Mary Roach

Mary Roach is the author of Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife. Prior to writing these books, she wrote columns, essays, and feature articles for several national publications. Mary was a National Magazine Award Finalist in 1995, and in 1996 she took the American Engineering Association Media Award in the category General Interest Magazines. Mary is also a contributing editor at the science magazine Discover. Mary has always gravitated toward the peculiar, covering things like Eskimo food, killer bees, carrot addiction, and amputee bowling leagues.

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Past Shows:

  • Extremes of War / Open Lines

    Mary Roach spoke on the technology of protective battlefield wear. Open Lines occupied the latter half.More »
  • Natural Healing/ Science of War

    In the first half, Dr. Joel Wallach discussed the human body and its ability to use natural healing without the risky drugs prescribed by modern medicine. In the latter half, author Mary Roach addressed her latest work exploring the science of keeping human beings intact,...More »
  • Digestive System Stories

    Science writer Mary Roach discussed her research into the alimentary canal - the pathway by which food enters the body and solid wastes are expelled. In her new book, Gulp, she explores the digestive system from "nose to tail." First hour guest, author Charles Pellegrino...More »
  • Science & Space/ Resolutions & Hypnosis

    In the first half of the program, author Mary Roach joined Ian to discuss why science matters and her research into space travel. In the latter half of the show, hypnotherapist Rick Collingwood talked about using hypnosis for New Year's Resolutions as well as the science...More »
  • Life in Space

    Author Mary Roach discussed what she learned about the difficulties of living in space and traveling to far off worlds while researching her new book, Packing for Mars. In the first half-hour, attorney Galen Cook provided a brief update on his D.B. Cooper investigation...More »
  • Experiments with Mediums

    Dr. Gary Schwartz returned to report on his studies of mediums, such as Allison DuBois (who is currently being fictionalized on the hit TV show Medium). DuBois first visited Schwartz telling him that "she sees dead people" and that her spirit guides told her to have her skills...More »
  • Searching for the Afterlife

    Journalist and contributing editor for the science magazine Discover, Mary Roach discussed several interesting topics related to her new book, Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife. A self-proclaimed skeptic, Roach said she was born "without faith" and was motivated to write...More »