began, but as the title implies, it also contains a candid account of how striving for the Nobel Prize can be both motivating, but strangely counterproductive. Links and References: Losing the Nobel Prize: A Story of Cosmology, Ambition, and the Perils of Science's Highest Honor by Brian Keating Announcements: Plesae complete a brief audience survy. Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Please support Books and Ideas via Patreon at http://patreon.com/booksandideas. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas

This episode of Books and Ideas is an interview with Susan Schneider, author of a fascinating new book called Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind. Schneider's book goes beyond the question of whether AI might become conscious to issues that might affect us on a more personal level. I am cross posting this in the feed for Brain Science because there is an obvious overlap with the issue of consciousness, which we often discuss on Brain Science. Links and References: Susan Schneider (personal website) Artificial You: AI and the Future of Your Mind by Susan Schneider Announcements: Plesae complete a brief audience survy. Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Please support Books and Ideas via Patreon at http://patreon.com/booksandideas. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas  

This episode of Books and Ideas features Adele Brand, author of the new book The Hidden World of the Fox. Foxes are surprisingly widespread even in urban areas. This episode reveals their surprising story. Links and References: The Hidden World of the Fox by Adele Brand Adele Brand: mammal ecologist and wildlife photographer Twitter:https://twitter.com/adeleebrand Blog: https://adelebrandblog.wordpress.com Announcements: Plesae complete a brief audience survy. Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Please support Books and Ideas via Patreon at http://patreon.com/booksandideas. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas

This episode is an adapted version of the talk I gave last week at the first annual She Podcasts Live event, which was held October 10-13, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. I was asked to share my experience of podcasting "through life's rollercoaster." This gave me a chance to reflect on what I have learned over the last 13 years. Though the talk was originally aimed at podcasters, I have adapted it for a general audience.

This is an interview with historian Liz Covart about her highly respected podcast "Ben Franklin's World." We explore what it means to be an historian in the 21st Century and the challenges of sharing early American history via podcasting. Links and References: Liz Covart Ben Franklin's World- a podcast about Early American History Facebook page Omohundro Institute Proving History: Bayes's Theorem and the Quest for the Historical Jesus by Richard Carrier Announcements: Please complete a brief audience survey. Send email to grayingrainbows@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. You can now support Graying Rainbows via Patreon at http://patreon.com/grayingrainbows To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Graying Rainbows in Apple podcasts or your favorite app and send me a screenshot. If you are interested in learning more about coaching please drop me an email. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @GrayingR Facebook page: https://fb.me/grayingrainbows Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grayingrainbows

This episode of Books and Ideas features the return of Podcasting Hall of Famer, Dr. Pamela Gay. Dr. Gay is co-host of the long running show Astronomy Cast. As a professional astronomer she has dedicated her career to public outreach and she is very involved with the citizen science project Cosmos Quest. Her passion for science is contagious. Links: Dr. Pamela Gay (featured on BI 14) personal blog Wikipedia page International Astronomical Union Planetary Science Institute Astronomy Cast Facebook Group CosmoQuest Announcements: Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Please support Books and Ideas via Patreon at http://patreon.com/booksandideas. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas    

Books and Ideas 68 is an interview with psychologist Dr Pete Etchells about his new book Lost in a Good Game: Why we play video games and what they can do for us. We explore both the myths and the science behind video games and consider why the effects of video games are actually quite difficult to study. It seems strange that many people in this field don't play games themselves. Most of the bad things you have heard about video games do not stand up to the basic standards of good science. Whether or not you enjoy video games yourself this is a fascinating interview. Links and References: Lost in a Good Game: Why we play video games and what they can do for us by Dr Pete Etchells Announcements: Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas

In honor of Pride month I am sharing an interview I recorded earlier this year with LGBT historian Lillian Faderman about her latest book Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death. Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office, but unfortunately he was assassinated in 1978, after less than a year in office. We discuss some of the highlights of his short career and explore why many consider him the Martin Luther King of the fight for LGBT Civil Rights.   Links and References: Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death by Lillian Faderman The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk Paperback (2008) by Randy Shilts Announcements: Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas

One of the things I love about Books and Ideas is that it gives me the chance to interview people from a wide variety of fields. In BI 66 I talk with Sarah Rhea Werner, a very talented young writer and podcaster. She is the author of Girl in Space, which is a serialized audio drama, and she hosts Write Now, a podcast for aspiring writers. Be sure to listen for the Girl in Space trailer at the end. Links: Sarah's website Girl in Space Cast Write Now Announcements: Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas

