Best The national Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Podcasts (2025)

1
The True Cost of Fertilizer 34:56

10d ago34:56

34:56

The chemical industry is big business in Louisiana. Companies here manufacture plastics, fuels, pesticides, and cleaning products. But one part of the chemical industry that’s often overlooked is the fertilizer business. Today, you’re going to hear the story of modern fertilizer, and how this powerful concoction of chemicals has radically reshaped …

1
Kelvin Droegemeier Articulates a Vision for American Science 36:54

12d ago36:54

36:54

Kelvin Droegemeier, a longtime leader in science policy, joins host Megan Nicholson for this installment of Science Policy IRL. Droegemeier began his career as a research meteorologist and went on to serve in many different leadership roles in state and federal government. He directed the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 201…

1
Sea Change Live! Music & the Wetlands 50:22

21d ago50:22

50:22

Last week, we hosted a Sea Change live event at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. We wanted to talk about the science behind the massive land loss crisis we are experiencing, what it means to live in a vanishing landscape, and importantly, what we can do about it. But this is New Orleans, so we also wanted to celebrate! Celebrate the culture and joy of …

1
Using Storytelling to Investigate Scientific Questions 25:25

26d ago25:25

25:25

Fiction can be an important tool to explore complex science and technology questions: Would our legal system be more equitable if an AI delivered verdicts rather than judges and juries? What will happen to future climate refugees? Is human consciousness just another algorithm? That’s why Issues has partnered with ASU’s Center for Science and the Im…

1
Predicting the Ocean's Future 22:46

1M ago22:46

22:46

We are all affected by ocean conditions, and we're talking about huge things like global food security and human health, to fisheries we depend on, to the transport of a whopping 90% of the world's goods. So it's vitally important to understand ocean conditions. What can the fascinating field of ocean forecasting tell us about the future for us on …

1
Taylor Spicer Empowers Scientists and Engineers to Engage Locally 38:10

1M ago38:10

38:10

On Science Policy IRL, we talk to people in science policy about what they do and how they got there. We’ve shared stories of how people have found their way into science policy careers at places like the White House, Congress, and federal agencies. In this episode, we’re exploring a different way into science policy: getting involved with your loc…

1
Leaving the Island 41:42

2M ago41:42

41:42

Like much of coastal Louisiana, Isle de Jean Charles is rapidly disappearing into the Gulf because of coastal erosion and sea level rise. Scientists predict the island will be completely underwater by 2050. Almost a decade ago, the federal government awarded the state of Louisiana $48 million dollar to resettle members of the Jean Charles Choctaw N…

1
Music and Health: Your Brain on Music 41:47

2M ago41:47

41:47

What happens in your brain when you hear your favorite song? In our Music and Health podcast miniseries, we’re exploring how music affects our minds, bodies, and communities. On this episode, host J. D. Talasek is joined by Sweta Adatia, a neurologist practicing in Dubai, and Fred Johnson, a community engagement specialist and artist in residence a…

1
The Rise of Deadly Fungal Pathogens 20:30

2M ago20:30

20:30

Fungi are ubiquitous in nature—in fact, you’re likely breathing in fungal spores as you read this. Most fungi are harmless to healthy people. But changes in the global climate, in human settlement patterns, and even in our own body temperatures have made fungal pathogens an increasing health threat. On this episode, host Jason Lloyd interviews Ange…

1
Fueling Knowledge: Part Two 34:27

2M ago34:27

34:27

Last time, we learned about the nearly century-old bond between the oil and gas industry and one university — LSU. In the second and final episode of our series, "Fueling Knowledge," we look at how much money is flowing into universities and what the industry may hope to get in return. This relationship comes with big benefits: student mentors, sch…

1
Fueling Knowledge: Part One 34:01

3M ago34:01

34:01

Universities have grown increasingly close with the fossil fuel industry. Oil and gas money is flowing into universities around the world, shaping everything from students’ careers to climate research that can influence global energy policy. Some professors and students are sounding the alarm. They worry this influx of fossil fuel money could compr…

1
Minimizing Cannabis' Harms to Public Health 37:22

3M ago37:22

37:22

More than half of US states have legalized cannabis for recreational or medical use. Regulations on cultivation, production, and marketing vary from state to state, and most of these policies were developed without a robust public health strategy. Because it is not federally legal, Washington has provided only limited guidance to states on how to c…

1
Keep Expanding Your Blue Mind 26:14

3M ago26:14

26:14

There’s this conversation from one of our early Sea Change episodes, and it's about our relationship with the ocean--with water. How being in or near water changes us for the better. The marine biologist Wallace J Nichols has said: “It is true that oceans give us life, but our planet’s wild places also make life worth living and help heal us when w…

