Cara Santa Maria Explained

Cara Santa Maria
Birth Name:Cara Louise Santa Maria
Birth Date:19 October 1983
Birth Place:Plano, Texas, U.S.
Occupation:Science communicator, producer, journalist, podcaster, television host, neuroscientist

Cara Louise Santa Maria (born October 19, 1983)[1] is an American science communicator.[1] [2] She hosts the podcast Talk Nerdy[1] and co-hosts The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast,[1] and was a co-host of TechKnow on Al Jazeera America.

Santa Maria wrote her first blog for The Huffington Post in March 2010 before joining the publication as its founding science correspondent and host of the Talk Nerdy to Me web series from October 2011 until April 2013.[3] [4] She also co-hosted Take Part Live with Jacob Soboroff on Pivot TV. She officially joined the online political and social commentary program The Young Turks as an occasional panelist in May 2013.[5] She was a guest on the TV series Brain Games.

Early life and education

Santa Maria was born and raised in Plano, Texas,[1] the younger of two daughters. Her parents, a school teacher and an engineer, both came from Catholic families and converted to Mormonism together as adults, raising their children in the religion, and for a while Santa Maria attended church daily before classes.[6] Years after her parents divorced, she left the LDS church at 15 and came out as an atheist.[7] Her ancestry is Puerto Rican on her mother's side.[8]

Santa Maria was a vocal jazz performer and auditioned for the second season of American Idol, but was not selected. She then decided to pursue psychology.[9] In 2004, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in philosophy from the University of North Texas, going on to earn a Master of Science in biological science, with a concentration in neuroscience, from her alma mater in 2007.[10]

Santa Maria taught biology and psychology courses to university undergraduates as well as high school students in Texas and New York. Her published research has spanned various topics, including clinical psychological assessment, the neuropsychology of blindness, neuronal cell culture techniques, and computational neurophysiology.[11] Santa Maria was enrolled in a doctoral program studying clinical neuropsychology at Queens College, CUNY, where she worked as an adjunct professor and laboratory researcher, but withdrew after a year of coursework to pursue science communication full-time.

In 2004, Santa Maria won the Texas Psychological Association and Texas Psychology Foundation's Alexander Psychobiology/Psychophysiology Award (Student Merit Research Competition) for contributions in undergraduate research concerning neuropsychological deficits among individuals with alcohol dependence or abuse in a visually impaired/blind population.[12] In the clinical neuropsychological setting, Santa Maria assisted in development and research of computer adapted guides for educational management of students with both neuropsychological dysfunction and visual impairment.[13]

In a 2013 interview in Skeptical Inquirer, when asked how she became interested in science, Santa Maria said:

As of January 2019, Santa Maria was working toward a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Social Justice and Diversity from Fielding Graduate University.[14]

Career

In 2009, Santa Maria moved to the Los Angeles area to begin a career in science communication, after previously having worked in academia.[11] She co-produced and hosted a pilot entitled Talk Nerdy to Me for HBO, but it never went to air.[15] [16] Santa Maria has appeared on various programs including Larry King Live, Geraldo at Large (Fox News), Parker Spitzer (CNN), Studio 11, The Young Turks,[5] Attack of the Show!,[17] The War Room with Jennifer Granholm,[18] LatiNation,[19] and SoCal Connected.

Santa Maria has co-hosted Hacking the Planet[20] [21] and The Truth About Twisters on The Weather Channel,[22] as well as TechKnow on Al Jazeera America.[7] [23] She is a former host of Take Part Live on the Pivot (TV channel).[24]

She makes regular appearances on popular YouTube programs, such as Stan Lee's FanWars, Wil Wheaton's Tabletop, and The Point.[25] She has also guested on multiple podcasts, such as The Nerdist Podcast, Point of Inquiry, Star Talk and the Joe Rogan Experience. Speaking with Chris Mooney on Point of Inquiry in 2012, Santa Maria recognized that her work on behalf of science can sometimes be polarizing,[26] and said that she tries “to write with a lot of respect and reverence for people's ideas.”[26]

