Best Ciara Murphy Podcasts (2025)

1
Mitchell Thomashow, "To Know the World: A New Vision for Environmental Learning" (MIT Press, 2020) 39:07

12h ago39:07

39:07

Why we must rethink our residency on the planet to understand the connected challenges of tribalism, inequity, climate justice, and democracy. How can we respond to the current planetary ecological emergency? In To Know the World: A New Vision for Environmental Learning (MIT Press, 2020), Mitchell Thomashow proposes that we revitalize, revisit, and…

1
Laura Otis, "Banned Emotions: How Metaphors Can Shape What People Feel" (Oxford UP, 2019) 35:21

1d ago35:21

35:21

Who benefits and who loses when emotions are described in particular ways? How do metaphors such as "hold on" and "let go" affect people's emotional experiences? Banned Emotions: How Metaphors Can Shape What People Feel (Oxford UP, 2019), written by neuroscientist-turned-literary scholar Laura Otis, draws on the latest research in neuroscience and …

1
Matthew Shindell, "Lunar: A History of the Moon in Myths, Maps and Matter" (U Chicago Press, 2024) 1:15:09

6d ago1:15:09

1:15:09

The first book to combine exquisite cartographical charts of the Moon with a thorough exploration of the Moon’s role in popular culture, science, and myth. President John F. Kennedy’s rousing “We will go to the Moon” speech in 1961 before the US Congress catalyzed the celebrated Apollo program, spurring the US Geological Survey’s scientists to map …

1
Season 1 Episode 9: "The One Where Underdog Gets Away" 53:17

11d ago53:17

53:17

This week, we’re digging into Friends Season 1, Episode 9, "The One Where Underdog Gets Away." From Joey’s unfortunate modeling gig and a Thanksgiving that goes completely off the rails to the legendary “Got the keys? / Got the keys!” debate (arguably even more divisive than ‘WE WERE ON A BREAK!), this one’s got it all! We chat about how Susan migh…

1
Nicole C. Nelson, "Model Behavior: Animal Experiments, Complexity, and the Genetics of Psychiatric Disorders" (U Chicago Press, 2018) 28:44

12d ago28:44

28:44

Mice are used as model organisms across a wide range of fields in science today--but it is far from obvious how studying a mouse in a maze can help us understand human problems like alcoholism or anxiety. How do scientists convince funders, fellow scientists, the general public, and even themselves that animal experiments are a good way of producin…

1
Nicole C. Nelson, "Model Behavior: Animal Experiments, Complexity, and the Genetics of Psychiatric Disorders" (U Chicago Press, 2018) 28:44

12d ago28:44

28:44

Mice are used as model organisms across a wide range of fields in science today--but it is far from obvious how studying a mouse in a maze can help us understand human problems like alcoholism or anxiety. How do scientists convince funders, fellow scientists, the general public, and even themselves that animal experiments are a good way of producin…

1
Season 1 Episode 8: "The One Where Nana Dies Twice" 1:01:18

26d ago1:01:18

1:01:18

This week, we’re getting to grips with Friends Season 1, Episode 8, "The One Where Nana Dies Twice." From Ross and Monica grappling with their grandmother’s very confusing passing to Chandler questioning how others perceive his sexuality (way ahead of its time!), we have a lot of thoughts on this one! We get into the ethics of matchmaking your cowo…

1
Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves 55:51

1M ago55:51

55:51

Ages before the dawn of modern medicine, wild animals were harnessing the power of nature’s pharmacy to heal themselves. In Doctors by Nature (Princeton UP, 2025), Dr. Jaap de Roode argues that we have underestimated the healing potential of nature for too long and shows how the study of self-medicating animals could impact the practice of human me…

1
Season 1 Episode 7: "The One with the Blackout" 58:53

1M ago58:53

58:53

This week, we’re diving into Friends Season 1, Episode 7, "The One with the Blackout." From Chandler getting trapped in an ATM vestibule with a supermodel (cue: “Gum would be perfection”) to Ross’s run-in with a very aggressive cat and the arrival of sexy Paolo, this one is packed with chaos—in the best way. We chat about our own accidental brushes…

1
Scientists Cooperate while Humanists Ruminate (EF, JP) 41:46

1M ago41:46

41:46

Back in 2021, John and Elizabeth sat down with Brandeis string theorist Albion Lawrence to discuss cooperation versus solitary study across disciplines. They sink their teeth into the question, “Why do scientists seem to do collaboration and teamwork better than other kinds of scholars and academics?” The conversation ranges from the merits of coll…

