Curiosity Cake

This episode is the second of a two-part episode with award-winning technologist and online media personality Meredith Castles. In the first part we explored Meredith's kinesthetic memory and her arts background. This time round we focus more on her work in Technology and how she combines arts with science to communicate science to the public.

Meredith Castles is a lecturer and PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania. We discuss her unique blending of the arts and sciences to communicate science to the masses. From movies and television acting to theatre, writing and currently livestreaming science entertainment content to thousands, Meredith's arts background fuels her science research where she investigates how people can be more deeply involved in the technology designs of the future rather than removed from it.

On this episode I'm talking to health-tech pioneer, author Kirsten Karchmer. Kirsten is a world-renowned specialist in women's health, menstruation and fertility.  You can find out more about Kirsten's work here: https://www.foreverbrazen.com/ Tik Tok: @theperiodexpert

UK secondary school teacher, Stephen Uzzell, stumbled upon the name Haim Michael Klar, a Jewish man who impersonated a Nazi officer in order to help those trapped in the ghettos and concentration camps. Stephen has written the book I Am Juden as a historical novel based on the life of Klar and Jewish Resistance against the Nazis. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MRL9TX3/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 Find Stephen on Twitter: @StephenUzzell2

On this episode i look at the biology around us in everyday life with Dr Melanie Peffer. Her book Biology Everywhere is available now from her website:  https://www.biologyeverywhere.com/ SUBSCRIBE RATE AND REVIEW https://introvertevolution.com/curiosity-cake-podcast/

On this episode I'm talking to Kate Tym and Kate Dyer of Coffin Club. The Kates are funeral celebrants. They set up Coffin Club to educate people about the importance of organising your own funeral and that there are many ways to have a funeral. They are distrupting the traditional funeral industry along the way. Check out the new Curiosity Cake website: https://introvertevolution.com/curiosity-cake-podcast/ ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW***

On this episode, particle physicist Dr Claire Lee gives us an accessible explanation of the building blocks of the universe. Dr Lee is currently working on the ProtoDUNE Single Phase Detector at CERN for Fermilab, where she makes particles smash into each other to see what happens. ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** https://linktr.ee/curiositycake

On this episode I'm joined by sociologist Dr Margee Kerr. Margee currently teaches and conducts research on fear, specifically how and why people engage in 'scary' experiences llike haunted attractions, horror movies, and paranormal investigations.  She enjoys working as a consultant for attractions and museums and is the author of 'SCREAM: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear' named as a must read by the Washington Post.  Hit subscribe, rate the show and write a review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser and Goodpods https://linktr.ee/curiositycake  

On this episode I’m talking to Brad Warner. Brad is a Zen Buddhist priest, blogger, author and punk rock bass player. We'll be discussing the philosophy and practice of Zen. https://linktr.ee/curiositycake ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW***

On the latest episode of Curiosity Cake I'm joined by Dr Laura Lewandowski from National Institutes of Health to discuss her work in global health, chronic disease and genetics with a particular focus on the condition Lupus.  You can find out more about Dr Lewandowski here:  https://www.niams.nih.gov/about/directory/laura-b-lewandowski-ms-md Please subscribe, rate and review the show. Tell everyone you know and get in touch and let me know what you think of this episode and what else you'd like to hear. https://linktr.ee/curiositycake    

This is a re-upload of a previous epsiode. On this episode I talk to Balint Kacsoh about how he uses ants to learn about genetics and behaviour. We cover what makes an ant an ant, caste systems, colonies and more. The show notes for this episode feature images of all the ants we talk about: https://curiositycake.co.uk/ants ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** https://linktr.ee/curiositycake

This is a re-upload of a previous episode. On this episode of the Curiosity Cake Podcast I talk to author, career coach, entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, Marianne Cantwell. Marianne's book Be A Free Range Human is a guide to finding your really-right direction, quitting your job and growing your own thing (that fits the life you want *and* your unique personality… so you don’t have to secretly leave a piece of yourself at the door to get paid). https://linktr.ee/curiositycake ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW***

This is a re-upload of a previous episode. In this episode of the Curiosity Cake podcast I talk to psychology and social neuroscience PhD researcher Helena Hartmann about her work exploring the link between our experience of pain and the experience of empathy. ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** https://linktr.ee/curiositycake Curiosity Cake is on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/CuriosityCake Get in touch with Curiosity Cake on Twitter: @curiosity_cake

