Smart Tea
Episodes
Dr. Tetsuya "Ted" Fujita: Mr. Tornado
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On June 24, 1975, Eastern Airlines 66 mysteriously crashed when attempting to land at JFK airport. Authorities called in Mr. Tornado to investigate. A...
Dr. Alice Stewart: The Anti-Radiation Activist (Part II)
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After retirement, Dr. Alice Stewart continued to raise awareness of how radiation could cause cancer, immunodeficiencies, and other possible health de...
Dr. Alice Stewart: The Radiation Epidemiologist (Part I)
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this two part series, Aarati tells the story of the epidemiologist who realized there was a link between prenatal x-rays and childhood cancer. She ...
Interview with Kiara Rodríguez-Acevedo: The Stress Geneticist
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Stress affects men and women differently. We sit down with Kiara Rodríguez-Acevedo, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Pennsylvania to ask her ho...
Vivien Thomas: The Heart (Non-) Surgeon
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Black History month! In this episode, Aarati tells the unlikely story of a carpenter turned lab technician. Vivien Thomas created a blood shunt ...
Interview with Andrew Robertson: The Ant Scientist
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ants may not be very big, but we have a lot to learn from these tiny creatures! We sit down with Andrew Robertson, a PhD candidate at Georgia Tech and...
Dr. Dmitri Mendeleev: Organizing the Elements
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's episode 50! Aarati tells the story of the Russian chemist who figured out a way to organize all the known (and unknown) elements into a tabl...
Dr. Ludwig Boltzmann: The Disordered Physicist
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do certain things never happen in reverse? A shattered glass does not spontaneously reform, a spray of perfume doesn't concentrate back into ...
Dr. Rudolf Clausius: The Laws of Thermodynamics
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Part II of our December Thermodynamics Extravaganza! Aarati tells the story of the German scientist who formally stated that 1) energy is conserved an...
Sadi Carnot: The Father of Thermodynamics
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Born to one of the most influential families during the French Revolution, Sadi Carnot kickstarted another revolution in physics. His perfect (althoug...
Dr. Virginia Apgar: Helping Babies Breathe
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After birth, a quick check to make sure the newborn is beathing and acting normally can be the difference between life and death. Aarati tells the l...
Charles Goodyear: The Rubber Man
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vulcanized rubber was a revolutionary material for clothing, medical devices, life preservers and eventually, the tire industry. But life was tougher ...
Dr. Donald Griffin: The Batty Professor
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bat echolocation opened up a whole new world of questions regarding animal behavior. Aarati tells the story of the scientist who first put forward the...
Dr. Alfred Binet: The Intelligent Psychologist
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is intelligence something you are born with or is it a skill you can improve? Aarati tells the story of the self-taught psychologist who came up with ...
Dr. Mario Molina: Healing the Ozone Layer
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At the turn of the century, the world came together to ban chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) after scientists found evidence that they were destroying the Ea...
Dr. Eugenie Clark: The Shark Lady
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dive into the extraordinary life of the marine biologist who transformed our understanding of the ocean and the animals that live in it. Aarati tells ...
Dr. Thomas Brock: The Extreme Microbiologist
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can you handle the heat? Aarati tells the story of the nature-loving scientist whose discovery of Thermus aquaticus, a microbe living in the hot water...
Dr. James Lind: The Scurvy Clinician
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An orange a day keeps the scurvy away! Aarati tells the story of the 18th century naval physician who set up the very first clinical trial to figure o...
Alessandro Volta: The First Battery
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So much of our modern life runs on batteries: laptops, cell phones, electric cars, watches, remotes, even toothbrushes! Aarati tells the story of the ...
Pliny the Elder: The First Encyclopedia Author
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Travel back with us to Ancient Rome! Aarati tells the story of Pliny the Elder, who made it his mission to catalogue over 20,000 "scientific"...
Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey: The FDA's Stronghold
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Frances refused FDA approval of thalidomide for treating morning sickness until it was deemed safe... which it wasn't. Aarati tells the story of ...
Dr. Kamala Sohonie: The Patriotic Biochemist
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Even a Nobel Prize laureate couldn't stand in her way! Aarati tells the story of the first Indian woman to get a PhD in science and how she used ...
Dr. Gustaf Dalén: Illuminating Lighthouses
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For someone who was literally blinded by science, Gustaf remained optimistic. And why shouldn't he have been? He saved countless lives and won th...
Kristian Birkeland: The Aurora Borealis Adventurer
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the scientist whose discoveries led to him almost winning the Nobel Prize SEVEN times. From the Aurora Borealis, to electromagnetic cannons, to f...
Dr. William Dement: The Sleep Doctor
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We spend about 33% of our lives sleeping but during that time, our brain is still incredibly active. In this episode, we talk about Dr. William Dement...
Roxie Laybourne: The Feather Inspector
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Any pilot will tell you, bird strikes are unfortunately a common occurrence. But thanks to Roxie's work, the skies are less dangerous for airplan...
Dr. Santiago Ramon y Cajal: The Artistic Neuroscientist
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From wild child to a Nobel laureate! Aarati tells the story of the artistic scientist whose beautifully intricate drawings unraveled the secrets of th...
Dr. José Manuel Rodríguez Delgado: The Mind Controller
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mind control is more than science fiction! Arpita tells the story of a scientist who could make charging bulls stop dead in their tracks and cats lick...