Santa Maria has been interviewed by Scientific American,[27] The Times of London,[28] Columbia Journalism Review,[29] and Glamour.[30]

In March 2014, Santa Maria debuted her weekly podcast entitled Talk Nerdy. New episodes premiere every Monday and guests typically revolve around those involved in STEM fields, however individuals with careers oriented in new media and pop culture also make appearances. Additionally, atheism and politics are popular topics of conversation.[31] [32]

Santa Maria wrote the foreword of atheism activist David Silverman's book, Fighting God: An Atheist Manifesto for a Religious World, published in December 2015.[33]

On July 18, 2015, during the live taping of episode 524 of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe (SGU) podcast at The Amaz!ng Meeting, it was announced that Santa Maria would be joining the podcast, and she joined the other SGU members to record her first show as a regular member of their team.[34]

In July 2015, Santa Maria was named a correspondent on "Real Future" for Fusion.[35]

In 2016, Santa Maria hosted on-line video segments that accompany the reality TV show America's Greatest Makers.[36]

In 2017, Santa Maria was a guest panelist on the Netflix series Bill Nye Saves the World.[37]

Professional awards

Personal life

From 2009 to 2011, Cara Santa Maria was in a relationship with television host and political commentator Bill Maher.[44]

She has been open about her struggles with major depressive disorder.[45] In a Point of Inquiry podcast interview, Santa Maria said that she takes antidepressants daily and that psychotherapy made a huge improvement in her mental health.