1
Ian Boyd, "Science and Politics" (Polity, 2024) 1:11:14

1M ago1:11:14

1:11:14

The recent coronavirus pandemic proved that the time-old notion seems now truer than ever: that science and politics represent a clash of cultures. But why should scientists simply “stick to the facts” and leave politics to the politicians when the world seems to be falling down around us? Drawing on his experience as both a research scientist and …

1
Yellowlees Douglas, "Writing for the Reader's Brain: A Science-Based Guide" (Cambridge UP, 2024) 1:01:55

1M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

What makes one sentence easy to read and another a slog that demands re-reading? Where do you put information you want readers to recall? Drawing on cognitive neuroscience, psychology and psycholinguistics, Writing for the Reader’s Brain (Cambridge University Press, 2025) provides a practical, how-to guide on how to write for your reader. It introd…

1
Rebecca Heisman, "Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration" (Harper, 2025) 41:59

2M ago41:59

41:59

In Flight Paths (HarperCollins, 2023), Rebecca Heisman illuminates the stories and methods of the scientists who unlocked the secrets of bird migration. How and why birds navigate the skies has continually fascinated the human imagination, but only recently have we been able to fully understand these amazing journeys. Flight Paths is the never-befo…

1
Season 1 Episode 6: "The One with the Butt" 57:03

2M ago57:03

57:03

This week, we take a crack at (pun intended!) Friends Season 1, Episode 6, "The One with the Butt." From Joey landing his big break (kind of) to Monica’s next-level cleaning obsession and Chandler’s unexpected brush with polyamory, there’s plenty to chat about! We also dive into Chandler’s unsettling doll collection, links between Friends and Harry…

1
Ciara Greene and Gillian Murphy, "Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember" (Princeton UP, 2025) 42:05

2M ago42:05

42:05

Today I’m speaking with Ciara Greene, co-author with Gillian Murphy of the new book, Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember (Princeton UP, 2025). Ciara is associate professor in the School of Psychology at University College Dublin, where she leads the Attention and Memory Laboratory. The scientific study of human memory has become e…

1
Ciara Greene and Gillian Murphy, "Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember" (Princeton UP, 2025) 43:50

2M ago43:50

43:50

Today I’m speaking with Ciara Greene, co-author with Gillian Murphy of the new book, Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember (Princeton UP, 2025). Ciara is associate professor in the School of Psychology at University College Dublin, where she leads the Attention and Memory Laboratory. The scientific study of human memory has become e…

1
Peter D. Hershock, "Consciousness Mattering: A Buddhist Synthesis" (Bloomsbury, 2023) 1:57:53

2M ago1:57:53

1:57:53

Consciousness Mattering (Bloombury, 2023) presents a contemporary Buddhist theory in which brains, bodies, environments, and cultures are relational infrastructures for human consciousness. Drawing on insights from meditation, neuroscience, physics, and evolutionary theory, it demonstrates that human consciousness is not something that occurs only …

1
Season 1 Episode 5: "The One with the East German Laundry Detergent" 1:00:39

2M ago1:00:39

1:00:39

This week, we’re unpacking Friends Season 1, Episode 5, "The One with the East German Laundry Detergent." We discuss Ross and Rachel’s maybe-date at the laundromat, Joey and Monica’s misguided matchmaking scheme, and Chandler’s hilariously painful attempts to break up with Janice. What’s more, we also share where Chandler Bing got his name, why the…

1
Grace Lindsay, "Models of the Mind: How Physics, Engineering and Mathematics Have Shaped Our Understanding of the Brain" (Bloomsbury, 2021) 51:54

2M ago51:54

51:54

Models of the Mind: How Physics, Engineering and Mathematics Have Shaped Our Understanding of the Brain (Bloomsbury, 2021) provides a multifaceted and approachable introduction to theoretical neuroscience. It discusses some major topics of the field, including both the milestones from their history and the currently open questions. It's accessible …

1
Grace Lindsay, "Models of the Mind: How Physics, Engineering and Mathematics Have Shaped Our Understanding of the Brain" (Bloomsbury, 2021) 51:54

2M ago51:54

51:54

Models of the Mind: How Physics, Engineering and Mathematics Have Shaped Our Understanding of the Brain (Bloomsbury, 2021) provides a multifaceted and approachable introduction to theoretical neuroscience. It discusses some major topics of the field, including both the milestones from their history and the currently open questions. It's accessible …