This is an interview with my friend Jody Cole, founder of Wild African Rainbow Safaris. We explore how she built her business from the ground up based on her love of Sub-Saharan Africa. I think you will find her story inspiring. Note: a slightly longer version of this interview was posted as Graying Rainbows 16. Links: Wild Rainbow African Safaris website: https://wildrainbowsafaris.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildRainbowAfricanSafaris Announcements: Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas    

Episode 64 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Ryder Carroll, author of The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future. He describes how he developed this popular method that combines to-do lists and journaling. I have never featured a "self-help" like title before, but I decided to make an exception this month because I have found bullet journaling to be an effective method for organizing my complicated life. Links and References: The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll Bullet Journal Website: https://bulletjournal.com Announcements: Send email to docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. To win an Amazon gift certificate: post a review of Books and Ideas in iTunes and send me a screenshot. Connect on Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas

Books and Ideas is back with an interview of Jonathan Losos, author of Improbable Destinies: Fate, Chance, and the Future of Evolution. This fascinating book reveals the surprising world of experimental evolutionary biology. We explore how experiments both in the laboratory and in the wild are answering long-standing questions about how evolution works. Links and References: Improbable Destinies: Fate, Chance, and the Future of Evolution by Jonathan B. Losos Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History by Stephen Jay Gould Z.D. Blount, Lenski, R.E., and Losos, JB. 2018. "Contingency and determinism in evolution: Replaying life’s tape" Science 362. DOI: 10.1126/science.aam5979 Brian Swetik. 2019. "Strange Marine Creature Resembles a Reptilian Platypus: Small eyes and decorative plates make this Triassic creature stand out" Scientific American, January 30, 2019 L Chen, et. Al. 2019. "Early Triassic marine reptile representing the oldest record of unusually small eyes in reptiles indicating non-visual prey detection." Nature 152. R.D. H Barrett, et. al. 2019. "Linking a mutation to survival in wild mice" Science (363) 499-504. DOI:10.1126/science.aav3824 Social Media: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas Please send feedback to docartemis@gmail.com or submit voicemail at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Want an Amazon gift card? Just send me a screenshot of your iTunes review. Learn more about Dr. Campbell's other podcasts at:http://www.virginiacampbellmd.com/ginger-campbell-md/  

This episode of Books and Ideas is an interview with Rhodes Perry, author of Belonging At Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization. Human beings are wired to be social, which means feeling like we belong is actually essential to our physical and emotional health. In this interview we discuss some of the obstacles to "Belonging at Work" and practical steps toward improvement. Rhodes also shares the Platinum Rule: Treating others like THEY want to be treated, which I think should be applied in all aspects of our life. Please join me for this thought provoking conversation and check out Rhodes' excellent podcast, The Out Entrepreneur. Links and References: Belonging At Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization by Rhodes Perry The Out Entrepreneur (one of my favorite podcasts) Project Implicit (free tests to uncover unconscious bias) Targeted Universalism Send me feedback at docartemis@gmail.com or post voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis. Social Media Links: Twitter: @docartemis Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/booksandideas  

I had hoped to relaunch Books and Ideas before the end of 2018, but I want to relaunch with a return interview with Podcasting Hall of Famer, Dr. Pamela Gay of Astronomy Cast. Please stay subscribed so you won't miss it when the show returns.

Books and Ideas #61 is an interview with author Mur Lafferty, who just published a new novel called Six Wakes, which she calls a "clone murder mystery." In this interview Mur reflects on her writing career so far and she also shares the surprising impact that podcasting has had on her writing career. Please visit http://virginiacampbellmd.com for more detailed show notes and links. Send me email at docartemis@gmail.com or record voice feedback at http://speakpipe.com/docartemis.  

Episode 60 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Matthew Cobb, author of Life's Greatest Secret: The Race to Crack the Genetic Code. We focus on some of the unsung scientists who made essential discoveries. Matthew Cobb was the first person I ever interviewed back in Episode 7, so it was special to have him on to help me celebrate the 9th Anniversary of Books and Ideas. Show notes and free episode transcripts are available at http://www.virginiacampbellmd.com/blog/2015/12/bi60-cobb.   Please send me feedback at docartemis@gmail.com.

