Episode 31 of Books and Ideas was recorded live at Dragon*Con 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. It is an interview with NASA's Les Johnson and focuses on his book, "Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth."

You will find show notes, links, and episode transcripts at http://booksandideas.com/.

Send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac dot com.

You can also post comments on our new FaceBook Fan Page.

This is a brief public service announcement from SCIENCEPODCASTERS.ORG. Vincent Rancaniello, PhD from This Week in Virology and Marc Pelletier, PhD from This Week in Biotech talk about the new H1N1 Infuenza vaccine.

It is safe and effective. I will get it myself and recommend it to all my patients.

Please share this announcement with others.

To learn more go to http://flu.gov or http://cdc.gov/h1n1.

Episode 30 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Tom Clark, author of Encountering Naturalism: A Worldview and Its Uses. We discuss the implications of naturalism as a world view, especially as it relates to questions like morality and free will. Our discussion includes a look at the recent book Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? by Warren Brown and Nancey Murphy.

For show notes, links to related episodes, and a full episode transcript go to http://booksandideas.com.

Send Dr. Campbell feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Books and Ideas will return in September 2009. Previous episodes are available at http://booksandideas.com/.

Send email to gincampbell at mac.com.

Theme music for Books and Ideas is "The Open Door" by Beatnik Turtle.

Episode 29 of Books and Ideas is a follow-up interview with Dr. Robert Martensen. In Episode 28 we talked about Dr. Martensen's career. This month we talk about his book "A Life Worth Living: A Doctor's Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era."

Show notes and a complete transcript of the interview are available at http://booksandideas.com/.

Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at docartemis at gmail.com.

This episode includes a promo for "Nina Kimberly the Merciless." Learn more at http://christianaellis.com/.

Books and Ideas #28 is an interview with Robert Martensen, MD, author of A Life Worth Living: A Doctor's Reflections on Illness in a High-Tech Era. This is the first of a two-part interview. In this episode we talked about Dr. Martensen's career as a physician and about his new job at the NIH Office of History. We will talk about his book in a follow-up interview.

For show notes and links go to http://booksandideas.com.

Send Dr. Campbell email at docartemis at gmail.com.

Episode 27 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Jennifer Michael Hecht, author of "Doubt: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson" and "The Happiness Myth." As a poet and historian Hecht brings a unique perspective to her examination of the role of science in modern society. She also shares how writing "Doubt" changed her attitude toward religion. You won't want to miss this thought-provoking conversation.

For show notes and transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com/.

Send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 26 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Sue Bailey and Carmen Flowers, the authors of "Grave Expectations: Planning the End Like There's No Tomorrow." This book helps readers to plan for their funeral or memorial service. While this might seem like a strange idea Flowers and and Bailey explain that this can actually be a wonderful gift to leave for one's family and loved ones.

In this interview Bailey and Flowers share the personal experiences that led them to write this unusual book and they explain why they wrote it in an overtly humorous style. This interview will help listeners see death and funeral planning in a new way.

Go to http://booksandideas.com for show notes (including episode transcript) and links.

Send email to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac.com.

Episode 25 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. Paul A. Offit, author of "Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure." The scientific evidence shows no connection between vaccines and autism yet opponents of vaccination continue to encourage parents to refuse to vaccinate their children against potentially life threatening diseases.

In this episode we consider the evidence for vaccine safety and examine the factors that fuel the on-going controversy. Children are already dying from preventable diseases like measles and hemophilis infuenza (Hib) meningitis, so it is vital that parents be informed about the unnecessary risks faced by unvaccinated children.

For detailed show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com. Send email to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 24 of Books and Ideas is a follow-up interview with Nobel Prize winning physicist. Dr. Frank Wilczek. We discuss the questions that we didn't get around to in Episode 23, including the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics, String Theory, and dark matter and dark energy. Dr. Wilczek also answers some questions from listeners and tells us a little about his current work.

For detailed show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com/.

Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at docartemis @gmail.com or share your thoughts with other listeners in our Discussion Forum at http://brainscienceforum.com/.

This episode was sponsored by Audible.com and listeners like you.

Episode 23 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Frank Wilczek, PhD. Dr. Wilczek won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2004 and is the author of the new book Lightness of Being: Mass, Ether, and the Unification of Forces. In this interview Dr. Campbell asks him to explain some of the key ideas that drive his work and he helps us understand why he considers the new Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva, Switzerland the greatest achievement of modern science.

