Due to technical problems with my recording system, I can not provide a new episode of Critical Wit this week. However, I have stitched together two excerpts of earlier episodes that either you may have not heard, or would appreciate a recap of some of the more interesting parts of the interviews. The first excerpt is from episode 3 and is a discussion of author Matt Bell’s book How They Were Found, and the second excerpt is from episode 14 and is an interview with author Steve Hamilton and his book The Lock Artist. You can find reference links that are discussed in this episode, in the show notes of the original episodes.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Critical Wit #64 – Glowing Genes: A Revolution in Biotechnology (Marc Zimmer)[ 19:58 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Marc Zimmer is a professor of physical sciences with a specialization in computational chemistry at Connecticut College. He is also the author of “Glowing Genes: A Revolution in Biotechnology.” In this episode we discuss why the search for glowing jellyfish resulted in a biotechnological innovation that would be almost as important as the invention of the microscope.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Due to technical problems with my recording system, there won’t be a new episode of Critical Wit for a couple of weeks. However, I have stitched together two excerpts of earlier, popular episodes that either you may have not heard, or would appreciate a recap of some of the more interesting parts of the interviews. The first excerpt is from episode 11 and is about the evolutionary history of penguins, and the second excerpt is from episode 13 and is about the conservation of bats. You can find reference links that are discussed in this episode, in the show notes of the original episodes.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Amy Sisson is a librarian, book reviewer, writer, and science fiction fan. She is also a personal friend of guest host Julia Jenkins. In this episode, Amy and Julia talk about several sci fi and fantasy books of which Amy recommends, especially to mainstream (or non-sci-fi) readers. Learn more about Amy, her book reviews, and her own writings at amysreviews.blogspot.com.
Julia Jenkins is a librarian and book blogger at pagesofjulia.com, where she reviews a diverse collection of fiction and nonfiction, including audiobooks and occasional other miscellany.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Critical Wit #56 – The Price of Gold: The Toll and Triumph of One Man's Olympic Dream (Ian Dille)[ 20:15 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Ian Dille is a freelance journalist and co-author of “The Price of Gold: The Toll and Triumph of One Man’s Olympic Dream.” In this episode, guest host Julia Jenkins chats with Dille about the subject of this book, many-time track cycler champion Marty Nothstein. Nothstein is an Olympic Gold and Silver medalist in Match Sprint bicycle racing, a sport where contestants compete on a banked oval track called a velodrome. You can find out more about Ian Dille by visiting his website www.iandille.com.
Julia Jenkins is a librarian and blogger at the website, “pagesofjulia”, which reviews books, audiobooks, and other pop culture literary works. You can subscribe to her website at http://pagesofjulia.com/.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Erin Blakemore is the author of “The Heroine’s Bookshelf“, a non-fiction story about twelve classic, literary heroines and the authors who created them. In this episode, guest host Julia Jenkins talks with Blakemore about the book which explores how contemporary audiences can relate to the classic writers, and what life lessons can be appreciated even now by the actions of these fantastic women characters. And there’s even an interesting discussion near the end of the conversation about literary fans who debate about which book is superior; “Jane Eyre” vs. “Wuthering Heights.” You can find out more about Erin and her book by visiting theheroinesbookshelf.com.
Julia Jenkins is a librarian and blogger at the website “pagesofjulia”, which reviews books, audiobooks, and other pop culture literary works. You can subscribe to her website at http://pagesofjulia.com/.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
In this episode, I talk with documentary film-maker, Scott Thurman. We discuss his current documentary film, “The Revisionaries.” It centers on the story from 2011 about the Texas State Board of Education’s push to update the school curriculum’s science standards as it relates to the teaching of evolution. This conversation originally took place in early February, but near the end of the episode, I have a second, brief conversation from April 15, where Scott provides an update on the movie’s progress. You can find out more about this movie and when it may be played in your area by visiting www.therevisionariesmovie.com or the movie’s Facebook page.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
*Edit – In the introduction and conclusion of the interview, I incorrectly stated the movie’s website. It should be www.therevisionariesmovie.com.
