My apologies for uploading an incomplete version of this episode, and worst of all not detecting the problem for almost a week. Episode 54 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. Michaels Saags from the UAB Center for AIDS Research and author of "Positive: One Doctor's Personal Encounters with Death, Life, and the US Healthcare System." Dr. Saag became involved in the fight against HIV-AIDS early in his career and his work has been vital in transforming HIV from a death sentence to a...

Episadoe 53 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Rebecca Hale, current President of the American Humanist Association. We talk about the history of humanism and how it differs from skepticism and atheism. We also talk about how American Humanism fits into the larger picture of world-wide humanism. This episode is intended for people of all beliefs. Full episode show notes and free transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com. Send feedback to [email protected] or post your...

Mur Lafferty is one of the pioneers of podcasting and was one of my inspirations for starting two podcasts back in 2006. She was interviewed here way back in Episode 17, so I am glad to have her back. Mur has been working hard on her writing craft and has recently published "The Shambling Guide to New York City" to rave reviews. She also recently won the prestigious John W Campbell Award for Most Promising New Writer in Science Fiction and Fantasy. This interview is a fun conversation that...

I just wanted to let you know that a new episode of Books and Ideas wil be coming soon. Thanks so much for subscribing. Learn more at http://virginiacampbellmd.com.

Episode 51 of Books and Ideas is actually a followup of Dr. Jaak Panksepp's recent interview on the Brain Science Podcast. There we talked in depth about the scientific evidence that humans share basic emotional circuitry with other mammals. In this interview we talk about the implications of this discovery. We focus on how it should impact the treatment of laboratory animals. We also consider our relationships with pets and other domestic species. For detailed show notes and free episode...

Episode 50 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Ted Meisner, host of The Secular Buddhist podcast. We talk a little about the basics of Buddhism with a focus on the core teachings. The goal of The Secular Buddhist podcast is to highlight the practical teachings of Buddhism, while acknowledging that many of us would like to leave myths like reincarnation behind. Ted also interviews scientists who are trying to discover what happens in the brain when people meditate. For detailed show notes...

Episode 49 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Emily Reese from Minnesota Public Radio. Reese is the host of two podcasts that I enjoy: Top Score and Learning to Listen. In this interview we focus on Top Score, which is a podcast about video game music. Reese interviews the composers and gives listeners an inside look at the challenges that face composers in this new, but growing field. You don't need to be a muscian or a gamer to enjoy Emily's podcasts. For complete show notes and free...

Episode 48 of Books and Ideas is interview with Jonathan Gottschall, author of "The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human." Show notes and free episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com. Follow her on Twitter as @docartemis.

Episode 47 of Books and Ideas is being released simultaneously in the Brain Science Podcast feed. It is an interview with Terrence Deacon, PhD., author of "Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter." We talk about the ongoing quest to explain the emergence of life, mind, and purpose using the known laws of physics (with out the need for any supernatural extras). For complete show notes and free episode transcripts please visit http://booksandideas.com/. You can send Dr. Campbell...

I have just published my first eBook: Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty. It is currently available only in the Kindle format at Amazon.com, but I will send you the PDF version if you email me a copy of your Amazon receipt. The next episode of Books and Ideas will come out in July 2012. My email is gincampbell at mac.com.

This episode is an interview with Roger Reid, writer and producer for the Emmy Award winning public TV show Discovering Alabama with Dr. Doug Phillips and author of several novels for young adult readers. His novels combine science and mystery in an original way. In this interview we explore some surprising secrets about Alabama's natural history and learn how Reid's travels around the state have inspired his novels. For complete show notes and episode transcripts go to...

Episode 45 of Books and Ideas is a look back at the first five years of this podcast. I take the opportunity to thank each of my 33 guests and let you know what's coming in 2012. For detailed show notes and episode transcripts please visit http://booksandideas.com/. Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 44 of Books and Ideas is an interview with science fiction author Karen Traviss. She has written 4 novels based on the popular video game Gears of War. She also wrote the story for the recently released game Gears of War 3 and will be releasing a 5th novel next spring. In this fascinating interview she talks about how her early careers in journalism, television, and public relations prepared her to write fiction. She also describes what it is like to write in the emerging video game...

Episode 43 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Carol Tavris, PhD, co-author (with Eliot Aronson) of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. For detailed show notes, including references and episode transcripts go to http://virginiacampbellmd.com.

Episode 42 of Books and Ideas is an edited version of the talk that Dr. Campbell gave in May 2011 in London at Skeptics in the Pub. "Why Neuroscience Matters" is a brief introduction to some of the recent discoveries in neuroscience that are changing the way we see ourselves and each other. Special Thanks to the PodDelusion podcast for sharing the original recording. For detailed show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com.

Episode 41 of the Books and Ideas podcast is an interview with Holly Tucker, author of "Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution." We discuss how the controversies surrounding the first blood transfusions, which were attemped back in the 1660's are relevant to understanding similar controversies today. For detailed show notes, including links and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com. Send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac dot com or leave...

Books and Ideas #40 is an interview with Dr. Paul Offit author of "Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All." Feel free to share this important conversation with others. For complete show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com. Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 39 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Dr. Eric Maisel, author of "Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions." Complete show notes and episode transcripts are available at http://virginiacampbellmd.com. Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voice mail at 205-202-0663.

Episode 38 is a live interview with novelists Christiana Ellis and Skyler White. Full show notes and episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com. Please visit my new website at http://virginiacampbellmd.com and let me know what you think. Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 37 of Books and Ideas is an interview with scientist turned philosopher Massimo Pigliucci. Dr. Campbell talks with Dr. Pigliuccis about his career move from evolutionary biology to philosophy of science and they explore the relationship between science and philosophy. For detailed show notes, links, and episode transcript go to http://booksandideas.com. This podcast was sponsored by Audible.com. Learn more at http://www.audiblepodcast.com/booksandideas/. Visit the iTunes Store to...

Books and Ideas 36 is an interview with Daniel George, co-author of "The Myth of Alzheimer's: What You Aren't Being Told About Today's Most Dreaded Diagnosis." This interview is a follow-up to the one I did with Dr. Peter Whitehouse earlier this month for Brain Science Podcast 68. Detailed show notes and episode transcripts are available http://booksandideas.com. Send me email at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 35 of Books and Ideas is an interview with best-selling author Scott Sigler. Scott is known for his unique blend of horror and hard science fiction. In this interview Dr. Ginger Campbell talks to him about his career with a focus on the challenges of trying to incorporate accurate science into fiction. They also talk about his most recent hard cover book "The Rookie" and how it is encouraging young adults to become readers. Show notes, links and episode transcripts are available at...

Episode 34 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Bruce Hood, author of "SuperSense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable." Dr. Hood is a developmental psychologist with a long-standing interest in why people believe weird things. In "Supersense" he argues that innate cognitive structures (how we think without being taught) give people a natural tendency toward belief in the supernatural. Our intuitive sense of how the world works is often at odds with the findings of modern science. In this...

This is a free PDF from Kyla Duffy of Happy Tails Books. I interviewed Kyla for Episode 33 of Books and Ideas. Please share this PDF with others! It contains disturbing information about puppy mills, but it also contains practical guidance about how to help these dogs overcome the trauma of their pasts. You can learn more at http://happytailbooks.com/. The next episode of Books and Ideas will be an interview with Bruce Hood, author of "SuperSense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable." It...

Episode 33 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Kyla Duffy from Happy Tails Books. Duffy publishes inspiring stories about how adopting rescued dogs enriches peoples lives. Proceeds go to various rescue organizations. Get full show notes and episode transcripts at http://bookandideas.com. Send Email to gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voicemail at 206-984-0358.