1
John Trowsdale, "What the Body Knows: A Guide to the New Science of Our Immune System" (Yale UP, 2024) 39:17

2M ago39:17

39:17

What is our immune system, and how does it work? A vast array of cells, proteins and chemicals spring into action whenever our bodies are damaged, but immunity is not something you can see, touch, or feel. It can fight off malicious bacteria and viruses, locate cancerous growths, and even rewire our brains--but sometimes our own tissues can get cau…

1
Episode 776: Einstein in Oxford - Andrew Robinson 45:53

2M ago45:53

45:53

An intimate account of Albert Einstein’s visit to Oxford in the 1930’s, casting new light on why he continues to be the world’s most famous scientist. In 1931, Albert Einstein visited Oxford to receive an honorary degree and lecture on relativity and the universe. While teaching, he naturally chalked equations and diagrams on several blackboards. T…

1
Episode 775: Hidden in the Heavens - Jason Steffen 1:02:22

2M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

Are we alone in the universe? It’s a fundamental question for Earth-dwelling humankind. Are there other worlds like ours, out there somewhere? In Hidden in the Heavens, Jason Steffen, a former scientist on NASA’s Kepler mission, describes how that mission searched for planets orbiting Sun-like stars—especially Earth-like planets circulating in Eart…

1
Unlocking the Secrets of the Nervous System: A Deep Dive with Dr. George S. Thompson and Patrick Ney 40:08

2M ago40:08

40:08

Parenting is an emotional rollercoaster – filled with moments of joy, stress, and everything in between. But what if there was a scientific way to understand and navigate these emotions more effectively? In a compelling new podcast episode, Patrick Ney, Lead Trainer at All About Parenting, sits down with Dr. George S. Thompson to explore the fascin…

1
Adrian Keith Perkel, "Unlocking the Nature of Human Aggression: A Psychoanalytic and Neuroscientific Approach" (Routledge, 2023) 1:10:58

3M ago1:10:58

1:10:58

Today I began my discussion with Dr. Adrian Perkel about his new book Unlocking The Nature of Human Aggression: A Psychoanalytic and Neuroscientific Approach (Routledge, 2024) “Aggression is to the mind what the immune system is to the body. It doesn’t seek the fight.” With this perfect mind-body analogy Dr. Perkel proposes a clear way to think the…

1
Leigh Ann Henion, "Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark" (Algonquin, 2024) 45:05

3M ago45:05

45:05

“Almost every storyline we’re familiar with suggests that we should banish [darkness] as quickly as possible—because darkness is often presented as a void of doom rather than a force of nature that nourishes lives, including our own.” According to Dark Sky International, 99% of people in the US live under the influence of skyglow. With each artific…

1
M. Chirimuuta, "The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience" (MIT Press, 2024) 52:44

3M ago52:44

52:44

This book is available open access here. The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience (MIT Press, 2024), Mazviita Chirimuuta argues that the standard ways neuroscientists simplify the human brain to build models for their research purposes mislead us about how the brain actually works. The key issue, instead, i…

1
Season 1 Episode 4: "The One with George Stephanopolous" 1:04:20

3M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

This week, we’re diving into Friends Season 1, Episode 4, The One with George Stephanopoulos! From the girls’ iconic drunken sleepover (complete with spying on a presidential aide) to Ross’s disastrous night at the hockey game, we break down all the hilarious and heartfelt moments. We also uncover some surprising trivia—like alternate options for t…

1
Eliot Schrefer, "Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality" (Clarion Books, 2022) 1:12:37

3M ago1:12:37

1:12:37

In this episode, I talk to Eliot Schrefer about his book Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality (Katherine Tegen Books, 2022). A quiet revolution has been underway in recent years, with study after study revealing substantial same-sex sexual behavior in animals. Join celebrated author Eliot Schrefer on an exploration…

1
Marcia Bjornerud, "Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks" (Flatiron Books, 2024) 36:45

3M ago36:45

36:45

Today I talked to Marcia Bjornerud about Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks (Flatiron Books, 2024). Rocks are the record of our creative planet reinventing itself for four billion years. Nothing is ever lost, just transformed. Marcia Bjornerud’s life as a geologist has coincided with an extraordinary period of discovery. From …

