Critical Wit Podcast

Russell Murphy is a Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts, and author of Voices Of The Death Penalty Debate: A Citizen’s Guide To Capital Punishment. “Voices” is a book that presents arguments on both sides of the death penalty debate, but in a unique way – through the testimony of experts, […]

Roger McCoy is author of Ending In Ice: The Revolutionary Idea and Tragic Expedition of Alfred Wegener.  In this episode we talk about the scientific triumph of Wegener’s bold, controversial theory of continental drift as well as his courageous arctic expeditions in the name of science.

Joseph Cotruvo is the president of Joseph Cotruvo & Associates and a co-editor of the book, Desalination Technology: Health and Environmental Impacts.  In this episode, we talk about the science and technology of water desalination. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider ‘liking’ the Critical Wit page on Facebook and/or give the show a rating in iTunes.  Thanks!

Pamela Ronald is a plant geneticist at the University of California – Davis, and co-author of the book, Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food.  The book is about how genetic engineering and organic farming can be tools in the production of food now, and in the future.  In this episode, we talk about […]

Phil Reed is a Senior Consumer Advice Editor for Edmunds.com, an organization that offers information on automobiles.  Phil has written extensively on buying and selling cars, and so we discuss some strategies on how to make the car buying experience more simpler and pleasant.  You can find an archive of Phil’s articles on Edmunds.com. If you enjoy […]

Steve Matheson is an evolutionary cell biologist and blogger at Quintessence of Dust.  We discuss what it’s meant by something to be falsifiable in science.  We use the example of evolution by natural selection versus intelligent design.  You can follow Steve on Twitter @sfmatheson.  

In this special episode, I provide some audio clips from interviews that were not included in their respective episodes due to time constraints.  But I saved them because I thought they were informative and interesting.  I hope you find them to be, as well.  And because a clip show wouldn’t be one without funny moments, there are […]

Dan Moutal is a blogger and podcaster for the website, Irregular Climate.  In this episode, I ask Dan to clarify what the scientific consensus is on global warming, as well as what are the concerns that scientists have with regard to a climate that is changing due to global warming.  Besides subscribing to his blog and podcast (which is in […]

Bill Castanier is a literary journalist for the Lansing City Pulse, and blogger at MittenLit.com.  In this episode, Bill reviews  four excellent novels written by Michigan authors.  The first is a mystery called “Very Bad Men“ written by Harry Dolan.  The second is “Things We Didn’t Say” by Kristina Riggle.  The third is “Once Upon A River” by […]

Travis Saunders is a PhD student researching the relationship between sedentary time and chronic disease risk in children and youth. He is also a Certified Exercise Physiologist.  In this episode, Travis talks about how sedentary behavior is different than inactivity, and why it has more serious health risks.  And we also talk about how just […]

Zen Faulkes is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Texas-Pan American.  In this episode, Zen talks about Senator Tom Coburn’s report that criticized the National Science Foundation’s funding of certain science research. Zen also talks aboutwhy it’s important for scientists to do replication work on other scientists’ research, as well as getting replication research published in science journals.  […]

Steve Hamilton is a two-time Edgar Award winning author.  Steve discusses his second stand-alone novel, The Lock Artist, which won both an Edgar Award for best mystery, and also the Alex Award for best young-adult novel (which as you hear in the interview came as a total surprise to him).  The Lock Artist is now available in paperback, […]

Rob Mies is a scientist and conservationist, and co-founder of the Organization of Bat Conservation.  He educates and entertains for public and has appeared on national television shows in order to promote the importance of bats in our ecosystems.  And Rob talks about how people can help with bat conservation in modest ways. You can […]

Mick West is a pilot and creator of the website, ContrailScience.com.  We talk about the history and science of contrails; how they are formed, how they take on a variety of shapes, and why they can last for short or long durations.  And we’ll also discuss Mick’s criticsm of the chemtrail conspiracy.  We also discuss another website […]

Dr. Daniel Ksepka is a vertebrate paleontologist that works at North Carolina State University. Dan has done a lot of research in studying penguin fossils, and we discuss the evolutionary history of penguins as determined from the fossil record.   Dan also has a fantastic blog called March of the Fossil Penguins and you can follow him on Twitter @ksepkalab. There is […]

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Kevin deLaplante, a Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Iowa State University. We’ll discuss his work online at The Critical Thinker Academy, an educational resource that teaches critical thinking.  And Kevin breaks down five elements of critical thinking; logic, argumentation, rhetoric, background […]

In this supplemental episode, Dr. Charles Bamforth, provides an overview on the complex process of making beer.  This episode is intended to be listened to after Episode 9 “The Science of Brewing.” (episode 9 supplemental)

Dr. Charles Bamforth is an enzymologist and an Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Science at the University of California – Davis.  He is also the author of many books including, Beer: Tap into the Art and Science of Brewing and Beer Is Proof God Loves Us: Reaching for the Soul of Beer and […]

Science writer, Jill Adams, discusses three of her recent stories from the LA Times.  The first story is about antibiotic-resistant bacteria that was found in food. The second story concerns debate over whether food dyes promote hyperactivity in children. And the third story deals with a study on restricted diets as a treatment for ADHD. You can follow Jill on Twitter […]

Brian Wecht, particle physicist at the University of Michigan talks about the theoretical particle of the Standard Model of Physics called the Higgs Boson, and why he’s certain the LHC will eventually find it.  We also talk about his other project, The Story Collider – which is an event and podcast of people talking about […]