1
Music and Health: Dancing Together 40:59

3M ago40:59

40:59

“People always say, ‘Well, if I could only do one art form, what would it be?’ And I always say dance.” —Susan Magsamen In our podcast miniseries Music and Health, we’re exploring how music impacts our minds, bodies, and communities. In this installment, we’re learning about the power of dance. Host J. D. Talasek is joined by David Leventhal and Co…

1
The Disconnect: Power, Politics, and the Texas Blackout 32:41

4M ago32:41

32:41

In February 2021, power went out for 4.5 million households across Texas. The blackout killed hundreds. And people wondered: “How could this happen in the energy capital of the U.S.?” Today, we bring you part of that fascinating backstory, and it starts with an East Texas con artist who inadvertently kicked off the biggest oil boom in US history. R…

1
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Misinformation? 30:41

4M ago30:41

30:41

Vaccines, oil spills, genetic engineering, and stem cells—anywhere there’s science, there’s also misinformation. It muddies our ability to make good decisions, ranging from far-reaching ones like creating policy to simple ones like what to buy at the grocery store. Misinformation also undermines trust in scientific institutions and across society. …

1
Rising Water, Rising Risk 34:41

4M ago34:41

34:41

More and more Americans face the threat of flooding. And as a country, we are woefully unprepared. Cities like Charleston and Miami already see routine coastal flooding. Hurricane Helene recently hammered many inland communities with flooding. And the risk is only rising. FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) sells about 90% of the nation'…

1
Music and Health: The Creative Arts and Healing 36:27

4M ago36:27

36:27

From lullabies to movie soundtracks to workout playlists, music has the capacity to change how we feel. But what is the evidence that music’s effects can transform physical health? On our new podcast miniseries, Music and Health, we’ll explore the power of music to heal our minds, bodies, and even communities. On the first episode of this series, h…

1
Elevate or Relocate: FEMA's Dreaded Rule 26:25

4M ago26:25

26:25

Flooding is the most common natural disaster — by far. As more and more towns are devastated by floods, people are facing the tough question of how to rebuild — or even if they can. In this episode, we travel to two towns to discover how one obscure federal policy designed to stop the cycle of flood damage is leading to opposite destinies. Thanks f…

1
The Power of Hope 30:30

5M ago30:30

30:30

As 2024 comes to a close, we are taking this time to focus on hope. While this year has been rough for the climate and the environment in many ways, there is also so much good happening out there. There are wins to celebrate and reasons for optimism. Today, Sea Change sits down with an expert on hope, and learn why evidence-based hope is essential …

1
All Gassed Up - 1 Hour Special 52:12

5M ago52:12

52:12

There’s a lot going on in the world of liquified natural gas, or LNG. And we are here to tell you about it! The Department of Energy just released its big report on whether exporting more LNG is in the public interest…spoiler alert: it’s not. One of the largest LNG facilities in the world, located just south of New Orleans, recently began productio…

1
The Bridge to Nowhere 26:21

5M ago26:21

26:21

We kicked off this season of Sea Change with a globetrotting journey. A quest to understand a booming new industry on the Gulf Coast: liquified natural gas, or LNG. In a historic move, the Biden Administration froze any decisions on new gas export projects…until it could study how shipping so much American gas overseas could affect the economy, hea…

1
Reindeer! 42:38

6M ago42:38

42:38

In Alaska, reindeer are much more real than the fantasy animals that pull Santa’s sleigh. Introduced to Alaska from Siberia by the US government in the 1890s, reindeer were part of a strategy to solve food shortages among the Native peoples after the gold rush. Today, reindeer provide food security and economic opportunities for the Alaskan Native …

1
Sacred and Submerged 23:55

6M ago23:55

23:55

The Lemon Tree Mound is a sacred place for the Atakapa/Ishak-Chawasha tribe. And it's disappearing under the rising waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In this episode, we travel out into the bayous of South Louisiana to understand what this one small sacred place means for the Land Back Movement and climate justice, and why efforts to save our coast mat…

1
A Cutting-Edge Bureaucracy 37:27

6M ago37:27

37:27

The word "bureaucracy" conjures up images of red tape and long lines at the DMV, not cutting-edge innovation. But some of the most significant scientific and health innovations of the past century have actually come from scientist-bureaucrats at government research institutes. On this episode, host Jason Lloyd is joined by Natalie Aviles, an assist…