This is a re-upload of a previous episode. In this episode Nick Walkden delves deep into the past, present and future of nuclear fusion. We discuss how fusion works, the science behind the Tokamak, the challenges for using fusion as a commercial sustainable energy source, and the advances in other areas of science being driven by work in fusion. Nick is a Plasma Physicist, has a PhD in Physics from York University. He has spent his career at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority. ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** Curiosity Cake: a podcast about ideas for curious minds with big appetites. I talk to the best minds from academia and elsewhere to bring you accessible and engaging conversations across a wide range of topics with no prior knowledge required. https://linktr.ee/curiositycake

This is a re-upload of my second episode titled No-nonsense Nutrition released in July 2020. In this episode I talk to Maeve Hanan of Dietetically Speaking, a registered Dietitian and nutritional consultant.  ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** Maeve explains her idea of nutri-bollocks: bad science and guidance in nutrition. She tells us how to spot nutribollocks, and how we can figure out who to trust when it comes to nutrition information. Maeve graduated with a First Class BSc Honours Degree in Dietetics from the University of Ulster Coleraine (Northern Ireland), has experience in Dietetics within the NHS and has written for a number of popular nutrition blogs as well as acting as consultant for journalists and media. Maeve has just released a book called Your No-Nonsense Guide to Eating Well 

On this episode I’m discussing crystallography and the coronavirus with Dr Sam Horrell. Sam is a structural biologist at the Diamond Light Source particle accelerator in Oxfordshire, England, and contributes to our understanding of the structure of Coronavirus with the Coronavirus Structural Task Force ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** https://linktr.ee/curiositycake  

On this episode I talk to philosopher Dave Ellis of Bangor University. We discuss whether there is a connection between scientific fact and spiritual wisdom and if there is room for spiritual language in science. If you like Curiosity Cake please tell your friends and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or other podchaser apps. https://linktr.ee/curiositycake ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW***

On this episode I’m exploring the stars of our solar system with Professor Lisa Harvey Smith. We talk about the sun, red dwarves, cannibal stars, black holes, supernovae, big stars, small stars and stars near and far. Lisa is an Astronomer, Author & Broadcaster. You’ll possibly know her from the Stargazing Live TV shows in the UK and Australia among other media appearances. She is currently a professor at the University of New South Wales, and is the Australian Government's Women in STEM Ambassador. https://linktr.ee/curiositycake ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW***

On this episode I’m talking vigilantes with anthropologist and comic book fan Gavin Weston of Goldsmiths University, London. Gavin’s main area of interest is the anthropology of violence and vigilantism, and explores the intersections between anthropology, popular culture and violence  Gavin’s latest book Anthropological Controversies: The ‘Crimes’ and Misdemeanors that Shaped a Discipline.(written with Natalie Djohari) explores the history of anthropology through controversies within the subject.

On this episode of the Curiosity Cake Podcast I talk to author, career coach, entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, Marianne Cantwell. Marianne's book Be A Free Range Human is a guide to finding your really-right direction, quitting your job and growing your own thing (that fits the life you want *and* your unique personality… so you don’t have to secretly leave a piece of yourself at the door to get paid). https://linktr.ee/curiositycake ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW***

On this episode of the Curiosity Cake podcast I talk to psychology and social neuroscience PhD researcher Helena Hartmann about her work exploring the link between our experience of pain and the experience of empathy. SUBSCRIBE *** RATE *** REVIEW  More details about past and upcoming episodes:  www.curiositycake.co.uk ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** https://linktr.ee/curiositycake Curiosity Cake is on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/CuriosityCake Get in touch with Curiosity Cake on Twitter: @curiosity_cake

On this episode I talk to Balint Kacsoh about how he uses ants to learn about genetics and behaviour. We cover what makes an ant an ant, caste systems, colonies and more. The show notes for this episode feature images of all the ants we talk about: https://curiositycake.co.uk/ants ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** https://linktr.ee/curiositycake As a graduate student at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, under the mentorship of Dr. Giovanni Bosco, Balint's primary studies were on learning, memory, aging, and social behavior in Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly). He developed novel behavioral paradigms accounting for the natural life history of the fly. This led to identification of new behaviors in addition to dissection of the associated underlying physiological, genetic, and neurological change. Additionally, he was involved in a cancer study, where he participated in characterizing a new drug in a patient derived tumor. Currently, Balint is the Rebecca Ridley Kry Fellow of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation in the lab of Dr. Shelley Berger at the University of Pennsylvania. His long-term goal is to answer the questions above using the more fluid reproductive plasticity present in ponerine ants such as Harpegnathos saltator, which he is using to study the epigenetic effects of caste identity as a function of social environments. He is also utilizing Camponotus floridanus as a model to study the effect of social interaction on epigenetics, lifespan, and physiology. And finally he is studying Atta cephalotes as a model to dissect epigenetic regulation of caste determination and behavior in an advanced social system.  