Sophie Bushwick is a freelance science writer who contributes to Scientific American’s Sixty Seconds Podcast, and is a writer for the io9 blogging network. In this episode, we discuss the topic of graphene, a substance that has promising features and qualities for future technological innovations, such as more efficient solar cells, improved semiconductors, and more. You can subscribe to Sophie’s blog, “Life is just a theory,” at www.sophiebushwick.com and follow her on Twitter @SophieBushwick.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Episode 51 - Lab Lit: Literature About Science and Scientists in the Laboratory[ 20:37 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Dr. Jennifer Rohn is a cell biologist, novelist, and founder of LabLit.com. In this episode, Jennifer and I talk about why there are not many stories that involve scientists as main characters. And so, LabLit.com was created to be a resource for storytelling and art that involve science, whether it’s characters or laboratory settings. Jennifer is also the writer of two novels, Experimental Heart, and The Honest Look…both of which are available online or can be obtained through your local bookstore. You can follow Jennifer on Twitter @JennyRohn. And you can also follow LabLit on Twitter @LabLit.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Sheridan Tongue is a film music and television programmer in England. In this episode, we discuss the process of writing compositions for film and television, his work on the popular science series ‘Wonders of the Universe with Brian Cox’ and ‘Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking.’ You can find out more about Sheridan’s work by visiting his website http://www.sheridantongue.com/ and you can follow him on twitter @SheridanTongue. You can also purchase the ‘Wonders’ soundtrack, as well as other songs, of Sheridan’s at your local music stores, online, and in iTunes.
I want to give thanks to Patrick McComb for assistance provided in preparation for the interview.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
In this episode, I give you more interview excerpts from off of the cutting room floor, such as Zachary Moore gives his favorite evidence of evolution that’s not relevant to molecular genetics (episode 43), why Rosie Redfield thinks it’s important for scientists to blog (epsd 42), what Sean B Carroll thinks are some of the under-appreciated qualities of Charles Darwin (epsd 46), and what Barbara Oakley thinks is the hardest part of writing about technical science for the general public (episode 40). And of course, we include a few funny clips, both of which occur in episode 44 & 45, when Peggy Nelson seems to ironically preface a drop-out in the conversation…listen carefully.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Katie McKissick is a “former high school biology teacher who simply loves to talk, write, and read about science.” She’s also the author and illustrator of “Beatrice the Biologist,” a fun, informative website about science. In this episode, guest host Sophie Bushwick chats with Katie about her unique way of describing science through blogging and illustrating. And they discuss one of the more popularly read Beatrice the Biologist articles, “Biology Doesn’t Support Gay Marriage Bans” and how it spun off into a conversation about olives. You can subscribe to Katie’s website at www.beatricebiologist.com, and like her Facebook page, and follow her on Twitter @beatricebiology.
Special thanks to Ira Moore for providing some technical counsel in this episode. If you’re interested in checking out Ira Moore’s music for your multimedia project, you can visit his website at http://iraemoore.weebly.com.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Bonnie Jo Campbell is the author of critically-acclaimed books, such as her short story collections “Women And Other Animals,” and the 2009 National Book Award finalist, “American Salvage.” In this episode, we talk about her recent novel, “Once Upon A River.” A story about a young girl’s journey up the river in search of her mother. You can find out more about Bonnie Jo by visiting her website: bonniejocampbell.com. And you can follow her on twitter @bonniejocampbel.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Critical Wit #46 - On Charles Darwin: A Conversation with Sean B Carroll[ 20:06 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Dr. Sean B Carroll is an award-winning scientist, author, and educator. He is currently Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics and an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Wisconsin. With Darwin Day coming up, we talk about Charles Darwin. We discuss some of the interesting aspects to the famous naturalist, in particular those that Darwin fans may otherwise not fully appreciate or understand. Sean also talks about an important resource of which educators can get free materials on evolution: Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Visit http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/ for more information.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
In the second of this two-episode interview, Sophie Bushwick talks with Peggy Nelson, a new media artist who’s currently using Twitter to tell the amazing survival story of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. In the previous episode, Nelson provided a detailed overview of Shackleton’s perilous 1914 expedition. In this episode, Nelson describes how Twitter can be used as a narrative medium, as well as other new media that Nelson utilizes to create art. You can find out more about Peggy Nelson by visiting her website http://www.peggynelson.com/, as well as her author page at hilobrow.com. And don’t forget, you can follow Ernest Shackleton on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/EShackleton and be a witness to his struggle for survival.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Critical Wit #44 - Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure...Told On Twitter[ 32:02 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Peggy Nelson is a new media artist who’s currently using Twitter to tell the incredible survival story of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. In the first of this two-episode interview, Sophie Bushwick talks with Nelson, who recounts Ernest Shackleton’s incredible 1914 expedition and why she ultimately decided to tell his tale on Twitter. You can find out more about Peggy Nelson by visiting her website at www.peggynelson.com, and you can follow Ernest Shackleton in the midst of his adventure, describing his experiences at http://twitter.com/EShackleton.