1
Introducing: Hazard NJ "First a Miracle, Then a Curse" 29:52

6M ago29:52

29:52

They are called PFAS or “forever chemicals.” They originated in New Jersey decades ago with a promise of a future made easier by science. They’ve spread into countless products and polluted countless places throughout the world. Now, they are even in our blood. Today we are bringing you the first episode of Hazard NJ's new season that dives into th…

1
Classic Episode: Salty Chefs 39:13

6M ago39:13

39:13

This is a time of celebrating food and giving thanks to the people who grow it, catch it, and prepare it. That’s why today we are bringing you an episode we first aired back in May of 2023. Food connects us to our past, to our memories, to each other, and to the world around us. It’s powerful. But food systems–from how we grow or catch things to ho…

1
The Hidden Engineering that Makes New York Tick 32:18

6M ago32:18

32:18

New York City is the perfect place to understand the importance of modern engineering, but the most valuable lessons won’t be found at the Empire State Building or in Central Park. To truly discover what makes modern life tick, you have to look at the unloved, uncelebrated elements of New York: its sewers, bridges, and elevators. On this episode, h…

1
From Sea to Rising Sea 36:14

7M ago36:14

36:14

Sea level rise is this big, scary reality. We’re always hearing predictions from scientists that the oceans will swallow islands, flood major cities, and wipe out huge stretches of coastline. The longer we burn fossil fuels, the bigger the surge. It sounds apocalyptic on this huge, global scale. But also totally abstract – it’s hard to picture. Wha…

1
Ending Inequities in Health Care 30:29

7M ago30:29

30:29

The United States spends more on healthcare than any other high-income country, yet we have some of the worst population health outcomes. Our health care system is designed in such a way that racial and ethnic disparities are inevitable, and the differences are extreme: the life expectancy difference between white women and black men is over a deca…

1
Lights, Camera, Action: Climate Change in Hollywood 34:45

7M ago34:45

34:45

Hollywood has been cold on climate change, mostly relegating the issue to documentaries. We talk to two people who are trying to change that. We first talk to David Sirota, who co-wrote the Blockbuster hit, "Don't Look Up" with Adam McKay, and then we talk to Anna Jane Joyner, the founder of Good Energy, a nonprofit that supports TV and film creato…

1
Uncovering Hidden Bias in Clinical Research 34:08

7M ago34:08

34:08

Check the end of any recent study, and there will be a list of study funders and disclosures about competing interests. It’s important to know about potential biases in research, but this kind of transparency was not always the norm. Understanding bias in research and helping policymakers use the most reliable evidence to guide their decisions is a…

1
Fish to Fork: Bonus Interview with Chef Jim Smith 15:12

7M ago15:12

15:12

Want to know even more about sustainable seafood on the Gulf Coast? Listen to this bonus episode for an extended conversation with Chef Jim Smith of The Hummingbird Way Oyster Bar in Mobile, Alabama. We talk with Chef Smith about threats facing both fishers and fisheries on the Gulf Coast and how we, as consumers, can make a difference...and of cou…

1
Fish to Fork 26:42

8M ago26:42

26:42

Your expert guide to sustainable seafood is here! Get ready to feel the salt spray, and tuck into a wide-ranging conversation about what's on your plate and the future of our ocean. Seafood has been called our "last wild food." Humans have been enjoying seafood for a long time—over 2 million years. But in recent decades, how we catch and eat fish a…

1
How the Octopus Got to the Senate 34:12

8M ago34:12

34:12

Octopuses are famously smart: they can recognize individual humans, solve problems, and even keep gardens. They are also a popular food for humans: around 350,000 tons of octopus are caught worldwide each year, and demand is only growing. Some governments and start-ups have invested significant resources into domesticating octopus, and the world’s …

1
The Future Is Not Yet Written: A Conversation with Ayana Johnson 29:14

8M ago29:14

29:14

What if we get it right? That's the question marine biologist, climate expert, and writer Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson explores in her new book. Ayana joins us to talk about climate solutions we have right now and what's possible for the future of our planet. Looking for a link to the book? "What If We Get It Right? Visions of a Climate Future" This…

1
Lav Varshney Connects AI Research, Executive Policy, and Public Service 26:53

8M ago26:53

26:53

In this installment of Science Policy IRL, host Jason Lloyd goes behind the scenes of the White House Fellowship program with Lav Varshney, associate professor of engineering, computer science, and neuroscience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Varshney served as a White House Fellow from 2022 to 2023, where he worked at the National …

1
Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Climate Action 34:59

9M ago34:59

34:59

TV Weather Gets Heated. In a world where weather is getting more extreme, the role of meteorologists is becoming more important—and controversial—than ever. Meteorologists have been fired over reporting on climate change, and others have left stations because of death threats. But that hasn’t stopped Jeff Berardelli, Chief Meteorologist for Tampa B…