For show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com/.

Send email to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Contributions can be made via PayPal and directly to:
Virginia Campbell, MD
Brain Science Podcast
9340 Helena, RD, Suite F #320
Birmingham, AL, 35244

Episode 22 of Books and Ideas is all about my recent adventures at Dragon*Con 2008.

Please visit http://booksandideas.com for detailed show notes and episode transcripts.

Send email to Ginger Campbell, MD at gincampbell at mac dot com.

7/29/08 Announcement: The next regular episode of Books and Ideas will come out in September, 2008. This brief announcement includes information about Dr. Campbell's upcoming appearance at Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as information for new listeners. She also plays "The Open Door" by the Beatnik Turtle.

Please visit the website at http://booksandideas.com or send email to docartemis at gmail.com.

For more information about the Beatnik Turtle visit their website at http://beatnikturtle.com/.

Episode 21 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. Eugenie Scott, the Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education. We talk about the importance of teaching evolution in US public schools. For the sake of our international listeners we also explore the history behind the uniquely American battle between evolution and creationism (and its current incarnation, Intelligent Design).

For detailed Show Notes and transcripts please visit my website at http://booksandieas.com/.

Send feedback to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Visit our sponsor Audible.com at http://audiblepodcast.com/booksandideas/.

Books and Ideas #20: This is the corrected version of my interview with Delany Dean. I apologize to anyone who got the version with most of the sound missing!

In this episode Dr. Dean and I share our experiences with mindfulness meditation and Dr. Dean explains why she finds it helpful for a wide range of problems, including the stress we all face from time to time.

For more information including links and references please go to http://booksandideas.com/.

Send email to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Visit our sponsor at http://audiblepodcast.com/booksandideas/.

Episode 19 of Books and Ideas is an interview with MIT's Dan Ariely, author of the bestseller Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.

For show notes and transcripts  go to http://booksandieas.com/.

Send email to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Get the audio of "Predictably Irrational" at http://audiblepodcast.com/booksandideas/.

Books and Ideas #18 is an interview with writer and podcaster, Tabitha Grace Smith. She is the producer and one of the main writers of the audio drama "Buffy Between the Lines," which recently won the Podcasting Peer Award for Best Audio Drama. She is also involved in several other podcasts.

In this interview we talk about writing and about podcasting.

This episode includes the Valentine's episode of "Buffy Between the Lines," starting with my introductory comments at 32:34.

For show notes and transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com/.

Send email to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Please visit our sponsor at http://audiblepodcast.com/booksandideas

Episode 17 of Books and Ideas is an interview with writer Mur Lafferty. We talk about her new novel Playing for Keeps. Lafferty co-wrote Tricks of the Podcasting Masters, so we also talk about some of the challenges of podcasting.

This episode contains part one of the audio version of Playing for Keeps. This starts at 30:48.

For show notes and links to more of Mur's work please visit http://booksandideas.com.

Send feedback to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 16 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. Steven Novella from the popular podcast The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. This is a personal interview in which Dr. Novella talks about choosing to become a physician and a neurologist. As a practicing physician at Yale, Dr. Novella is in a good position to reflect on how advances in neuroscience are influencing patient care.  We also talk about the challenge of helping patients get accurate information and the importance of skeptical thinking when evaluating healthcare claims.

For show notes and additional links go to http://booksandideas.com.

Send feedback to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Ginger Campbell, MD also hosts the Brain Science Podcast at http://brainsciencepodcast.com.

Length: 38 minutes 16 seconds

#15 Books and Ideas Podcast is an interview with Dr. Robert Schleip of the University of Ulm, Germany. We discuss recent discoveries about fascia-a key element of connective tissue, which is involved in wound-healing and chronic pain. Dr. Schleip also shares his personal experience in moving from his role as a practitioner of rolfing to doing basic science research.

For links to references please go to the show notes at http://booksandideas.com

Send email to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Participate in the Books and Ideas section of the Brain Science Podcast Discussion Forum at http://brainscienceforum.com

Free audiobook download from my sponsor available at http://audiblepodcast.com/booksandideas

Length: 47 minutes 16 seconds

#14 Books and Ideas Podcast: Dr. Pamela Gay from the Astronomy Cast talks with host Dr. Ginger Campbell about podcasting, astronomy, and the challenges of combining teaching and research with podcasting.

