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In this epsiode I had the pleasure of talking with Chelsea Wood, an Associate Professor at the University of Washington and a dedicated parasitologist. We talk about her middle-grade book, Power to the Parasites. The book provides a comprehensive, scientifically rigorous look at the oft-misunderstood creatures living in, on, and around us. Wood shares how her academic focus shifted from marine conservation to parasitology after discovering the intricate and vital roles these organisms play in global ecosystems.

The core thesis of Wood’s book challenges the assumption that parasites are merely harmful anomalies; rather, they are ancient, ubiquitous, and integral to the natural order. Key insights from the conversation include the evolutionary logic behind complex, multi-host life cycles, the mechanisms by which parasites like Toxoplasma gondii actively manipulate host behavior, and the surprising reality that human-driven ecosystem changes are driving many parasite species toward extinction rather than proliferation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The true definition of parasitism and the evolutionary logic of the r-selection strategy
• Complex, multi-host life cycles (e.g., the Lancet Liver Fluke’s journey from snails to ants to grazing animals)
• Behavioral manipulation and "mind control" by parasites like Toxoplasma gondii
• The unexpected role of parasites in ecosystem balance and wildlife conservation
• The hidden crisis of parasite extinction driven by habitat loss and overfishing
• Tracking historical parasite populations by dissecting century-old museum specimens

Find Chelsea Wood:

• Chelsea's website
• Chelsea on Instagram
• Chelsea's science book recommendations

Book Science:

• Website: https://www.trippcollins.com/podcast.html
• Show notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/show-notes
• Check out the Book Science Book Shop on BookShop.org
• Instagram: @booksciencepodcast

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In this episode of the Book Science Podcast, I talk with science and environmental journalist Laura Poppick about her book, Strata: Stories from Deep Time (Illustrations by Sarah Gilman). We explore the geologic lens, a way of seeing the world that transforms ordinary landscapes into a 4.5-billion-year narrative. From the Great Oxygenation Event to the surprising role of mud in Earth history, Laura explains how geologists decode the Earth through layered rock. We also discuss the her "lyric preludes", which use poetry to set the scene. We also talk about stratigraphy as a contemplative, almost meditative practice of paying attention to the planet's oldest archives.

Beyond the science, we delve into the human side of research and the personal sacrifices involved in field work. Drawing on our shared experiences of working abroad, and we reflect on how studying deep time provides a humbling perspective on our own lives. Whether discussing the literal taste of dinosaur bones or the ancient smell of prehistoric lakebeds, this conversation emphasizes that science is a powerful tool for connection, both with each other and with this our only home, the Earth.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Great Oxygenation Event (2.4 billion years ago)
• Rise of plants and the evolution of mud/rivers (458 million years ago)
• The Ediacaran period (first visible life)
• Stratigraphy as meditation and mindfulness
• Deep time and Earth's history
• Field work in South Australia and Dingle, Ireland

Find Laura Poppick:

• Laura's website
• Laura's substack
• Laura on bluesky
• Laura's science book recommendations: View the List

Book Science:

• Website: TrippCollins.com
• Show notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/episodes
• Check out the Book Science Book Shop on BookShop.org
• Instagram: @booksciencepodcast

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Join me for a special one-year anniversary celebration of Book Science as I sit down with biologist and author Sönke Johnsen to discuss his beautiful book, Into the Great Wide Ocean: Life in the Least Known Habitat on Earth.

In this episode, Sönke takes us on a journey into the pelagic zone—the open ocean that makes up the vast majority of living space on our planet. We explore why this "unbearably beautiful" world looks like it is lit by blue LEDs, the evolutionary marvels of transparency and bioluminescence, and the immense challenges of studying creatures that are effectively invisible.

Sönke shares his philosophy on science communication, explaining why he chose to weave his personal memoir—from his childhood in Pittsburgh to his time on research submersibles—into a text about marine biology. We discuss the "physical pain" of the writing process, why humanizing scientists is essential for public trust, and the deep connection between artistic observation and biological discovery.

Plus: We dive into the "observer effect" of deep-sea research (and why trawling nets is like driving a bulldozer through a café), the spiritual awe of biodiversity, and why Sönke believes that conservation must be driven by love rather than shame.

Topics Covered:

• The visual beauty of the pelagic environment
• Bioluminescence: defense, predation, and communication in the dark
• The intersection of art and science (featuring Alister Hardy)
• Writing as "thought made manifest"
• The difficulty of observing deep-sea behavior without disturbing it
• Why admitting ignorance is a scientist's greatest strength
• Conservation strategies: "We save what we love"

Find Sönke Johnsen:

• Faculty Profile: Duke University
• Book: Into the Great Wide Ocean
• All books mentioned on Book Science: View the List

Book Science:

• Website: TrippCollins.com
• Show notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/episodes
• Check out the Book Science Book Shop on BookShop.org
• Instagram: @booksciencepodcast

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Join host Tripp Collins for a sweeping conversation with environmental historian and author Dan Flores about his award-winning book Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America.

In this episode, Dan takes us on a 65-million-year journey through North America's natural history—from the Chicxulub asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs to the present day. We explore the continent's lost megafauna, including woolly mammoths and dire wolves, and discuss the heartbreaking extinctions of iconic species like the Carolina parakeet and passenger pigeon.