This episode introduces Phenomenology, a philosophical tradition that focuses on the nature of experience. We talk with Dr. Anthony Chemero, co-author of Phenomenology: An Introduction, which is a new book that not only puts phenomenology into historical perspective but argues that it is a living tradition, which continues to make valuable contributions to fields like psychology and embodied cognitive science. This interview is appropriate for listeners of all backgrounds--no prior knowledge is required. Detailed show notes and free episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com. Send your feedback (and screen shots of reviews) to brainsciencepodcast@gmail.com.

Episode 58 of Books and Ideas is a short episode dedicated to my late husband Dr. Dennis G Smith, who died unexpectedly on July 25th 2015. We were married for 38 years and this  is a celebration of our life together. Donations in his memory can be made to German Shepherd Rescue of Central Alabama. Send email feedback to me at docartemis@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter. Full show notes and a free transcript for this episode are available at: http://virginiacampbellmd.com/blog/2015/8/dennis-smith.

Episode 57 is the first episode of Books and Ideas that I have produced in 2015. It is a conversation with experienced podcaster Elsie Escobar. Elsie brings a unique perspective to the question Why Podcast? because she does it all: she hosts and produces 2 shows, works for Libsyn, the company that hosts my shows and many others, and she listens to more podcasts than seems humanly possible. For complete show notes and episode transcripts please visit http://booksandideas.com. Send feedback to docartemis@gmail.com.

Episode 56 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. Amos Bailey, one of the pioneers of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. We talk about the origins of the field and try to dispel some common misperceptions about what we do. Note: Dr. Campbell (the host of Books and Ideas) is currently doing Fellowship Training in Palliative Medicine at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Go to http://booksandideas for complete show notes and free episode transcripts. Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at docartemis@gmail.com.

Episode 55 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. John Ratey, co-author of "Go Wild: Free Your Body and Mind from the Afflictions of Civilization." There is considerable evidence that our hunter-gatherer ancestors were generally suprisingly healthy, so the purpose of this book and our conversation was to explore the scientific evidence supporting a return to a healthier lifestyle. We touch on diet, exercise, the role of sleep and even meditation. We also explore the importance of our relationship with nature and each other. Detailed show notes and free episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com. Send feedback to docartemis@gmail.com I have previously interviewed Dr. Ratey about his books "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise" and the Brain (BSP 33) and "Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood "(BSP 45).

My apologies for uploading an incomplete version of this episode, and worst of all not detecting the problem for almost a week. Episode 54 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. Michaels Saags from the UAB Center for AIDS Research and author of "Positive: One Doctor's Personal Encounters with Death, Life, and the US Healthcare System." Dr. Saag became involved in the fight against HIV-AIDS early in his career and his work has been vital in transforming HIV from a death sentence to a manageable medical condition, but like many American physicians he is "angry" about the current state of "healthcare" in the US. We consider both topics in this interview. Complete show notes and episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com.

Episadoe 53 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Rebecca Hale, current President of the American Humanist Association. We talk about the history of humanism and how it differs from skepticism and atheism. We also talk about how American Humanism fits into the larger picture of world-wide humanism. This episode is intended for people of all beliefs. Full episode show notes and free transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com. Send feedback to docartemis@gmail.com or post your comments in the special thread that I have started in the Brain Science Podcast Group on Goodreads.

Mur Lafferty is one of the pioneers of podcasting and was one of my inspirations for starting two podcasts back in 2006. She was interviewed here way back in Episode 17, so I am glad to have her back. Mur has been working hard on her writing craft and has recently published "The Shambling Guide to New York City" to rave reviews. She also recently won the prestigious John W Campbell Award for Most Promising New Writer in Science Fiction and Fantasy. This interview is a fun conversation that includes nuggets of wisdom for all aspiring writers. Go to http://booksandideas.com for full show notes and free episode transcripts. Books and Ideas is sponsored by Audible.com and by listener donations.

I just wanted to let you know that a new episode of Books and Ideas wil be coming soon. Thanks so much for subscribing. Learn more at http://virginiacampbellmd.com.

Episode 51 of Books and Ideas is actually a followup of Dr. Jaak Panksepp's recent interview on the Brain Science Podcast. There we talked in depth about the scientific evidence that humans share basic emotional circuitry with other mammals. In this interview we talk about the implications of this discovery. We focus on how it should impact the treatment of laboratory animals. We also consider our relationships with pets and other domestic species. For detailed show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com. Send email to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 50 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Ted Meisner, host of The Secular Buddhist podcast. We talk a little about the basics of Buddhism with a focus on the core teachings. The goal of The Secular Buddhist podcast is to highlight the practical teachings of Buddhism, while acknowledging that many of us would like to leave myths like reincarnation behind. Ted also interviews scientists who are trying to discover what happens in the brain when people meditate. For detailed show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com.

Episode 49 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Emily Reese from Minnesota Public Radio. Reese is the host of two podcasts that I enjoy: Top Score and Learning to Listen. In this interview we focus on Top Score, which is a podcast about video game music. Reese interviews the composers and gives listeners an inside look at the challenges that face composers in this new, but growing field. You don't need to be a muscian or a gamer to enjoy Emily's podcasts. For complete show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://books and ideas.com. This episode contains a number of short music clips. All are within the 30 second limit allowed by fair use. I am including the times and sources below for listeners who want to hear more. 00: Elder Scrolls: Oblivion from The Greatest Video Game Music recorded by the London Philharmonic and Andrew Skeet. 1:42 [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion] 14:31 Opening Suite from Halo: The Soundtrack by Martin O’Donnell and MIchael Salvatori 16:40 [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion] 18:49 “An End, Once and For All-Extended Cut” from Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut by Sam Huliick 23:16 Somewhere In Time (Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini-Var. No. 18) from Classics at the Movies 24:43 The Makers Theme from Darksiders II Original Soundtrack by Jasper Kyd 25:32 Ethan Mars' Main Theme from Heavy Rain (Original Soundtrack from the Video Game) by Normand Corbeil 26:14 "Welcome to the Sprawl" from Dead Space 2 (EA Games Soundtrack) by Jason Graves  26:47 "Nascence" from Journey™ (Original Soundtrack from the Video Game) by Austin Wintory 27:43 "In Case of Trouble" from Bastion Original Soundtrack by Darren Korb available at Visit http://supergiantgames.bandcamp.com 28:06 "Bynn the Breaker" from Bastion Original Soundtrack by Darren Korb available at Visit http://supergiantgames.bandcamp.com 39:16  [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion] 41:23 "I Am Alive And I Am Not Alone" from Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut by Sam Hulick

Episode 48 of Books and Ideas is interview with Jonathan Gottschall, author of "The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human." Show notes and free episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com. Follow her on Twitter as @docartemis.

Episode 47 of Books and Ideas is being released simultaneously in the Brain Science Podcast feed. It is an interview with Terrence Deacon, PhD., author of "Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter." We talk about the ongoing quest to explain the emergence of life, mind, and purpose using the known laws of physics (with out the need for any supernatural extras). For complete show notes and free episode transcripts please visit http://booksandideas.com/. You can send Dr. Campbell feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com or post feed on the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook.

I have just published my first eBook: Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty. It is currently available only in the Kindle format at Amazon.com, but I will send you the PDF version if you email me a copy of your Amazon receipt. The next episode of Books and Ideas will come out in July 2012. My email is gincampbell at mac.com.

This episode is an interview with Roger Reid, writer and producer for the Emmy Award winning public TV show Discovering Alabama with Dr. Doug Phillips and author of several novels for young adult readers. His novels combine science and mystery in an original way. In this interview we explore some surprising secrets about Alabama's natural history and learn how Reid's travels around the state have inspired his novels. For complete show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com/.

Episode 45 of Books and Ideas is a look back at the first five years of this podcast. I take the opportunity to thank each of my 33 guests and let you know what's coming in 2012. For detailed show notes and episode transcripts please visit http://booksandideas.com/. Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 44 of Books and Ideas is an interview with science fiction author Karen Traviss. She has written 4 novels based on the popular video game Gears of War. She also wrote the story for the recently released game Gears of War 3 and will be releasing a 5th novel next spring. In this fascinating interview she talks about how her early careers in journalism, television, and public relations prepared her to write fiction. She also describes what it is like to write in the emerging video game genre. (Note: This interview is SPOILER FREE!) For full show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com/. Send Dr. Campbell feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com or post on the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook.