Dr. Elmer S. Imes: The Quantum Spectroscopist
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What causes a quantum jump? Aarati tells the story of Dr. Elmer Imes, a Harlem Renaissance man who proved that the rotation and vibration of molecules...
Jacques Piccard: The Deep Sea Diver
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Mariana Trench is the deepest and least explored part of our oceans. Hold your breath while Arpita tells the story of the first scientist to make ...
Dr. Charles Richter: Measuring Earthquakes
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From tiny tremors to catastrophic disasters, earthquakes are a difficult phenomenon to measure. Aarati tells the story of Charles Richter, a man who w...
Jack Parsons: The Troubled Rocket Scientist
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Happy new year! We're starting 2025 with an EXPLOSIVE episode! Arpita tells the story of Jack Parsons, the founder of JPL, who had some dark and ...
Wilson Bentley: The Snowflake Man
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Taking photographs of microscopic snow crystals is an art. Aarati tells the story of the man who braved blizzards in his obsession to capture the beau...
Dr. Brigitte Askonas: The Mother of Immunology
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From antibodies to killer T cells, there isn't a part of the immune system Brigitte didn't study. Aarati tells the story of a true pioneer i...
Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley: Founder of the FDA
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Would you drink embalmed milk?! Arpita tells the story of the scientist who cracked down on harmful preservatives and additives in food and started th...
Dr. Wilhelm Röntgen: Discovering X-rays
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As soon as X-rays were discovered, scientists realized the potential they had to revolutionize healthcare. Aarati tells the story of the very first ph...
Dr. Bennet Omalu: The NFL Whistleblower
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's football season! Arpita tells the story of a pathologist who publicized some of the dangers facing NFL players. Come for the football, stay ...
Dr. John B. Watson: The Fear Psychologist
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are rats and spiders actually scary or have you just been conditioned to think so? Aarati tells the story of a controversial psychologist whose "...
Dr. Svetlana Mojsov: The Unsung Ozempic Hero
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ozempic and Wegovy are everywhere, but there is one scientist who has been left out of all the news articles. Arpita tells the story of a female immig...
Percy Spencer: Microwaves and Magnetrons
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One person’s curiosity can change the world! Aarati tells the story of a grade school dropout whose drive to learn how things work resulted in the i...
Dr. Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin: The Psychedelic Pioneer
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Arpita is back with another story in the series on psychedelics. MDMA has an interesting history, but could it have a future in mental health treatmen...
Dr. Charles Drew: The Blood Banker
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Blood transfusions were a risky business until this athlete turned surgeon came along. Aarati tells the story of a literal bloody genius!Support the s...
Ettore Majorana: The Case of the Missing Physicist
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
True crime, anyone?! Arpita tells the story of a brilliant physicist who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.Support the showFor more informati...
Stephanie Kwolek: The Queen of Kevlar
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You don't need to be a doctor to save lives! Aarati goes into the life of a headstrong fashion designer-turned-chemist, who created polymer based...
Albert Hofmann: The Science and Culture of LSD
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An unlikely chemist makes an even unlikelier discovery. Arpita tells the story of how Albert Hofmann brought LSD (and a very memorable bicycle ride) t...
Wilbur Scoville: The Spicy Pharmacist
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're heating things up! Aarati tells the story of the pharmacist who created a scale to rate the spiciness of chili peppers. Support the showFo...
Dmitri Belyaev: Taming Silver Foxes
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did dogs become our best friends? For our 10th episode, Aarati tells the story of Dmitri Belyaev, a Soviet scientist who used foxes to uncover the...
Guy Callendar: How Humans Affect the Climate
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who says you need a fancy lab to do science? Aarati tells the story of the man who showed human activity was influencing the climate from the comfort ...
Hedy Lamarr: The Avant-Garde Starlet
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Arpita tells the story of one of the most glamorous movie stars of the early 20th century whose invention changed the way we communicate and laid the ...
Emmy Noether: The Power of Symmetry
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the female mathematician who Einstein thought was a genius! Aarati takes a stab at explaining Noether’s Theorem and the underlying mathematical...
Élie Metchnikoff: The Quest for Immortality
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is there a way to stay forever young? Arpita tells the story of a Nobel Prize winning scientist who uncovered the truth about our immune system and ch...
Alice Ball: Extracting a Treatment for Leprosy
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
HERstory prevailed! Aarati tells the story of a young chemist who extracted a treatment for leprosy and only received credit for her achievement decad...
Dr. Patricia Bath: Eye Doctor Extraordinaire
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Arpita tells the story of a scientist and inventor who kept her EYES on the prize! She crashed through glass ceilings while staying true to her roots....
Lord Joseph Lister: The Sanitary Surgeon
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
DON'T break a leg... especially in the Victorian Era. Aarati tells the story of the surgeon who revolutionized medical care with his antiseptic m...
William Buckland: The First Dinosaur Fossil
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hyenas and dinosaurs and bears, oh my! Arpita tells the story of the eccentric clergyman who wrote the first account of a dinosaur fossil and laid the...
Alfred Nobel: The Explosive Innovator
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're starting out with a BANG! In our very first episode, Aarati tells the story of the man who invented dynamite and used the fortune he made t...
Smart Tea Trailer
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the Smart Tea Podcast!Support the showFor more information and sources for this episode, visit https://www.smartteapodcast.com.