Bibliography

See main article: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe (book). Along with her co-hosts on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, Santa Maria co-authored a book, published in 2018, about scientific skepticism: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake."[46] [47]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leeuw. Nederlandse. Cara Santa Maria's recorded bio. Wikimedia.org. Wikimedia. 1 October 2017. 31 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230831222009/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Cara_Santa_Maria_voice.ogg. live.
  2. News: Achenbach. Joel. Guarino. Ben. Kaplan. Sarah. Joel Achenbach. Why people are marching for science: 'There is no Planet B'. 17 June 2017. The Washington Post. 22 April 2017. 30 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170430201011/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/big-turnout-expected-for-march-for-science-in-dc/2017/04/21/67cf7f90-237f-11e7-bb9d-8cd6118e1409_story.html. live.
  3. Web site: The Huffington Post. HuffPost. January 21, 2012.
  4. Web site: Huffington Post Science – interview with Cara Santa Maria. Bora Zivkovic. Scientific American. January 21, 2012. January 23, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120123022816/http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/network-central/2012/01/20/huffington-post-science-interview-with-cara-santa-maria/. live.
  5. Web site: The Young Turks Add Dave Rubin & Cara Santa Maria To Their Network. Jeff Klima. New Media Rockstars. June 17, 2013. June 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185220/http://newmediarockstars.com/2013/05/the-young-turks-add-dave-rubin-cara-santa-maria-to-their-network/. live.
  6. Web site: Point of Inquiry #410: Talking Nerdy (And Ethically) with Cara Santa Maria. Point of Inquiry. Center for Inquiry. MP3 Podcast. 5 May 2014. 2 April 2016. 5 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160505205818/http://www.pointofinquiry.org/talking_nerdy_and_ethically_with_cara_santa_maria/. dead.
  7. News: Ellis. Lauren. Q&A: Cara Santa Maria revisits her religious roots. 17 June 2017. Al Jazeera America. 9 December 2015. 29 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180929155535/http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/techknow/articles/2015/12/9/qa-cara-santa-maria-revisits-her-mormon-roots.html. live.
  8. Web site: Roger Ailes: Soledad O'Brien Was 'Named After A Prison'. The Young Turks. April 13, 2012. November 26, 2013. May 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140522000224/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphIvJ8eZHA. live.
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gad0gG7SABU Joe Rogan Experience #539 - Cara Santa Maria
  10. Web site: Cara Santa Maria Q&A North Texan. northtexan.unt.edu. en. 2018-01-22. 2023-08-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20230831222027/https://northtexan.unt.edu/content/cara-santa-maria-qa. live.
  11. Web site: Santa Maria. Cara. Cara Santa Maria: Bio. Carasantamaria.com. Cara Santa Maria. 1 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002021958/http://carasantamaria.com/bio/. 2017-10-02. dead.
  12. Web site: Texas Psychological Association: 2004 Awards. Texaspsyc.org. Texas Psychological Association. 30 September 2017. 31 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230831222025/https://www.texaspsyc.org/default.aspx?page=96. live.
  13. Book: Jenkins, Sharon Rae. A Handbook of Clinical Scoring Systems for Thematic Apperceptive Techniques. 2008. Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. 978-0805843736. New York.
  14. Web site: About Cara . Carasantamaria.com . Cara Santa Maria . 29 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190129180037/https://www.carasantamaria.com/about/ . live. 29 January 2019.
  15. Web site: Television Appearances . Carasantamaria.com. Cara Santa Maria. 1 October 2017.
  16. Web site: Talk Nerdy to Me (2011). imdb.com. IMDB. 1 October 2017. 31 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230831222015/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2032539/. live.
  17. Web site: Attack of the Show! (2005–2013). Imdb.com. IMDB. 1 October 2017. 11 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170211220107/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2213132/. live.
  18. Web site: The War Room with Michael Shure (2012–). IMDB.com. 1 October 2017.
  19. Web site: Episode 902: "Nerdy Show". Latination.tv. Latination. 1 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002115436/http://latination.tv/episode-guide/season-09/64-episode-02. 2 October 2017. dead.
  20. Web site: Hacking the Planet. imdb.com. IMDB. 1 October 2017.
  21. Web site: Rennie. John. John Rennie (editor). Hacking The Planet. johnrennie.net. John Rennie. 1 October 2017. 2 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002070524/http://johnrennie.net/hacking-the-planet/. live.
  22. Web site: The Truth About Twisters. castlepix.com. 1 October 2017. 2 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002022818/http://castlepix.com/on-air/detail.php?7. dead.
  23. Web site: Contributor Q&A: Cara Santa Maria becomes completely digital. america.aljazeera.com. Aljazeera. 1 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171001221925/http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/techknow/blog/2014/3/19/contributor-q-a-carasantamariabecomescompletelydigital.html. 1 October 2017.
  24. Web site: Predicting The Top News Stories of 2014 – TakePart Live. 6 January 2014. YouTube. 29 November 2016. 21 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150321212355/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0wLELlE_74&app=desktop. live.
  25. Web site: The Point with Ana Kasparian . www.youtube.com.
  26. Web site: Point of Inquiry: Cara Santa MariaTalk Nerdy to Us. Point of Inquiry. Center for Inquiry. 14 December 2016. MP3 Podcast. 11 June 2012. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803205251/http://www.pointofinquiry.org/cara_santa_maria_talk_nerdy_to_us/. dead.