1
Cool Ideas for a Long, Hot Summer: Indigenous Sustainability 17:20

9M ago17:20

17:20

In our miniseries Cool Ideas for a Long, Hot Summer, we’re working with Arizona State University’s Global Futures Lab to highlight bold ideas about how to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The miniseries has explored how economics can be used to advance environmental justice, how solar-powered canoes can protect the Amazon from deforestation, a…

1
In Hot Water 30:48

9M ago30:48

30:48

Our oceans are heating up—what does that mean for all the life that lives in the sea...and us? Today we’re going on a trip to Florida…we’re hanging out in the Keys, and we're going fishing, and scuba diving all to find out what’s going on beneath the surface. Just how bad is hotter water for sea life in South Florida, and for the people that depend…

1
Cool Ideas for a Long, Hot Summer: Refugee Communication Networks 13:38

9M ago13:38

13:38

In our miniseries Cool Ideas for a Long, Hot Summer, we’re working with Arizona State University’s Global Futures Lab to highlight bold ideas about how to mitigate and adapt to climate change. On this episode, host Kimberly Quach is joined by ASU assistant professor Faheem Hussain to learn about how Rohingya refugees are using social technologies a…

1
Cool Ideas for a Long, Hot Summer: Solar-Powered Canoes 19:01

9M ago19:01

19:01

In our new miniseries Cool Ideas for a Long Hot Summer, we're working with Arizona State University’s Global Futures Lab to highlight bold ideas about how to mitigate and adapt to climate change. On this episode, host Kimberly Quach is joined by ASU associate professor David Manuel-Navarrete to talk about his Solar Canoes Against Deforestation proj…

1
The Stormy Insurance Crisis in the Sunshine State 20:34

9M ago20:34

20:34

The home insurance market is collapsing all across the country. Big, brand-name insurance companies are walking away from the riskiest states. And, the companies that are sticking around are often doubling and tripling rates over just a few years. Nothing like this has ever happened before. And nowhere is this crisis worse... than Florida. In fact,…

1
Cool Ideas for a Long, Hot Summer: Environmental Justice 13:09

10M ago13:09

13:09

This has been a record-breaking summer all over the world. Many cities have recorded their hottest days ever, and June 2024 was the hottest month on record worldwide. Mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change, including extreme heat and long summers, will require a lot of bold new ideas. This summer, we’re highlighting some of those …

1
Bringing Back the Beach 33:36

10M ago33:36

33:36

Even though New Orleans has water in every direction, it’s hard to access. And for a city with increasingly sweltering summers, this irony is painful. In this episode, we’re going to talk about the uncomfortable history of Lincoln Beach, how it led to New Orleans not having any public beaches today, and how a community has rallied together to get t…

1
Hot Summer Reading 35:24

10M ago35:24

35:24

It's summertime! Otherwise known as prime reading season. And in this episode, you're going to meet the people behind a couple of the summer's hottest books. We talk with Boyce Upholt about his new bestseller, The Great River: The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi. The book tells the epic story of the Mississippi River, and he writes about how…

1
Stories of Success 31:32

10M ago31:32

31:32

Pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion is hard work. It seems like no effort is ever good enough. In this last episode of Engineering the Future: Diversity Dialogues, we’ll share what success stories look like. At the end of every previous episode, our host Wanda Sigur asked each guest for two stories. She asked them to share a time when the div…

1
Rashada Alexander Prepares the Next Generation of Science Policy Leaders 39:47

10M ago39:47

39:47

Since 1973, the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) has brought thousands of scientists and engineers into the policy world. The fellowship is a very popular pathway into science policy, and AAAS fellows have featured in several episodes of our Science Policy IRL series. In th…

1
Dealing with Challenges & Why Perspectives Matter 28:04

11M ago28:04

28:04

Meritocracy is the best way to get the best people, right? Surely, the best people will always win out! Sadly, our history and our present shows that’s not true. Because becoming the best isn’t a matter of raw talent and hard work. It’s about opportunities and talent development and even luck. In this episode, host Wanda Sigur will speak with Dr. N…

1
Opportunities: Building Inclusion 30:14

11M ago30:14

30:14

The data are clear: Diverse teams make better decisions 66 percent of the time, and if you include diversity of age and geography, diverse teams make better decisions 87 percent of the time. And yet, diversity in engineering itself is lacking. How do we make engineering more inclusive? In this episode, host Wanda Sigur will speak with Megan Smith, …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

The National Academies Of Sciences, Engineering, And Medicine Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide