Let's Talk Chemistry- a science podcast by ChemTalk

Episode 69: Dr. Martin Burke on Democratizing Molecular Innovation

With 8 billion imaginations in the world, Dr. Martin Burke calculates that the number of specialists who are able to create molecules can fit into a single building. On t

Episode 68: Dr. Michael Pollastri on Drug Discovery for Neglected Tropical Diseases

Drug discovery is already an incredibly difficult and tedious process, but what happens when there’s little financial incentive to develop the medicine at all? On this ex

Episode 67: Dr. John LaMattina on Drug Discovery, Pharma Innovation, and Industry Myths

Have you ever wondered why new medicines can take decades to be developed and why the process is so costly? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Pre

Episode 66: Dr. Neil Garg on Reimagining Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry has a reputation for being one of the most challenging college courses—but what if it could also be interactive, accessible, and even fun? On this excit

Episode 65: Dr. Frank Leibfarth on Upcycling Plastic Waste and Tackling Forever Chemicals

Dr. Frank Leibfarth is the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Laureate in Chemical Sciences, recognized for his work in upcycling plastics and removing “

Episode 64: Dr. David Julian McClements on Food Science

On the surface, food science may sound simple. But once you dive deeper, you’ll discover a world of innovation, challenges, and incredible scientists behind the food you

Episode 63: Dr. Aaron Burton on What Meteorites Can Teach Us About Life

How did life start on Earth and could life exist elsewhere? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Elizabeth Li, and Aany

Episode 62: Dr. Bruce McCord on the Chemistry behind Crime Scene Investigations

Often in crime shows and movies, we usually skip to the result of forensic testing. But have you ever wondered how investigators get those results? On this exciting episo

Episode 61: Dr. Lance Wells on Glycobiology

The term “glycobiology” may be unfamiliar to many students, as it is an undertaught but extremely important field that is linked to nearly every facet of cellular biology

Episode 60: Dr. Jonathan Sessler on Cancer Therapy and Texaphyrins

Dr. Jonathan Sessler, Professor of Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, is no stranger to taking an active role in directing his own path. Being a three-time H

Episode 59: Dr. Paul Chirik on Modern Alchemy

Dr. Paul Chirik, the Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Chemistry and the Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University, researches something he calls “modern

Episode 58: Nobel Laureate Dr. Benjamin List on Organocatalysis

Nobel laureate Dr. Benjamin List is one of the directors of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research and professor of organic chemistry at the University of Cologne. On

Episode 57: Dr. Bruce Logan on Environmental Engineering and Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells use bacteria to convert chemical energy stored in organic matter into electrical energy. This allows environmental engineers to produce sustainable e

Episode 56: Dr. Seth Marder on Optoelectronics and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

What are the advantages and limitations of organic materials, inorganic materials, or hybrid materials that combine both? How do the properties of these different materia

Episode 55: TikTok’s Favorite Chemistry Teacher Phil Cook on Making Science Viral

Phil Cook, also known as @ChemTeacherPhil, has captivated millions with his engaging and explosive science experiments on TikTok. As a seasoned chemistry teacher at Culve

Episode 54: Nobel Laureate Dr. Morten Meldal on Click Chemistry

Nobel laureate Dr. Morten Meldal, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, revolutionized the field of chemistry with his pioneering work on click chemistr

Episode 53: Dr. Gaurav Giri on Crystallization Chemistry and MOF Innovation

Dr. Gaurav “Gino” Giri, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia, is pioneering research in crystallization and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). On

Episode 52: Dr. Tashica Amirgholizadeh on Merging Chemistry and Law

Dr. Tashica Amirgholizadeh is a patent litigator at Gilead Sciences who combines her passion for chemistry with the law. She obtained her PhD in Chemistry at the Californ

Episode 51: Dr. Benjamin Hsiao on Sustainable Chemistry

Dr. Benjamin Hsiao, Professor of Chemistry at Stony Brook University, is a renowned scientist in the fields of polymer science, materials chemistry, and nanotechnology. O

Episode 50: Dr. Adina Paytan on Earth Materials and Climate Science

Dr. Adina Paytan, Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz, is an ocean chemist who works on various topics—including earth ma