This is the last audio-only episode of my podcast before I move to in-person video-interviews. Dan Quintana joins the podcast to discuss the evolution of science communication and why he's still podcasting after 200 episodes. We explore the surprisingly effective power of LinkedIn for academics, why audio-only interviews are becoming a thing of the past, and how to start your own science podcast without breaking the bank.

Is the replication crisis actually a chance for a global science makeover? Kai Ruggeri joins the podcast to discuss how he coordinates massive international studies that put classic psychology theories to the test. We explore the surprising robustness of prospect theory across cultures and the logistical nightmares of running research in 90 countries.

Elsa Fouragnan joins the podcast to discuss how transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is overcoming this barrier to revolutionize neuroscience. We explore her journey from a tiny island in French Polynesia to pioneering neuromodulation research, the challenges of "cooking" brain tissue with high-intensity sound waves, and why the future of brain stimulation might be a wearable helmet.

Is peer review a recent invention? Melinda Baldwin joins the podcast to debunk the myths surrounding the history of scientific publishing. We explore how Nature evolved from a Victorian magazine to a global powerhouse, why peer review only became standard in the 1970s, and how a Cold War funding crisis shaped the way we evaluate science today.

Steve Fleming joins the podcast to discuss his journey from aspiring music producer to leading cognitive neuroscientist. We explore how he ran his London lab remotely from Croatia, why consciousness might eventually go the way of "vitalism" in biology, and the strategic importance of not rushing your career.

Is English holding back cognitive science? Damián Blasi joins the podcast to discuss his widely cited paper "Over-reliance on English hinders cognitive science." We explore how studying only English speakers can warp our understanding of the human mind, the fascinating linguistic diversity of New Guinea, and why some cultures don't have a word for "thank you."

Is fake news actually a problem of lazy thinking? Gordon Pennycook joins the podcast to discuss the psychology of misinformation. We explore why people share false headlines on social media, the surprisingly small role of political bias compared to simple inattention, and how AI might be the unexpected hero in the fight against conspiracy theories.

Is the next breakthrough in brain imaging happening one layer at a time? Renzo Huber joins the podcast to discuss the cutting-edge world of layer-dependent fMRI. We explore how ultra-high field scanners (7 Tesla and beyond) are allowing us to see the brain's circuitry in unprecedented detail, why fMRI is like making wine while electrophysiology is like making beer, and the surprising challenges of being a "scanner janitor."

Ella Marushchenko joins the podcast to discuss her journey from fine art to scientific illustration. We explore why scientists love the color magenta (and why she hates it), the pitfalls of using superheroes in journal covers, and how she turns complex data into striking visuals that grab attention.

Is our brain's GPS also its idea generator? Roberto Bottini joins the podcast to discuss how our brain's navigation system might be the key to abstract thought. We explore his fascinating research with blind participants, which revealed a unique four-fold symmetry in their grid cells, the "spatial scaffolding" hypothesis, and why he recommends a controversial book on the origins of consciousness.

Is computational modeling a black box or a rigorous scientific tool? Robert Wilson joins the podcast to discuss his widely-read paper "Ten Simple Rules for the Computational Modeling of Behavioral Data." We explore how to design experiments specifically for modeling, the importance of "parameter recovery," and why fitting a model isn't just about getting the best p-value.

Nick Wise joins the podcast to expose the bizarre world of scientific fraud, from "tortured phrases" that evade plagiarism detectors to Facebook groups selling authorship on published papers. We explore how paper mills are gaming the academic system, why journals struggle to stop them, and the surprisingly simple ways these scams are uncovered.

Is the legal system stacked against scientific whistleblowers? Eugenie Reich joins the podcast to discuss her transition from investigating science fraud as a journalist to fighting it as a lawyer. We explore why fraudsters rarely go to jail, how institutions weaponize NDAs to silence critics, and the surprisingly effective legal tools available to those willing to expose misconduct.

Mac Shine joins the podcast to discuss how he transformed from a medical doctor to a leading network neuroscientist by embracing ignorance and seeking out interdisciplinary collaborations. We explore the role of fMRI in bridging the gap between cellular and cognitive neuroscience , why he encourages his students to solve problems that annoy them, and how getting rejected by a journal led to his most impactful work.

Is the "publish or perish" rat race the only way to succeed in academia? Brandon Brown joins the podcast to discuss how he built a successful career in public health without chasing massive grants. We explore the hidden curriculum of university life, why smaller grants can be a smarter bet, and how running a farm keeps him grounded in a high-pressure field.

Is the brain's internal clock slower than we thought? Soledad Gonzalo Cogno joins the podcast to discuss her discovery of "ultra-slow" oscillatory sequences in the brain's navigation center. We explore how she transitioned from theoretical physics to experimental neuroscience, her work with Nobel laureates Edvard and May-Britt Moser, and why a physicist's perspective can sometimes clash with biological intuition.

Is the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat the rarest animal you've never heard of? Julie Old joins the podcast to discuss her work conserving Australia's most endangered wombat species. We explore the devastating impact of sarcoptic mange on wombat populations, the unique challenges of treating wild animals that live in extensive underground burrows, and why wombats poop cubes.

Is the future of statistics Bayesian? Tom Chivers joins the podcast to discuss his new book Everything is Predictable. We explore the fascinating history of Thomas Bayes (and why he might not have realized the importance of his own theorem), how Bayesian thinking could have prevented the replication crisis, and why picking up the phone is a journalist's superpower.