Sophie Bushwick is a freelance science writer who contributes to Scientific American’s Sixty Seconds Podcast, and the io9 blogging network. You can subscribe to her blog called “Life is just a theory” at www.sophiebushwick.com and follow her on Twitter @SophieBushwick.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Zachary Moore is a molecular biologist and host of the Evolution 101 podcast. The 38-episode podcast consists of short episodes that are designed to provide a simple explanation of the independent lines of evidence that support the theory of evolution. In this episode, we talk about some of the molecular evidence that supports the conclusion that species evolved from common ancestors. You can find the podcast in various podcast directories, as well as transcripts at http://evolution-101.blogspot.com. And you can follow Zachary Moore on Twitter @drzach.
Dr. Rosie Redfield is a microbiologist at the University of British Columbia and science writer for the Field of Science blog network. In this episode, guest host Sophie Bushwick talks with Dr. Redfield about her work on whether bacteria have sex, the possibility of arsenic-based life forms, and the importance of blogging and open science. Dr. Redfield has recently been named one of Nature magazine’s ‘ten people who mattered in 2011.’ You can follow Rosie Redfield on Twitter @RosieRedfield and subscribe to her blog at http://rrresearch.fieldofscience.com.
Sophie Bushwick is a freelance science writer who contributes to Scientific American’s Sixty Seconds Podcast, and the io9 blogging network. You can subscribe to her blog called “Life is just a theory” at www.sophiebushwick.com and follow her on Twitter @SophieBushwick.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
In this episode, I give you more interview excerpts from off of the cutting room floor, such as when I asked Mark Stevenson about nanotechnology, as well as how it felt interviewing the great minds in science (epsd 32), why the articles about imagination and creativity are amongst Maria Konnikova’s favorites in her Lessons From Sherlock Holmes series (epsd 38), and comedian Jill Twiss about differences between theater and stand-up (epsd 33), and of course, some bloopers and a tangential aside about cake-baking.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Aaron is the young host of Aaron’s World, a popular podcast about ancient animals from an ancient time. Aaron plays himself as a time-traveling explorer who visits eras in which dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and other extinct animals roamed the world. And he shares with the listeners interesting information about them, all the while getting himself into precarious situations. You can subscribe to the Aaron’s World podcast by visiting http://aaronstotle.blogspot.com or in iTunes. Aaron’s World is also on Facebook and Google Plus.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Maria Konnikova is a writer, doctoral candidate, and blogger at Scientific American. She has recently finished a series called “Lessons of Sherlock Holmes” – a chronicle that explores how examples from the fictional detective stories can help provide insight into not only how humans think, but also, how we should think. You can subscribe to Maria’s SciAm blog, called ‘Literally Psyched’, and bookmark her website: mariakonnikova.com. And you can follow her on Twitter @mkonnikova.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Critical Wit #37 – Rambunctious (not Ragamuffin) Gardens: Ecosystem Innovations[ 23:17 ]Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Emma Marris is a freelance science writer and author of Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World. In this episode, Emma talks about her book, describing how the perspective in which humans have had about the importance of wilderness to be pure and pristine is an outdated notion. It disregards the impact in which ecosystems throughout the world have been already affected by human influence. Therefore, it is time to look at different ways in which ecosystems can be created or modified in order to endure the changing the climate and world. You can find out more about Emma by visiting her website www.emmamarris.com and you can follow her on twitter @Emma_Marris.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Dr. Edwin (Ted) Bergin is professor of Astronomy at the University of Michigan, who researches the “molecular trail of our origins.” In this episode we talk about what science has theorized regarding the way in which Earth obtained its water.