Dan shares insights into his writing process, the challenges of weaving together paleontology, genomics, and environmental history into a compelling narrative, and why he believes books have a unique power to "rearrange the furniture in your head." We also dive into America's evolving relationship with nature—from the hubris of market capitalism and wildlife slaughter to the birth of the conservation movement and the passage of the Endangered Species Act.

Plus: Dan reveals exciting news about his involvement with Colossal Biosciences and their groundbreaking work on de-extinction, including genetically edited dire wolves, and previews his upcoming book project Homestead: Building a Green Lifestyle in the Modern American Countryside.

Topics covered:

• Deep time history and the Chicxulub impact
• Ancient human migration to North America (23,000-year-old footprints at White Sands)
• The extinction crisis and changing attitudes toward conservation
• De-extinction science and CRISPR gene editing
• The role of nature writing in American culture
• Why books matter in an age of podcasts and film

Find Dan Flores:

• Podcast: The American West
• Books: Wild New World, Coyote America, American Serengeti
• All books mentioned on Book Science
  
  

Book Science:

• Website: TrippCollins.com
• Show notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/episodes
• Check out the Book Science Book Shop
• Instagram: @booksciencepodcast

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Season One Wrap-Up

We’ve reached the end of Season One of Book Science! In this closing reflection, I look back on the challenges, the guests who made the season possible, and the growth—both personal and creative—that came from finally putting this project into the world.

From my very first conversation with Duane Hamacher to laughing it up with Scott Huler in Episode 8, this season has been full of experiments, stumbles, and a whole lot of learning.

Along the way, we explored:

• Episode 1: Duane Hamacher – The First Astronomer
• Episode 2: The Power of the Sea by Bruce Parker (solo)
• Episode 3: Tessa Hill & Eric Simons – At Every Depth
• Episode 4: Firmament by Simon Clark (solo)
• Episode 5: Lynne Kelly – The Knowledge Gene &n others
• Episode 6: Helen Czerski – Blue Machine & Storm in a Teacup
• Episode 7: Waves and Beaches by Willard Bascom and Kim McCoy (deep dive)
• Episode 8: Scott Huler – Defining the Wind & Delicious Country

I’m deeply grateful to every guest who took a chance on this unknown show, and to everyone who has listened. Thank you for being part of this first season. With your support, this small but mighty club of science book aficionados will only keep growing. See you in Season Two.

Looking Ahead: Season Two launches this October! Guests include Carl Zimmer (Airborne), Dan Flores (Wild New World), Laura Poppick (Strata), Rebecca Lexa (Everyday Naturalist), Kevin Walsh (Planets of the Known Galaxy), Sönke Johnsen (Into the Great Wide Ocean), and Chelsea Wood (Power to the Parasites).

Links & Extras

• Website: TrippCollins.com
• Show notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/episodes
• Check out the Book Science Book Shop
• Instagram: @booksciencepodcast

Author Websites

• Scott Huler
• Helen Czerski
• Tessa Hill
• Eric Simons
• Duane Hamacher
• Lynne Kelly
• Simon Clark

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**Update: Audio Issues Fixed Aug. 19 2025**

I was in the local branch of my public library and I came across the title, Defining the Wind. I had never heard of the title, nor the author, Scott Huler. I was blown away by Scott's seemingly bottomless interest, his total commitment to investigation and understanding, and his equanimity when the universe doesn't deliver on expectations. I reached out to Scott with gratitude for the good read, and asking for some advice for an aspiring writer. He was fireworks in response, knife sharp and funny. This was the beginning of our correspondence.

I later read A Delicious Country, another book of full of curiosity and commitment. Scott retraced one of the earliest published accounts of a European trekking through the Carolinas. By this point I had started the podcast and knew Scott would make for a phenomenal chat. He did not disappoint. Scott is full of writerly wisdom, and you are going to love this conversation.

• Scott Huler's Website
• Show notes and full transcript on my website
• Other Episodes
• Check out our Instagram @BookSciencePodcast
• Support the show & get bonus content: Patreon.com/BookScience

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Willard Bascom’s Waves and Beaches first appeared in 1964 and quickly became a classic of coastal and wave science. Favored by readers who wanted to dig deeper into the physics of waves, it has stood for decades as a clear and engaging introduction to the subject.

But the new third edition? It wipes out. The wave science remains largely outdated, and new sections insert climate commentary that doesn’t reflect the current state of research.

If you care about coastal science, wave dynamics, or climate, this episode is for you.

• Show notes and full transcript on my website
• Upcoming Episodes
• Check out our Instagram @BookSciencePodcast
• Support the show & get bonus content: Patreon.com/BookScience

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In this episode of Book Science, I'm joined by physicist, oceanographer, BBC presenter, and author Dr. Helen Czerski, a world-class communicator of science and an expert on all things ocean and bubble.

We talk about her most recent book, Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World — a sweeping, human-centered tour through the ocean’s role as a planetary engine. We discuss how her background in physics informs her writing, her playful and cinematic style, the challenges of scientific storytelling, and why books still matter.

We also explore:

• The hidden structure behind ocean storytelling
• Why physics is for everyone
• The importance of curiosity and perspective
• Her work with the Cosmic Shambles Network
• Featuring Indigenous voices in ocean science
• The power of books as immersive tools for understanding

Show Notes & Bonus Content:
Show Notes, Full episode transcript, extended reading list and more at TrippCollins.com

Find more episodes of Book Science

Explore Helen’s work at HelenCzerski.net
Learn more about Rare Earth on BBC Radio 4

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