Show Notes and Links to sites mentioned on the show can be found at http://booksandideas.com.

Send comments to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Books and Ideas #13: Harry Potter with guest Co-host, Patrick Pricken. This is a discussion of the international best-selling Harry Potter Series,by JK Rowling.

The first two parts of the episode are spoiler-free. If you have not read the last book yet, you will want to stop listening at 17:00 minutes, because the last part of the episode includes a discussion of events in Harry Pottery and the Deathly Hallows.

Patrick Pricken's blog is at http://www.p-pricken.de/

Send email to gincampbell at mac dot com.

Visit my website at http://booksandideas.com or post comments on the discussion forum at http://brainscienceforum.com.

Books and Ideas #12: Does Free Will Exist? This episode is a discussion of  The Myth of Free Will (2007) by Cris Evatt (Editor).

For Show Notes and transcripts go to  http://booksandideas.com

Send comments to gincampbell at mac dot com.

You may also post comments in a special section of the Brain Science Discussion Forum at http://brainscienceforum.com.

I am trying to post my feed through Podango so I can make a little money, but something doesn't seem to be working.

This post is just to test how the redirect is working.

This is the corrected version of the podcast. There is about 2 minutes of added material that begins at 5:37. The end of the interview is still awkward because somehow I failed to record the usual farewells.

This episode is an interview with Harvard's Neel Varshney. For more information go to http://booksandideas.com.

Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Voting for the first round of the American public radio Talent Quest continues through the first week of June, 2007.

Please go to http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/794 to learn more and to vote for me. Thanks.

Books and Ideas #10: An American Living in France

This is a conversation with writer Kirk Mcelhearn (http://www.mcelhearn.com), a native New Yorker, who has lived in France for over 20 years. We talk about  the challenges of learning a second language, and what it is like to live in France after 9/11. McElhearn is able to bring some interesting historical perspective to current events.

 For show notes and transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com. Send comments and suggestions to gincampbell at mac dot com. (Yes! I know there is echo in the second half, but I couldn't hear it while I was recording!)

Books and Ideas #9: Dr. Ginger Campbell interviews molecular biologist and author Lee M Silver about his book, "Challenging Nature: The Clash of Science and Spirituality at the New Frontiers of Life." We discuss how biotechnology challenges deeply held positions on both the left and the right. We also discuss the importance of distinguishing scientific arguments from pseudoscience. For more information go to http://booksandideas.com

Books and Ideas #8: Palestine by Jimmy Carter. President Jimmy Carter's book Palestine: Peace not Apartheid has raised the ire of many pro-Israel Americans. Why? Because he dares to point out the blight of the Palestinians. In this podcast, I discuss what I learned from this book and why I think Americans should read this book for themselves.

For relevant links and to leave comments go to http://booksandideas.com.
Send me email at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Interview with Matthew Cobb who wrote Generation, which was discussed in #6. Cobb discusses how he became interested in the Dutch Golden Age and the pioneers who discovered the egg and the sperm, even though it was almost 200 years before the discovery of genetics helped solve the mystery of human reproduction. We also discuss how the history of of science reveals the role of human nature in the scientific endeavor. Show Notes are posted at http://booksandideas.com. Send comments and suggestions to gincampbell at mac dot com.

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Matthew Cobb's book Generation (2006) is the basis of today's look at how 17th century thinkers began to explore how human reproduction happens. Rigorous experimentation represents an important step in the development of the modern scientific method.

Detailed show notes transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com. Send comments to gincampbell at mac dot com.

#5 How are Science and Philosphy related? I explore the common heritage of science and philosophy.

 Show Notes and transcripts are at http://booksandideas.com.

Please send me comments at gincampbell at mac dot com or visit iTunes and leave a review.

#4 The Best and Worst Audiobooks I read in 2006. Shownotes for this episode are at http://booksandideas.com
Send feedback to docartemis@gamail.com

This is the first half of a two-part discussion of my favorite audiobooks of 2006.

For more information go to the Books and Ideas website.

The Trouble with Physics by Lee Smolin. Show Notes and transcripts can be found at booksandideas.com.

Send your feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com.

For show notes and transcripots go to the Books and Ideas website at http://booksandideas.com

In this podcast I share may thought about books and lots of other subjects. This episode contains a discussion of the difference between science and pseudo-science and news about the upcoming season 8 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and a discussion of "An Inconvenient Truth."