You can read and subscribe to MittenLit.com to keep track of literature news regarding Michigan authors. And you can also get news by following Bill on Twitter @MittenLit1.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow Critical Wit on Twitter @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Jill Twiss is a theater actress and stand-up comedian who according to her website is “creating world peace through stand-up comedy.” In this episode we talk a bit about her work as both a performer in theater and comedy. You can find her website at jilltwiss.blogspot.com, where there are videos of some of her performances. And if you’re on twitter, I encourage you to follow her at @jilltwiss.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Mark Stevenson is the author of An Optimist’s Tour of the Future: One Curious Man Sets Out to Answer “What’s Next?”, a funny, informative story about the technologies and innovations that’s driving humanity. Mark interviews the brightest minds researching things, such as transhumanism, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, carbon capture, and more. This book is ideal for science enthusiasts who want to be pragmatically optimistic about the future. You can find out more about Mark Stevenson by visiting his website, http://anoptimiststourofthefuture.com.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
In the second of this special two-part episode, I provide some more audio clips of interviews from the previous ten episodes. Clips like whether “transgenic” is the same as “genetically engineered”, the similarities between Alfred Wegner and Charles Darwin, and comparing the United States to the rest of the world as it relates to capital punishment. And also, for fun, I include a few bloopers, like when I ironically mess up an episode intro, and when – during my note-taking – I forget I’m in the middle of an interview.
If you’re interested in checking out Ira Moore’s music for your multimedia project, you can visit his website at http://iraemoore.weebly.com
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
In this special two-part episode, I provide some audio clips from interviews that were not included in their respective episodes due to time constraints. But I saved them because I thought they were informative and interesting. Clips like “rules of thumb” when buying a car, is Alfred Wegner a good example of a “one man with an idea who was ridiculed by mainstream science, but was proven right”, and why are death row inmates so much more expensive to taxpayers?
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Holly Moeller is a graduate student of Ecology and Evolution at Stanford Universityand author of the Seeing Green blog. In this episode, we talk about sustainable fisheries. And we also talk about an aquatic organism that Holly has studied, which has a very interesting adaptation.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook, following Critical Wit on Twitter (@TheCriticalWit) and/or giving the show a rating in iTunes. Thanks!
Chris McDonald is a professor of music studies, with a phD in ethnomusicology. He is also the author of Rush, Rock Music, and the Middle Class: Dreaming in Middletown, a book that explores the music and lyric themes in the music of Rush, the progressive rock band from Canada. We talk about these things, as well as the influence that Rush has had on both fans and critics.
Kristin Rose is a graduate student at Harvard, and blogger at Try Nerdy, a website that discusses interesting and cool science, and unabashedly promotes nerdiness. In this episode we talk about synesthesia, a neurological condition that causes one sensory experience to create another sensory experience, such as seeing colors when hearing a specific sounds. I very much recommend bookmarking her website. And if you’re on Facebook, you can like her Try Nerdy page, and if you’re on Twitter, follow her @TryNerdy.
And if you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter, @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
“Voices” is a book that presents arguments on both sides of the death penalty debate, but in a unique way – through the testimony of experts, organizations, religious figures, victims, and ordinary citizens. This book is an all-encompassing perspective of the controversial issue, and in a way that is both accessible and gratifying to a rational-minded reader.
Phil Reed is a Senior Consumer Advice Editor for Edmunds.com, an organization that offers information on automobiles. Phil has written extensively on buying and selling cars, and so we discuss some strategies on how to make the car buying experience more simpler and pleasant. You can find an archive of Phil’s articles on Edmunds.com.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Steve Matheson is an evolutionary cell biologist and blogger at Quintessence of Dust. We discuss what it’s meant by something to be falsifiable in science. We use the example of evolution by natural selection versus intelligent design. You can follow Steve on Twitter @sfmatheson.
In this special episode, I provide some audio clips from interviews that were not included in their respective episodes due to time constraints. But I saved them because I thought they were informative and interesting. I hope you find them to be, as well. And because a clip show wouldn’t be one without funny moments, there are a few of them as well.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter; @TheCriticalWit. Thanks!
Dan Moutal is a blogger and podcaster for the website, Irregular Climate. In this episode, I ask Dan to clarify what the scientific consensus is on global warming, as well as what are the concerns that scientists have with regard to a climate that is changing due to global warming. Besides subscribing to his blog and podcast (which is in iTunes and Zune), you can also follow him on Twitter @IrregularClimate.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. Thanks!