Episode 43 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Carol Tavris, PhD, co-author (with Eliot Aronson) of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. For detailed show notes, including references and episode transcripts go to http://virginiacampbellmd.com.

Episode 42 of Books and Ideas is an edited version of the talk that Dr. Campbell gave in May 2011 in London at Skeptics in the Pub. "Why Neuroscience Matters" is a brief introduction to some of the recent discoveries in neuroscience that are changing the way we see ourselves and each other. Special Thanks to the PodDelusion podcast for sharing the original recording. For detailed show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com.

Episode 41 of the Books and Ideas podcast is an interview with Holly Tucker, author of "Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution." We discuss how the controversies surrounding the first blood transfusions, which were attemped back in the 1660's are relevant to understanding similar controversies today. For detailed show notes, including links and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com. Send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voice mail at 205-202-0663.

Books and Ideas #40 is an interview with Dr. Paul Offit author of "Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All." Feel free to share this important conversation with others. For complete show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com. Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 39 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. Eric Maisel, author of "Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions." Complete show notes and episode transcripts are available at http://virginiacampbellmd.com. Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voice mail at 205-202-0663.

Episode 38 is a live interview with novelists Christiana Ellis and Skyler White. Full show notes and episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com. Please visit my new website at http://virginiacampbellmd.com and let me know what you think. Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 37 of Books and Ideas is an interview with scientist turned philosopher Massimo Pigliucci. Dr. Campbell talks with Dr. Pigliuccis about his career move from evolutionary biology to philosophy of science and they explore the relationship between science and philosophy. For detailed show notes, links, and episode transcript go to http://booksandideas.com. This podcast was sponsored by Audible.com. Learn more at http://www.audiblepodcast.com/booksandideas/. Visit the iTunes Store to learn about the iPhone app that delivers episode transcripts directly to your portable devices.

Books and Ideas 36 is an interview with Daniel George, co-author of "The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis." This interview is a follow-up to the one I did with Dr. Peter Whitehouse earlier this month for Brain Science Podcast 68.Detailed show notes and episode transcripts are available http://booksandideas.com.Send me email at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 35 of Books and Ideas is an interview with best-selling author Scott Sigler. Scott is known for his unique blend of horror and hard science fiction. In this interview Dr. Ginger Campbell talks to him about his career with a focus on the challenges of trying to incorporate accurate science into fiction. They also talk about his most recent hard cover book "The Rookie" and how it is encouraging young adults to become readers. Show notes, links and episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com/. Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 34 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Bruce Hood, author of "SuperSense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable." Dr. Hood is a developmental psychologist with a long-standing interest in why people believe weird things. In "Supersense" he argues that innate cognitive structures (how we think without being taught) give people a natural tendency toward belief in the supernatural. Our intuitive sense of how the world works is often at odds with the findings of modern science. In this interview we discuss the evidence for these conclusions and their implications. Please go to http://booksandideas.com for show notes and episode transcripts. Send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac dot com.

This is a free PDF from Kyla Duffy of Happy Tails Books. I interviewed Kyla for Episode 33 of Books and Ideas.Please share this PDF with others! It contains disturbing information about puppy mills, but it also contains practical guidance about how to help these dogs overcome the trauma of their pasts.You can learn more at http://happytailbooks.com/.The next episode of Books and Ideas will be an interview with Bruce Hood, author of "SuperSense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable." It will be posted on January 27th, 2010.

Episode 33 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Kyla Duffy from Happy Tails Books. Duffy publishes inspiring stories about how adopting rescued dogs enriches peoples lives. Proceeds go to various rescue organizations.Get full show notes and episode transcripts at http://bookandideas.com.Send Email to gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voicemail at 206-984-0358.

Episode 32 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Sheril Kirshenbaum, co-author of "Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future." Our emphasis is on the importance of scientists learning to communicate about their work to political leaders and fellow citizens. We discuss some of the factors that have marginalized science and examine some creative potential solutions.Go to http://booksandideas.com for detailed show notes and episode transcripts.Send feedback to gincampbell at mac dot com or call our new voicemail line at 206-984-0358.

Episode 31 of Books and Ideas was recorded live at Dragon*Con 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. It is an interview with NASA's Les Johnson and focuses on his book, "Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth."You will find show notes, links, and episode transcripts at http://booksandideas.com/.Send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac dot com.You can also post comments on our new FaceBook Fan Page.