1
Steven Lesk, "Footprints of Schizophrenia: The Evolutionary Roots of Mental Illness" (Prometheus, 2023) 1:05:12

3M ago1:05:12

1:05:12

Of all the mental illnesses, schizophrenia eludes us the most. No matter the strides scientists have made in neurological research nor doctors have made in psychiatric treatment, schizophrenia remains misunderstood, almost complacently mythologized. Without a reason for the illness, patients feel even more alienated than they already do, families a…

1
Season 1 Episode 3: "The One with the Thumb " 1:14:04

3M ago1:14:04

1:14:04

This week, we’re breaking down Friends Season 1, Episode 3, "The One with the Thumb." From Chandler’s struggle to quit smoking to Monica’s seemingly perfect boyfriend Alan and Phoebe’s… uh, unexpected soda surprise, there’s so much to talk about! We chat about the weirdest things we’ve ever found in our food, the moment we all fell in love with Cha…

1
Season 1 Episode 1: "The One Where Monica Gets A Roommate" 58:36

3M ago58:36

58:36

In our debut episode, we dive into Friends Season 1, Episode 1, "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate." We break down all the iconic firsts: meeting the gang at Central Perk, the beginnings of Ross and Rachel’s will-they-won’t-they story, and Paul the Wine Guy’s memorable (if questionable) charm. Along the way, we chat about how we fell in love wit…

1
Season 1 Episode 2: "The One with the Sonogram at the End" 56:34

3M ago56:34

56:34

This week, we’re breaking down Friends Season 1, Episode 2, "The One with the Sonogram at the End." From the drama of Ross, Carol, and Susan to Monica’s awkward family dinner with her parents and Rachel’s discovery of Barry’s rebound, there’s a lot to unpack! We explore Gunther’s arrival, sibling dynamics, and what made Monica’s apartment so unforg…

1
Episode 774: Ciara Greene and Gillian Murphy - Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember 1:00:09

3M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

We tend to think of our memories as impressions of the past that remain fully intact, preserved somewhere inside our brains. In fact, we construct and reconstruct our memories every time we attempt to recall them. Memory Lane introduces readers to the cutting-edge science of human memory, revealing how our recollections of the past are constantly a…

1
Episode 773: David Bates - An Artificial History of Natural Intelligence 1:00:16

3M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

A new history of human intelligence that argues that humans know themselves by knowing their machines. We imagine that we are both in control of and controlled by our bodies—autonomous and yet automatic. This entanglement, according to David W. Bates, emerged in the seventeenth century when humans first built and compared themselves with machines. …

1
Episode 772: Gareth Gore - Opus 54:05

3M ago54:05

54:05

A thrilling exposé recounting how members of Opus Dei—a secretive, ultra-conservative Catholic sect—pushed its radical agenda within the Church and around the globe, using billions of dollars siphoned from one of the world’s largest banks. In an era of disinformation and deep fakes, here is a real-life conspiracy which hid in plain sight for more t…

1
Shoumita Dasgupta, "Where Biology Ends and Bias Begins: Lessons on Belonging from Our DNA" (U California Press, 2025) 59:39

4M ago59:39

59:39

Dr. Dasgupta is a geneticist and internationally recognized anti-racism educator. In this book, she provides a powerful, science-based rebuttal to common fallacies about human difference. Well-meaning physicians, parents, and even scientists today often spread misinformation about what biology can and can’t tell us about our bodies, minds, and iden…

1
William A. Selby, "The California Sky Watcher: Understanding Weather Patterns and What Comes Next" (Heyday Books, 2024) 50:57

4M ago50:57

50:57

Often stereotyped as the land of unflaggingly perfect weather, California has a world-renowned reputation for sunny blue skies and infinitely even-keeled temperatures. But the real story of the Golden State's weather is vastly more complex. From the scorching heat of Death Valley to the coastal redwoods' dripping in dew, California is home to a diz…

1
Bruce Lieberman and Niles Eldredge, "Macroevolutionaries: Reflections on Natural History, Paleontology, and Stephen Jay Gould" (Columbia UP, 2024) 40:54

4M ago40:54

40:54

One of the twentieth century's great paleontologists and science writers, Stephen Jay Gould was, for Bruce S. Lieberman and Niles Eldredge, also a close colleague and friend. In Macroevolutionaries: Reflections on Natural History, Paleontology, and Stephen Jay Gould (Columbia UP, 2024), they take up the tradition of Gould's acclaimed essays on natu…