  27. Web site: Huffington Post Science – interview with Cara Santa Maria. Bora. Zivkovic. 2012-01-21. 2012-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20120123022816/http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/network-central/2012/01/20/huffington-post-science-interview-with-cara-santa-maria/. live.
  28. News: Science cool kids and geeks unite. 22 August 2023. www.thetimes.co.uk. 4 November 2021. 4 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211104000616/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/science-cool-kids-and-geeks-unite-bf5qnj562v9. live.
  29. Web site: Chemical reaction. Columbia Journalism Review. 2013. Fred. Schruers. 2020-09-27. 2016-12-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221143735/http://www.cjr.org/cover_story/chemical_reaction.php. live.
  30. Web site: In the Makeup Chair: Why Neuroscientist Cara Santa Maria Hates the Sexy-Nerd Cliche. Glamour. 2015-10-27. Sotomayor. Andrew. 2015-06-11. 2015-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20151023033547/http://www.glamour.com/lipstick/blogs/girls-in-the-beauty-department/2015/06/cara-santa-maria-podcast-beaut. live.
  31. Web site: Cara Santa Maria: Talk Nerdy. Carasantamaria.com. Cara Santamaria. 1 October 2017. 1 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171001214559/http://carasantamaria.com/podcast/. live.
  32. Web site: Talk Nerdy By Cara Santa Maria. Itunes.apple.com. Apple. 1 October 2017. 2 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002002458/https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-nerdy/id832350989?mt=2. live.
  33. Book: Fighting God: An Atheist Manifesto for a Religious World, by David Silverman (Author), Cara Santa Maria (Foreword). 978-1250064844. Silverman. David. 2015. Macmillan. 2019-11-07. 1999-08-28. https://web.archive.org/web/19990828014913/http://www.amazon.com/. live.
  34. Web site: Podcast #524 . Theskepticsguide.org. 25 July 2015. The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. 1 October 2017. 1 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171001044725/http://www.theskepticsguide.org/podcast/sgu/524. live.
  35. Web site: On the Move, 7/28/15 . TVSpy . Kevin Eck . 28 July 2015 . July 30, 2015 . 30 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150730221332/http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/on-the-move-72815/152610 . live .
  36. Web site: Coming to TV This Spring: America's Greatest Makers. Newsroom.intel.com. Intel. 1 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171001154159/https://newsroom.intel.com/newsroom/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2016/04/2016-agm-premiere-factsheet.pdf. 1 October 2017. live.
  37. Web site: Romano. Aja. Bill Nye Saves the World brings us an updated, unapologetically political science guy. Vox.com. 21 April 2017. Vox. 1 October 2017. 14 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170914160228/https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/21/15356610/bill-nye-saves-the-world-review-skepticism-monsanto. live.
  38. Web site: Gray. Katti. Neil DeGrasse Tyson Accepts Knight I. Knightfoundation.org. Knight Foundation. 1 October 2017. 1 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171001043458/https://www.knightfoundation.org/articles/neil-degrasse-accepts-knight-innovation-award-at-cuny. live.
  39. Web site: Variety's 'Actors on Actors' Special on PBS Wins Emmy. Variety.com. 26 July 2015. Variety. 30 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930224426/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/variety-actors-on-actors-emmy-1201548877/. 30 September 2017.
  40. Web site: Winners of the 68th Los Angeles Area Emmy® Awards Announced . emmys.com . Television Academy . January 10, 2019 . August 22, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170822080738/http://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/Downloads/68th-Los-Angeles-Area-Emmy-Awards-Winners-v1.pdf . live .
  41. Web site: 66th Annual Golden Mike Awards 2015 Winners List . RTNA.org. Radio & TV News Assoc of SoCal. 30 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630173006/http://www.rtna.org/GoldenMikeAwards/15winners.asp. 30 June 2017. dead.
  42. Web site: Winners of the 69th Los Angeles Area Emmy® Awards Announced . pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com. Television Academy. 30 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930221219/https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/official-69th-la-area-press-release-wm.pdf. 30 September 2017. live.
  43. Web site: Santa Maria. Cara. Cara Santa Maria: Awards. Carasantamaria.com. Cara Santa Maria. 30 September 2017. 1 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171001032347/http://carasantamaria.com/awards/. live.
  44. Web site: Bill Maher & Cara Santa Maria Split . In Touch Weekly . 2011-03-21 . 2015-07-01 . 2015-07-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150701173751/http://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/bill-maher-cara-santa-maria-split-20574 . live .
  45. Web site: Episode 81: Cara Santa Maria. The Mental Illness Happy Hour. 2015-10-27. 2012-10-05.
  46. Web site: Review: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake . Publishersweekly.com . Publishers Weekly . 8 October 2018 . 10 September 2018 . 31 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230831215955/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-5387-6051-2 . live .
  47. Web site: Palmer . Robert . The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: A Book Review . CSICOP.org . CFI . live. 29 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190129033254/https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/the_skeptics_guide_to_the_universe_a_book_review . 29 January 2019. 2018-11-02 .

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