Bill Castanier is a literary journalist for the Lansing City Pulse, and blogger at MittenLit.com. In this episode, Bill reviews four excellent novels written by Michigan authors. The first is a mystery called “Very Bad Men“ written by Harry Dolan. The second is “Things We Didn’t Say” by Kristina Riggle. The third is “Once Upon A River” by Bonnie Jo Campbell. And the last book is “The Raising” written by Laura Kasischke. Bill also talks about the Kerrytown BookFest occuring in Ann Arbor, Michigan on September 11. You can read and subscribe to MittenLit.com to keep track of literature news regarding Michigan authors. And you can also get news by following MittenLit on Twitter @MittenLit1.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give it a rating in iTunes. Thanks!
Travis Saunders is a PhD student researching the relationship between sedentary time and chronic disease risk in children and youth. He is also a Certified Exercise Physiologist. In this episode, Travis talks about how sedentary behavior is different than inactivity, and why it has more serious health risks. And we also talk about how just getting as much activity in a day can have significantly improved health benefits. Travis is a contributing blogger at Obesity Panacea, is co-host of the Obesity Panacea podcast, and he tweets on Twitter (you can follow him @TravisSaunders).
Zen Faulkes is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Texas-Pan American. In this episode, Zen talks about Senator Tom Coburn’s report that criticized the National Science Foundation’s funding of certain science research. Zen also talks aboutwhy it’s important for scientists to do replication work on other scientists’ research, as well as getting replication research published in science journals. Zen blogs at NeuroDojo and you can follow him on twitter @DoctorZen.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook or give it a rating in iTunes. Thank you!
Steve Hamilton is a two-time Edgar Award winning author. Steve discusses his second stand-alone novel, The Lock Artist, which won both an Edgar Award for best mystery, and also the Alex Award for best young-adult novel (which as you hear in the interview came as a total surprise to him). The Lock Artist is now available in paperback, and his newest book, Misery Bay is the eighth installment of his popular Alex McKnight books. You can find out more about Steve Hamilton and his books by visiting his website at authorstevehamilton.com. And you can follow him on Twitter @authorsteve.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider giving it a rating on iTunes or “liking” the Critical Wit page on Facebook.
Rob Mies is a scientist and conservationist, and co-founder of the Organization of Bat Conservation. He educates and entertains for public and has appeared on national television shows in order to promote the importance of bats in our ecosystems. And Rob talks about how people can help with bat conservation in modest ways.
You can find out more about bats by visiting www.batconservation.org, including information on building bat houses, setting up bat gardens, as well as fun events like the Great Lakes Bat Festival which occurs on July 9th. You can find this event on Facebook, and you can follow the OBC on Twitter @BatConservation
If you enjoy the Critical Wit podcast and are on Facebook, please consider “liking” the Critical Wit page. And if you subscribe to this podcast via iTunes, please consider rating it and/or leave a review.
Mick West is a pilot and creator of the website, ContrailScience.com. We talk about the history and science of contrails; how they are formed, how they take on a variety of shapes, and why they can last for short or long durations. And we’ll also discuss Mick’s criticsm of the chemtrail conspiracy. We also discuss another website he’s developed recently on ‘how to debunk’ called Metabunk.org. You can follow Mick on Twitter at @MickWest.
If you enjoy the Critical Wit podcast and are on Facebook, please consider “liking” theCritical Wit page.
Dr. Daniel Ksepka is a vertebrate paleontologist that works at North Carolina State University. Dan has done a lot of research in studying penguin fossils, and we discuss the evolutionary history of penguins as determined from the fossil record. Dan also has a fantastic blog called March of the Fossil Penguins and you can follow him on Twitter @ksepkalab.
There is also a great 50-minute lecture online in which Dan provides a comprehensive overview on penguin evolution. It’s really, really good.
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Kevin deLaplante, a Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Iowa State University. We’ll discuss his work online at The Critical Thinker Academy, an educational resource that teaches critical thinking. And Kevin breaks down five elements of critical thinking; logic, argumentation, rhetoric, background knowledge, and a cultivation of a set of attitudes and values. Kevin also has a distinct video and audio podcast which is available to download from his website and iTunes.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit podcast’s Facebook page.
