Exploring Alabama with Roger Reid (BI 46)

Roger ReidRoger Reid has a job that every kid and most adults would find fascinating. He works for the Alabama Museum of Natural History and travels all over Alabama as a writer and producer for the Emmy Award winning TV show, Discovering Alabama with Dr. Doug Phillips . He also shares his passion for natural history in a series of novels written for middle school age readers. I decided to interview him for Books and Ideas because I wanted to share these novels with my listeners. They combine mystery and science in an original way, but they also contain compelling characters that readers will care about.

Episode 46 of Books and Ideas is an unusual episode because we don't just talk about Reid's novels. We also explore some of the little known treasures of Alabama's natural history. I guarantee surprises, even for those of you who call Alabama home. But I also hope that listeners around the world will gain a new appreciation for the natural resources of Alabama.

Listen to Episode 46 of Books and Ideas

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Books by Roger Reid:

• Longleaf (2006): set in the Conecuh National Forest
• Space (2008): set at the Swanson Observatory on Monte Sano in Huntsville, Alabama.
• Time (2011): set at the Stephen C Menkin Paleozoic Footprint Site, near Jasper, Alabama

References and Links:

• Roger Reid's Web site
• Encyclopedia of Alabama
• Alabama Museum of Natural History
• Discovering Alabama
• Conecuh National Forest
• Longleaf Alliance
• Swanson Observatory on Monte Sano (Huntsville, AL)
• Stephen C. Minkin Paleozoic Footprint Site

• See the episode transcript for additional links.

Tell Me What You Think!

• Post to the Books and Ideas Page on Google+.
• Post to the Books and Ideas Fan page on Facebook.
• Join the Discussion on Goodreads.
• Mention me (@docartemis) on Twitter.
• Send me email at gincampbell at mac dot com. 

Brain Science Podcast: 5th Annual Review Episode

Original Logo from 2006I launched the Brain Science Podcast in December 2006, so to celebrate I am posting my Fifth Annual Review Episode (BSP 80). This podcast includes a review of the highlights from this year's episodes along with my reflections on what we have learned about brain health over the last few years. I also take a look ahead to 2012 when I hope to continue to produce a Brain Science Podcast every month.

Listen to BSP 80

Click here for full show notes and free episode transcript.

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Ginger Campbell Celebrates Five Years of Podcasting (BI 45)

Ginger Campbell and GretaIn December 2006 I launched 2 podcasts: Books and Ideas and the Brain Science Podcast. In Episode 45 of Books and Ideas I take a few minutes to look back on my five years in podcasting and to thank some of my many guests.

Listen to Episode 45 of Books and Ideas

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Show Notes:

The focus of this episode was to thank each of the 33 people who have been featured on Books and Ideas so far. 

• Historians: Matthew Cobb, Holly Tucker, and Jennifer Michael Hecht
• Scientists: Lee Silver, Pamela Gay, Robert Schleip, Eugenie Scott, Les Johnson, Daniel George, Sheril Kirshenbaum, and Frank Wilczek
• Philosophers: Massimo Pigliucci and Tom Clark
• Physicians: Paul Offit, Robert Martenson, Neel Varshney, and Steven Novella
• Fiction Writers: Mur Lafferty, Christiana Ellis, Scott Sigler, Tabitha Grace Smith, Skyler White, and Karen Traviss
• Psychologists: Delany Dean, Eric Maisel, Bruce Hood and Carol Tavris
• Other Writers: Dan Ariely, Sue Bailey, and Carmen Flowers 
• Special Guests: Patrick Pricken, Kirk McElhearn and Kyla Duffy

Click here for a complete list of guests (in alphabetical order).

Click here for a complete list of episodes.

Announcements:

• In addition to its Facebook Fan Page, Books and Ideas now has a page on Google+.
• The Books and Ideas app is now available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
• Sign up for my newsletter so that you don't miss any podcasts.
• Both of my podcasts are supported by listener donations.
• Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Miguel Nicolelis on Brain-Machine Interfaces (BSP 79)

Dr. Miguel NicolelisMiguel Nicolelis at Duke University is pioneering brain-machine interfaces. In his book Beyond Boundaries: The New Neuroscience of Connecting Brains with Machines---and How It Will Change Our Lives he puts his groundbreaking work into an historical context. I discussed his book briefly in BSP 78, but I have now posted an in depth interview. The focus of our conversation is on why his work challenges longstanding assumptions about the primacy of the single neuron in brain function.

Listen to Episode 79

Click here for show notes and episode transcript.

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Karen Traviss on Writing for Gears of War (BI 44)

Karen TravissThe thing that draws me to novels by Karen Traviss is her characters and her recent series of novels based on the popular Gears of Wars videogame delivers a character-driven story of surprising depth. In fact, even though the recently released game Gears of War 3 (also written by Traviss) brings the games to an end, Traviss is still working on the 5th and final Gears of War novel, which is scheduled for release next spring.

I was fortunate to interview Traviss last month, shortly after the release of Gears of War 3. The interview is spoiler free, but even if you don't play video games this interview will give you a new insight the role of writing in this emerging genre. 

Listen to Karen Traviss (BI 44)

Episode Transcript (Free PDF)

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References and Links:

• KarenTraviss.com
• Aspho Fields by Karen Traviss
• Dr. Campbell's mini-review of Hard Contact (Star Wars: Republic Commando, Book 1) by Karen Traviss
• "Mad World" video from YouTube (embedded below)

 More Fiction Authors: 

• BI 17: Mur Lafferty, podcasting pioneer and author of Playing for Keeps
• BI 18: Tabitha Grace Smith lead writer of Buffy Between the Lines
• BI 35: Scott Sigler, best-selling author of Contagious and Galactic Football League series
• BI 38: Christiana Ellis (Nina Kimberly the Merciless) and Skyler White (and Falling, Fly)

Announcements:

• Join the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook.
• Post comments on Goodreads.com.
• Send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac dot com.
• Meet Dr. Campbell at SCIENCEONLINE 2012  in January 2012.

 Listen to Karen Traviss (BI 44)

Episode Transcript (Free PDF)

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