logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2018
39m 27s

Alan Alda Wants Us To Have Better Conver...

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
About this episode
We've all experienced miscommunications. Their consequences can range from hilarious... to disastrous. The actor Alan Alda — yes, THAT Alan Alda — wants to help us avoid them. You might know him from his roles on television shows like M*A*S*H, The West Wing and 30 Rock, but in recent years Alda has also focused on helping scientists, and the rest of us, comm ... Show More
Up next
Nov 24
Parents: Keep Out!
<p>If you’re a parent or a teacher, you’ve probably wondered how to balance play and safety for the kids in your care. You don’t want to put children in danger, but you also don’t want to rob them of the joy of exploration. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with psych ... Show More
1h 18m
Nov 17
The Power of Family Stories
<p>There’s a tradition around many Thanksgiving dinner tables that’s as consistent as pumpkin pie: the family stories that get told year after year. Sometimes these stories are funny; sometimes they make us roll our eyes. No matter how we feel about them, we rarely pause to consi ... Show More
1h 37m
Nov 10
Why Following Your Dreams Isn't Enough
<p>Entrepreneurs typically have no shortage of passion, heart, and vision. But at Stanford University, <a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/hayagreeva-rao" target="_blank">Huggy Rao</a> says there are other elements that may matter more when it comes to ... Show More
1h 30m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
ALAN RITCHSON: "Ordinary Angels"
You may know him (like I did) from the popular "Reacher" series, but it turns out there's even more to Alan Ritchson than his ability to portray a swoony character with formidable strength and investigative prowess. He stars, alongside Hilary Swank, in the heartwarming movie, Ord ... Show More
30m 24s
Jun 2021
Different Strokes with Arshay Cooper and Dr. Kevin Stone
<p>Neil deGrasse Tyson rowed crew?! On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice explore the physics, physiology, and lessons of rowing, featuring Dr. Kevin Stone and Arshay Cooper, author of <em>A Most Beautiful Thing</em>.</p> <p>NOTE: StarTalk ... Show More
49m 5s
Feb 2022
The Science in "Don't Look Up" with Adam McKay and Dr. Amy Mainzer
<p>Is a comet coming to destroy Earth? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-host Chuck Nice talk about the science behind Netflix’s comet apocalypse movie <i>Don’t Look Up</i> with director Adam McKay and astronomer Amy Mainzer. Are we all gonna die?</p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ ... Show More
1h 8m
Aug 2017
Alanis Morissette
We’ve got a brand new episode of Unqualified with the one and only Alanis Morissette (CONVERSATION WITH ALANIS MORISSETTE)!!! In this episode, Anna asks Alanis what it is like being a rock star (12:00), Amy tells Alanis about an encounter they once had (16:00), and Alanis discuss ... Show More
58m 44s
Nov 2023
The Interstitium
<p>In this episode we introduce you to a part of our bodies that was invisible to Western scientists until about five years ago; it’s called "the interstitium," a vast network of fluid channels inside the tissues around our organs that scientists have just begun to see, name, and ... Show More
57m 58s
Apr 2022
Sticky Science: The Force Be With You with Laurie Winkless
<p>What are Van der Waals forces? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the fascinating world of surfaces, biomimicry, and Formula 1 with physicist and author of <i>Sticky: The Science of Surfaces</i>, Laurie Winkless. </p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Patron ... Show More
53m 8s
Jun 2021
Christian Hook and a Painting of Alan
Alan has a picture of himself that Christian painted, one of many paintings Christian has done of Alan. But what's the story behind them? And how does it involve Studio 54, La Wally, and Vodka? Well you're about to find out. Alan Cumming's Shelves is all about Alan Cumming and hi ... Show More
28m 10s
May 2019
The Art of Storytelling with Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin is an actor who has won numerous awards for his roles in TV and film. In his over 20-year career, Alec has portrayed a number of diverse roles- from Jack Donaghy in the Emmy-award winning show 30 Rock to Blake in the award-winning 90’s film, Glengarry Glen Ross. Rece ... Show More
18m 36s
Aug 2023
How to get more women in science, with Athene Donald
In the latest episode of Nature hits the books, physicist Athene Donald joins us to discuss her book Not just for the boys, why we need more women in science. We discuss how science has historically excluded women, the barriers to entry and retention that remain prevalent, and wh ... Show More
32m 14s