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Discovering Academia
Discovering Academia
Brent Valentine & Keller Kramer

Discovering Academia

EducationScienceSociety & CultureEnglish
We are two college students, who travel the world recording podcasts with academics about their research, passions, and current events. We hope our casual conversations covering a range of topics can help promote curiosity and make academia more accessible. We have recorded episodes in America, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Indonesia, Singapore & China, with plans to travel to more countries soon.

See our www.discoveringacademia.com for more information and educational resources.
Website

Episodes

#088 - Marion Nestle: Food Politics, Industry Influence, and the Fight for Public Health
04 June 2026

#088 - Marion Nestle: Food Politics, Industry Influence, and the Fight for Public Health

Marion Nestle is Professor Emerita of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University and one of the most cited food policy researchers in the country. Her decades of work on corporate influence, nutrition science, and agricultural policy make her one of the field's most authoritative voices.In this episode, Nestle breaks down how food companies engineer overconsumption through...
#087 - Robert Langer: Inventing the Future of Medicine
29 April 2026

#087 - Robert Langer: Inventing the Future of Medicine

Robert Langer is an Institute Professor at MIT, one of only 14 to hold this title, and a pioneering figure in biotechnology. His work in bioengineering has led to revolutionary new platforms for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and nanotechnology that form the basis of countless medical treatments and over 40 companies. In this episode, we discuss the design philosophy behind inventing...
#086 - Richard Miller: There Is No "Mechanism" of Aging
25 November 2025

#086 - Richard Miller: There Is No "Mechanism" of Aging

Professor Richard Miller of the University of Michigan, a leading expert in the biology of aging, joins us to redefine what aging is and how we can slow it down.Discover the groundbreaking work of the Interventions Testing Program (ITP), which has identified over a dozen compounds—including the drug Rapamycin—capable of extending the healthy lifespan of mice by up to 30%. Miller reveals why this...
#085 - Steven Austad: Riding Lions and Unlocking the Secrets of Aging
06 November 2025

#085 - Steven Austad: Riding Lions and Unlocking the Secrets of Aging

Steven Austad is a Distinguished Professor and the Protective Life Endowed Chair in Healthy Aging Research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as well as the Scientific Director of the American Federation for Aging Research. A former Hollywood lion trainer turned leading biologist, Austad explores the evolutionary and biological mechanisms that control how fast we age.In this episode, we...
#084 - Ying Lu: How Cells Recycle Protein and Prevent Alzheimer's
28 October 2025

#084 - Ying Lu: How Cells Recycle Protein and Prevent Alzheimer's

Ying Lu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. His work combines physics, biochemistry, and quantitative methods to understand the fundamental mechanisms of biological processes, particularly protein degradation. In this episode, we discuss why curiosity is the most powerful engine for scientific breakthroughs, from the discovery of CRISPR to...
#083 - Homa Bahrami: Super-Flexibility, Agile Organizations, & The Evolution of Silicon Valley
30 May 2025

#083 - Homa Bahrami: Super-Flexibility, Agile Organizations, & The Evolution of Silicon Valley

#083 - Homa Bahrami: Super-Flexibility, Agile Organizations, & The Evolution of Silicon ValleyIn this episode, we talk with Homa Bahrami, Senior Lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, about how leaders and organizations can thrive in constant change. We explore her concept of super-flexibility—the ability to balance stability with adaptability—through insights drawn from decades...
#082 - Amber Boydstun: Media Storms, Social Media, and the Battle for Your Attention
23 May 2025

#082 - Amber Boydstun: Media Storms, Social Media, and the Battle for Your Attention

Feeling overwhelmed by the news? UC Davis Prof. Amber Boydstun explains "media storms" – why some stories dominate while others fade – and breaks down the challenges of getting reliable info from social media vs. traditional news. Learn why deep dives still matter in our fast-paced world.For more information, please visit our website: https://www.discoveringacademia.com/episodes/amber-boydstun...
#081 - Manvir Singh: Shamanism, Psychedelics, and Our Shared Humanity
15 May 2025

#081 - Manvir Singh: Shamanism, Psychedelics, and Our Shared Humanity

Why do humans everywhere tell stories, make music, and believe in the unseen? Professor Manvir Singh, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at UC Davis, dedicates his research to understanding why human societies around the world develop such recurring traditions – from shamanism and religion to music and legal systems.In this episode, join us on a journey through the heart of human culture as...
#080 - Grant Cornwell: The Need for Liberal Arts Education and Freedom of Inquiry in American Universities
07 May 2025

#080 - Grant Cornwell: The Need for Liberal Arts Education and Freedom of Inquiry in American Universities

Is free speech truly alive on college campuses? Rollins College President, and nationally recognized advocate for liberal arts education, Grant Cornwell tackles tough questions about academic freedom, why classrooms shouldn't be "intellectually safe spaces," and the enduring value of a liberal arts degree for tackling global issues and strengthening democracy.For more information, please visit...
#079 – Paul Griffin: Climate Risk, Business Resilience, and Innovation in a Changing World
28 April 2025

#079 – Paul Griffin: Climate Risk, Business Resilience, and Innovation in a Changing World

How do businesses price the risks of climate change, from wildfires to hurricanes? UC Davis Professor Paul Griffin breaks down climate risk, corporate responsibility, and how tech like AI is changing environmental accountability. Tune in to understand the future of sustainable business and why facing reality is key. For more information about this episode, see our website:...