In this supplemental episode, Dr. Charles Bamforth, provides an overview on the complex process of making beer. This episode is intended to be listened to after Episode 9 “The Science of Brewing.” (episode 9 supplemental)
Dr. Charles Bamforth is an enzymologist and an Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Science at the University of California – Davis. He is also the author of many books including, Beer: Tap into the Art and Science of Brewing and Beer Is Proof God Loves Us: Reaching for the Soul of Beer and Brewing. In this episode we talk about the science, history, and overall appreciation of beer. A supplemental episode is provided for beer aficionados and brewers about the process in which beer is made. (episode 9)
Brian Wecht, particle physicist at the University of Michigan talks about the theoretical particle of the Standard Model of Physics called the Higgs Boson, and why he’s certain the LHC will eventually find it. We also talk about his other project, The Story Collider – which is an event and podcast of people talking about personal stories that are often funny and sometimes poignant, but relate to science. (episode 7)
Hugh McDiarmid Jr., communications director from the Michigan Environmental Council, discusses how states, like Michigan, entice green energy manufacturing and generation; and to what degree its citizens can understand the political, economical, and logistical factors involved. Although we use Michigan as an example, if you’re listening to this from somewhere else, you may find what we discuss applicable to where you live. Hugh also a personal blog at www.mittenstateblog.blogspot.com. (episode 5)
Chris Bailey from Grimstone Incorporated discusses paranormal investigations. He delineates between paranormal ghost investigation and ghost-hunting. And we try to find a middle ground between my skepticism towards and his acceptance of the possibility that paranormal phenomena is real. You can find out more about his group at www.grimstone-inc.com. (episode 4)
Author Matt Bell discusses his book, How They Were Found, a collection of short stories published by Keyhole Press. We talk about the writing process, as well as the ideas and inspirations behind a few of his stories, in particular the compelling and surreal “The Receiving Tower” and “His Last Great Gift.” You can find out more about Matt by visiting his website, www.mdbell.com (episode 3)
Dr. Greg Gbur discusses the physics behind invisibility cloaks. Gbur is a professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. He has an amazing blog called Skulls in the Stars which features bizarre science facts, as well as insight into how science has inspired science fiction and horror literature, and vice versa. (episode 2)
Dr. Steven Salzberg discusses direct-to-consumer genetic kits. Salzberg is a professor at the University of Maryland. He has a fantastic blog called ‘Genomics, Evolution, and Pseudoscience’ at http://genome.fieldofscience.com/ (episode 1).
This is Critical Wit, a podcast about science, literature, and the arts. I’m Chris Lindsay. And each week, I’ll talk with someone about a particular subject that hopefully will be interesting and entertaining to you. The show will be released every Thursday, and the average episode will be about 20 minutes.
Critical Wit is licensed by the Creative Commons. You may re-broadcast all or any part of the show “as is” with attribution.
Due to technical problems with my recording system, I can not provide a new episode of Critical Wit this week. However, I have stitched together two excerpts of earlier episodes that either you may have not heard, or would appreciate a recap of some of the more interesting parts of the interviews. The first excerpt is from episode 3 and is a discussion of author Matt Bell’s book How They Were Found, and the second excerpt is from episode 14 and is an interview with author Steve Hamilton and his book The Lock Artist. You can find reference links that are discussed in this episode, in the show notes of the original episodes.
Amy Sisson is a librarian, book reviewer, writer, and science fiction fan. She is also a personal friend of guest host Julia Jenkins. In this episode, Amy and Julia talk about several sci fi and fantasy books of which Amy recommends, especially to mainstream (or non-sci-fi) readers. Learn more about Amy, her book reviews, and her own writings at 
In this episode, I give you more interview excerpts from off of the cutting room floor, such as when I asked Mark Stevenson about nanotechnology, as well as how it felt interviewing the great minds in science (epsd 32), why the articles about imagination and creativity are amongst Maria Konnikova’s favorites in her Lessons From Sherlock Holmes series (epsd 38), and comedian Jill Twiss about differences between theater and stand-up (epsd 33), and of course, some bloopers and a tangential aside about cake-baking.
Aaron is the young host of 
Emma Marris is a freelance science writer and author of 
Jill Adams returns to Critical Wit to talk about her experience attending the 
Jill Twiss is a theater actress and stand-up comedian who according to her website is “creating world peace through stand-up comedy.” In this episode we talk a bit about her work as both a performer in theater and comedy. You can find her website at 
In the second of this special two-part episode, I provide some more audio clips of interviews from the previous ten episodes. Clips like whether “transgenic” is the same as “genetically engineered”, the similarities between Alfred Wegner and Charles Darwin, and comparing the United States to the rest of the world as it relates to capital punishment. And also, for fun, I include a few bloopers, like when I ironically mess up an episode intro, and when – during my note-taking – I forget I’m in the middle of an interview.
Roger McCoy is author of 
(episode 1).