I talk to Dr. Patricia Jackman to understand the flow state and clutch performance in sport and exercise. We discuss ways in which ordinary people can tap into flow or clutch performance to stick to their exercise programs. And we cover how elite athletes and others experience flow and clutch situations such as last minute free throws, penalty shoot-outs, final moments of championship rounds. ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** Curiosity Cake: a podcast about ideas for curious minds with big appetites. I talk to the best minds from academia and elsewhere to bring you accessible and engaging conversations across a wide range of topics with no prior knowledge required. https://linktr.ee/curiositycake

In this episode Nick Walkden delves deep into the past, present and future of nuclear fusion. We discuss how fusion works, the science behind the Tokamak, the challenges for using fusion as a commercial sustainable energy source, and the advances in other areas of science being driven by work in fusion. Nick is a Plasma Physicist, has a PhD in Physics from York University. He has spent his career at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority. ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** Curiosity Cake: a podcast about ideas for curious minds with big appetites. I talk to the best minds from academia and elsewhere to bring you accessible and engaging conversations across a wide range of topics with no prior knowledge required. https://linktr.ee/curiositycake  

Historical Martial Arts are a combination of the study of historical texts and martial arts. They involve swordsmanship, other weaponry and hand to hand combat styles. I talk to Guy Windsor to get the lowdown on HMA and how he uses history to develop and teach swordsmanship. Guy has been fundamental in the development of HMA. He is a consulting swordsman, teacher, and writer. He researches and teaches medieval and Renaissance Italian swordsmanship, and has a PhD in recreating historical martial arts. He also runs The School of European Swordsmanship Guy has written a large number of books on the subject. For a good overview I'd suggest starting with The Theory and Practice of Historical Martial Arts

In this episode I talk to Maeve Hanan of Dietetically Speaking, a registered Dietitian and nutritional consultant.  Maeve explains her idea of nutri-bollocks: bad science and guidance in nutrition. She tells us how to spot nutribollocks, and how we can figure out who to trust when it comes ot nutrition information. Maeve graduated with a First Class BSc Honours Degree in Dietetics from the University of Ulster Coleraine (Northern Ireland), has experience in Dietetics within the NHS and has written for a number of popular nutrition blogs as well as acting as consultant for journalists and media. Maeve has just released a book called Your No-Nonsense Guide to Eating Wellwhich you can find here The aim with this book is to demystify and simplify the process of eating well. This book is a fad-free zone which focuses on the bigger picture of health — it isn’t about quick-fix diets or losing weight. One of the key messages in the book is the importance of adopting a balanced and flexible approach to eating well as “food should compliment your life, not dominate it”.  You can find out more about Maeve and her work: Book: Paperback and Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-No-Nonsense-Guide-Eating-Well/dp/B089M41LB2/ Apple books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1518397956 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/your-no-nonsense-guide-to-eating-well More info about the book and link: https://dieteticallyspeaking.com/my-new-book/   Websites: Dietetically Speaking: https://dieteticallyspeaking.com/ Nutrimote: https://nutrimote.com/   Insta & facebook: @dieteticallyspeaking Twitter: @dieteticspeak  

In this episode I talk to Professor Emma Bell of Savoie University in France.  We explore the idea of soft authoritarianism, and how this concept can be used to examine British politics in the 20th century through to present day.  The discussion covers: What is Authoritarianism? Hayek v Keynesianism in Economics Positive and negative freedom: freedom FROM and freedom TO On the political right: fear of communism and encroachment of welfare state in private lives On the left: critique of ideologies which control behaviour eg sexuality, family structure; and critique of welfare state in failing to liberate people at the bottom of society Thatcher and after: return to Hayek and freedom from the state -> New Labour and widening social control  -> Cameron's Big Society Emma is Professor of Contemporary British Politics at Savoie Mont-Blanc University in  Chambéry, France. She has published widely in the UK and France on authoritarianism in the British State in journals such as the Observatoire de la Société Britannique, Race and Class, Theoretical Criminology and Socialism and Democracy. She is also a founding editor of the journal Justice, Power and Resistance. Her current research focuses on new forms of democracy and challenges to state authoritarianism.  Emma has written 2 books (links are affiliate marketing): Criminal Justice  and Neoliberalism (Palgrave, 2011) Soft Power and Freedom under the Coalition (Palgrave, 2015) 

Curiosity Cake is the podcast about ideas  for curious minds with big appetites. I talk to the best minds from academia and elsewhere to bring you accessible and engaging conversations across a wide range of topics with no prior knowledge required. ***SUBSCRIBE***RATE***REVIEW*** You can find out more at: www.curiositycake.co.uk Twitter: @curiosity_cake https://linktr.ee/curiositycake