1
Patchen Barss, "The Impossible Man: Roger Penrose and the Cost of Genius" (Basic Books, 2024) 35:16

4M ago35:16

35:16

When he was six years old, Roger Penrose discovered a sundial in a clearing near his house. Through that machine made of light, shadow, and time, Roger glimpsed a “world behind the world” of transcendently beautiful geometry. It spurred him on a journey to become one of the world’s most influential mathematicians, philosophers, and physicists. Penr…

1
Camilla Nord, "The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health" (Princeton UP, 2024) 39:22

4M ago39:22

39:22

There are many routes to mental well-being. In this groundbreaking book, neuroscientist Camilla Nord offers a fascinating tour of the scientific developments that are revolutionising the way we think about mental health, showing why and how events--and treatments--can affect people in such different ways. In The Balanced Brain: The Science of Menta…

1
Camilla Nord, "The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health" (Princeton UP, 2024) 39:22

4M ago39:22

39:22

There are many routes to mental well-being. In this groundbreaking book, neuroscientist Camilla Nord offers a fascinating tour of the scientific developments that are revolutionising the way we think about mental health, showing why and how events--and treatments--can affect people in such different ways. In The Balanced Brain: The Science of Menta…

1
Mariam Motamedi Fraser, "Dog Politics: Species Stories and the Animal Sciences" (Manchester UP, 2024) 1:05:34

4M ago1:05:34

1:05:34

Do dogs belong with humans? Scientific accounts of dogs' 'species story,' in which contemporary dog-human relations are naturalised with reference to dogs' evolutionary becoming, suggest that they do. Dog Politics: Species Stories and the Animal Sciences (Manchester UP, 2024) by Dr. Mariam Motamedi Fraser dissects this story. This book offers a ric…

1
Barbara J. Sahakian and Christelle Langley, "Brain Boost: Healthy Habits for a Happier Life" (Cambridge UP, 2025) 31:56

5M ago31:56

31:56

Your mental health is as important as your physical health and, in times of stress, it's vital to have enhanced cognition and reserves of resilience. Brain Boost: Healthy Habits for a Happier Life (Cambridge UP, 2025) is packed with practical tips, based on scientific evidence, that will teach you how to implement lifestyle strategies that will imp…

1
Willingness for climate action in South Korea and Finland: A cross-cultural comparison 44:13

5M ago44:13

44:13

Climate change is among the most significant challenges facing modern society, and it impacts everyone across the world. How do people in different socio-cultural contexts perceive the climate crisis, and how willing are they to engage in climate-related action? In this episode, we will compare perceptions about climate change and willingness for c…

1
David Strayer, "Beyond the Sea: The Hidden Life in Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands" (Johns Hopkins UP, 2024) 36:11

5M ago36:11

36:11

Beyond the Sea: The Hidden Life in Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands (Johns Hopkins UP, 2024) is an exciting foray into Earth's inland waters, the remarkable species they contain, and the conservation challenges of protecting them. In Beyond the Sea, he introduces readers to the world's most remarkable and varied inland waters, including massive lakes t…

1
Cordelia Fine, "Testosterone Rex: Myths of Sex, Science, and Society" (Norton, 2018) 1:15:44

5M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

Many people believe that, at its core, biological sex is a fundamental, diverging force in human development. According to this overly familiar story, differences between the sexes are shaped by past evolutionary pressures―women are more cautious and parenting-focused, while men seek status to attract more mates. In each succeeding generation, sex …

1
Charles Foster, "Being a Human: Adventures in Forty Thousand Years of Consciousness" (Metropolitan Books, 2021) 1:02:18

5M ago1:02:18

1:02:18

How did humans come to be who we are? In his marvelous, eccentric, and widely lauded book Being a Beast, legal scholar, veterinary surgeon, and naturalist extraordinaire Charles Foster set out to understand the consciousness of animal species by living as a badger, otter, fox, deer, and swift. Now, he inhabits three crucial periods of human develop…

1
Other Minds with Peter Godfrey-Smith (EF, JP) 50:09

5M ago50:09

50:09

Peter Godfrey-Smith knows his cephalopods. Once of CUNY and now a professor of history and philosophy of science at University of Sydney, his truly capacious career includes books such as Theory and Reality (2003; 2nd edition in 2020), Darwinian Populations and Natural Selection (2009) and most recently Metazoa. RtB--including two Brandeis undergra…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Ciara Murphy Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen