Wild Connection

From One Cell with Ben Stanger

On this episode I talk to Dr. Ben Stanger, a distinguished author and expert in cellular biology. Dr. Stanger's latest book, From One Cell: A Journey Into Life’s Origins and the Future of Medicine explains the mysteries of cellular development and its profound implications for understanding life itself.

In his book, Dr. Stanger masterfully navigates through the intricate landscape of cellular biology, tracing the historical milestones that have shaped our current understanding. From the groundbreaking discoveries of cell division to the modern insights into cellular differentiation, Dr. Stanger illuminates the awe-inspiring complexity of life at its most fundamental level.

If you enjoy this episode with Dr. Ben Stanger, please take a moment to like, share, and rate our podcast on your favorite platform. Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue bringing you fascinating content.

You can follow Ben on Twitter @BenStanger01 and check out his website 

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @wildconnectpod for updates and behind-the-scenes insights. We value your feedback, so let us know what topics you'd like to hear more about in future episodes.

You can also follow me, your host Dr. Jen on Twitter and Instagram @RealDrJen 

Here is a link to the paper I mentioned on the episode that talks about fruit fly evolution, specifically white eyes and red eyes. 

Exploring the Final Frontier with Mohamed Noor

Today, we're venturing into the fascinating world of science communication, with a sneak peak into how evolutionary genetics can go mainstream. Who better to join us on this intergalactic adventure than, Dr. Mohamed Noor, a true visionary crossing the boundaries of science and science fiction.

He's an evolutionary geneticist based at Duke University and a Darwin Wallace medal recipient. Not only does he unravel the mysteries of life here on Earth, but he also consults for none other than Star Trek, where science meets the final frontier. As if that wasn’t cool enough, he is author of a few books including “Live Long and Evolve: What Star Trek Can Teach Us about Evolution, Genetics, and Life on Other Worlds,” an entertaining introduction to genetics and evolutionary concepts all through the lens of a popular science-fiction television show. 

To catch up with Dr. Noor you can follow him on Twitter @mafnoor and his lab here. 

Be sure to follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod

You can also follow me on Twitter: @realdrjen Instagram: @readrjen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen

YouTube: Wild Connection TV

 

Talking Plastics with Peter Okwoko

Picture a world drowning in plastic waste, from the vast oceans to the remotest corners of the Earth. That's our world. It's a challenge that demands our immediate attention and collective action. In this episode, I talk with entrepreneur Peter Okwoko. He's also the co-founder of TakaTaka Plastics a company at the forefront of taking layers of plastic and creating usable construction products. 

He’s inspiring his community and others to explore the incredible possibilities within the realm of plastic recycling. From innovative technologies to the grassroots initiatives, Takataka Plastics is working tirelessly to turn the tide on plastic waste in Uganda.

You can keep up with Peter and Takataka Plastics here:

https://www.takatakaplastics.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/takataka-plastics/

And for some really exciting ideas on how to get started ups cycling plastic check out Brothers Make YouTube Channel

The Formula with László Barabási

It’s a new year. Maybe you’ve made some resolutions, come up with your next big idea, or are busy fine-tuning your strategy for the year ahead. Success is on everyone's mind, so what better time than now to talk to someone who has cracked the code. That would be none other than best-selling author, network scientist, and visionary, Albert László Barabási, the brilliant mind behind the groundbreaking book, "The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success"?

We learn at a very early age that if you perform well, even the best, you will succeed. And to a certain point that is true. There is a strong link between performance and success, but it’s not so straightforward. 

How can we balance effort, opportunity, and timing to maximize success? You can’t be successful without strong performance but there are other ingredients, a special sauce, if you will, that can make the difference between ordinary and extraordinary success. We talk about all this ad more in this week's episode. 

We also want to hear from you! Share your thoughts, stories, and questions with us on social media using the hashtag #ScienceOfSuccess.

Keep up with Barabási on Twitter @barabasi and see what he and colleagues are working on by checking out his lab website. 

Be sure to follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod

You can also follow me on 

Twitter: @realdrjen

Instagram: @readrjen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen

YouTube: Wild Connection TV

The End of the World with David Gessner

In this episode I have a not so ordinary conversation about climate with best selling author David Gessner and we invite you to think about how to talk through what climate change really means from a new point of view, one that connects us instead of divides us.

David Gessner has written many books but we are talking about his latest one:  A Traveller's Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire Wind and Water

You can follow David on Twitter @DavidGessner and on Instagram @davidmgessner

If you are digging the show subscribe and share it so others can enjoy it too. You can follow the show on Itunes, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Also follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod

You can also follow me on 

Twitter: @realdrjen

Instagram: @readrjen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen

YouTube: Wild Connection TV

 

 

Hormones with Randi Hutter Epstein

Let’s talk about hormones. Hormones are so much more than time packages that influence the major events in our lives. We are still learning about some of these major events though in ourselves and other animals. Just a few months again scientists confirmed that chimpanzees go through menopause Here is the NY Times article about the discovery. I was also keen to see the study on chimpanzees since it was research conducted in Kibale National Park in Uganda. Now I want to know if mountain gorillas go through menopause, I have been to Kibale many times and have followed research by John Mitani, David Watts, and Richard Wrangham for quite a long time. Here is a link to the original research article.

In this episode I mention a video I made with a friend and colleague called “Rejecting the Biological Binary". You can check that out here on my Youtube channel Wild Connection TV

This week’s guest is Randi Hutter Epstein, MD. Shes a writer in residence at Yale School of Medicine and teaches both at Yale University and Columbia’s School of Journalism. Today, she is filling us in on all the weird and wonderful things that hormones control by talking about her book Aroused: The History of Hormones and How They Control Just About Everything. They even, well, make you you, mostly, kind of.

If you want to get your copy of Aroused and Randi's other book check out her website: http://randihutterepstein.com/

And if you want to keep up with Randi follow her on 

Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn

If you are digging the show subscribe and share it so others can enjoy it too. You can follow the show on Itunes, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Also follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod

You can also follow me on 

Twitter: @realdrjen

Instagram: @readrjen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen

YouTube: Wild Connection TV

Keeping up with Koalas with Danielle Close

This week I talk with natural history writer Danielle Clode about her new book Koalas: A Natural History and an Uncertain Future

As famous as koalas are they are still a bit of a mystery. Danielle shares her love, fascination, and a ton of wonderful knowledge about koalas with us. 

If you want to get a copy of the book or keep up with Danielle

visit her website https://danielleclode.com.au/ and follow her on 

Instagram or Twitter

If you are digging the show subscribe and share it so others can enjoy it too. You can follow the show on Itunes, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Also follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod

You can also follow me on 

Twitter: @realdrjen

Instagram: @readrjen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen

YouTube: Wild Connection TV

Under A Rock with David Scheel

I know I am not alone in my fascination of octopuses. They seem a little out of this world and they have so many unusual traits. 

My guest today is scientist and author David Scheel. And We are going to talk about his new book Many Things Under a Rock: The Mystery of Octopuses

One of the things that came up in the podcast was the octopus nurseries. They have always been a mystery to scientists and just this past week we finally have an answer. In the deep waters off the coast of California is an octopus nursery with over 6000 pearly octopuses. The answer only deepens my respect for the incredible intelligence octopuses possess. What is the answer? It seems they somehow have figured out that in these deep cold waters there is a bit of warmth to be found. The baby octopus garden sits on top of extinct volcanic vents that give off a little extra heat.

Without this extra warmth it would take about 4 years for these octopus babies to mature. Instead in a mere 2 years they're ready to rock and roll in the ocean. Enjoy the episode and grab a copy of David's book

If you are digging the show subscribe and share it so others can enjoy it too. You can follow the show on Itunes, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Also follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod

 

You can also follow me on 

Twitter: @realdrjen

Instagram: @readrjen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen

YouTube: Wild Connection TV

Killer Whales with Hanne Strager

This is the first episode of Season 4 and I am excited to talk to marine biologist and author Hanne Strager about her new book The Killer Whale Journals: Our Love and Fear of Orcas. She’s from Denmark but has been working with and studying killer whales in Norway for and leading the way in the conservation and education space. She’s also the Director of Content for a project called The Whale, a new museum in Norway. And naturally, she passionate about killer whales.

If you want to connect with Hanne and get a copy of her book, check out her website and follow her on Instagram

If you are digging the show subscribe and share it so others can enjoy it too. You can follow the show on Itunes, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Also follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod

You can also follow me on 

Twitter: @realdrjen

Instagram: @readrjen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen

YouTube: Wild Connection TV

Kingha Coffee with Kingsely Griffin

Coffee, the thing that so many of us love and crave. That is the topic of today’s show. Today coffee is grown all over the world but it originates in Ethiopia and its history is recounted the mythology of a goat herder who noticed goats became energetic after eating the fruits. If you don’t know anything about goats, they are pretty energetic already so they must have really changed their behavior. We too can get the jitters from coffee and soon coffee was being cultivated. It is now a billion dollar industry but few people are connected to where their cup comes from. In this episode I talk with Kingsley Griffin, founder of Kingha Coffee Company, an organic coffee farm and coffee producer in Southwestern Uganda. Check out the video of me making coffee the old fashioned way on my YouTube Chanel, Wild Connection TV.

Kingha coffee is some of the best I have ever had. If you want to follow the journey of Kingha coffee you can go to their website and follow them on Twitter and Instagram

 

If you are digging the show subscribe and share it so others can enjoy it too. You can follow the show on Itunes, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Also follow the show on Twitter: @WildConnectPod

You can also follow me on 

Twitter: @realdrjen

Instagram: @readrjen

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RealDrJen

YouTube: Wild Connection TV