Best Conversations On The Reef Podcasts (2025)

1
Brisket, Bulls & Business: Barry Cooper on the Legacy of Cooper’s BBQ 30:26

5h ago30:26

30:26

In this episode, we go behind the smoke with Barry Cooper, the man behind Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que, to explore how a small BBQ joint in Mason, Texas grew into a statewide icon - feeding Texans and travelers from New Braunfels to the Fort Worth Stockyards. We cover: 🔥 How Cooper’s BBQ built its legacy—serving 50 head worth of beef per locatio…

1
How Do Bacteria Talk To Each Other? 23:30

13m ago23:30

23:30

Bacteria have been around for billions of years. Could they have come up with complex behaviors that we just don’t understand yet? Could they have their own language? Their own culture? Their own complex societies playing out right under, and in, our noses? Microbiologist Bonnie Bassler has been studying these questions for more than 30 years. She …

1
Harmonising waters: water management, innovation and choral singing with eWater Group CEO Michael Wilson 54:40

4h ago54:40

54:40

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Group CEO of eWater Group Michael Wilson has an extraordinary range of backgrounds: he’s a political scientist, classical musician, public servant, national security specialist, Australian Diplomat, and Humanitarian and International Development Advisor all rolled into one, with over 35 …

1
Functional Fashion From An Artist And A Caterpillar 18:45

23h ago18:45

18:45

A passion for fashion among the “bone collector caterpillar,” who wears a coat of body parts, and an artist who makes fabrics that remember. We inch into the world of extreme outerwear with the newly-discovered “bone collector caterpillar,” which wears a coat of many co…llected body parts. Why, Hanipillar Lecter? Entomologist Dan Rubinoff, who alon…

51
Ancient Iguanas Floated 5,000 Miles Across The Pacific | A Pregnant Ichthyosaur Fossil 18:58

3d ago18:58

18:58

Millions of years ago, iguanas somehow got from North America to Fiji. Scientists think they made the trip on a raft of fallen vegetation. Also, the marine reptile’s fossilized fetus is cluing paleontologists into the lives of ancient sea creatures. Ancient Iguanas Floated 5,000 Miles Across The Pacific If you picture iguanas, you might imagine the…

1
Are There Things That We Know We Can’t Know? 18:24

3d ago18:24

18:24

In “Into the Unknown,” an astronomer explores the mysteries of the cosmos and the limits of what science can test. What is time? If the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into? What happened just before the Big Bang? Some of the most head-scratching ideas in physics strain the limits of what science can test. In her book Into the Unknown: …

1
The Great EPI Reef 20:08

6d ago20:08

20:08

Welcome back! On this week's EPI-sode from EPI Program, we are discussing a mural completed by service users and staff members in 2024! The big ocean themed mural took 6 months to complete and takes up an entire wall in the art room. Listen along to how the program came together to create this captivating mural. Follow us on instagram @artbeatradio…

1
Two Steps Forward For Meat Alternatives 16:18

6d ago16:18

16:18

Scientists bring us a lab-grown chicken nugget and texturally accurate, plant-based calamari. We’ll bite. There’s a movement in the world of science to find alternatives to meat and dairy products that don’t involve killing animals. Two avenues for this are by using animal cells in a lab, or going plant-based. Two breakthroughs in this field of foo…

1
Rising Advocates: Shaping the Future of Texas Agriculture 11:53

7d ago11:53

11:53

This week, we're honored to feature three brilliant young women from the Texas Youth Livestock Ambassador program who are changing the face of agricultural advocacy! From their inspirational mentors to heartfelt gratitude for their supportive families, these future leaders share how they're bridging the gap between consumers and producers in a worl…

1
How Death Metal Singers Make Their Extreme Vocalizations | Regional Allergies 22:18

7d ago22:18

22:18

Being able to belt out a tune like Adele or Pavarotti is not just about raw talent. The best singers in the world have to work on their technique—like how to control their breath and develop the stamina to hit note after note for a two-hour concert. But pop stars and opera singers aren’t the only vocalists who have figured out how to harness their …

1
A New Book On The Horrifying, Creative World Of Insect Zombies 18:27

9d ago18:27

18:27

It’s zombie season! At least if you’re watching the new season of the fungal thriller “The Last of Us,” airing right now on Max, which chronicles what happens after a fungus turns most of humanity into zombies. It’s fiction for us, but for some organisms on the planet, it’s more like a documentary. The fungus that zombifies humanity in the show is …

1
Untangling The Mind-Body Connection In Chronic Pain 18:38

9d ago18:38

18:38

Research suggests that better understanding the psychological and neurological components of chronic pain may lead to better treatments. Chronic pain is remarkably common: Roughly 20% of adults in the US live with it. And people with chronic pain are more likely to have depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. But this relationship betwe…

1
A Precisely Pointed Laser Allows People To See New Color ‘Olo’ 18:36

10d ago18:36

18:36

Researchers isolated one kind of cone in the eye and aimed lasers at it to allow subjects to see a super vibrant teal shade they call “olo.” Think about the colors of the world around you—the blue of a cloudless sky, the green of a new leaf, the blazing red of a tulip’s petals. We see these colors because of the way our eyes work. But what if we co…

1
Maestro Incredo Gum 10:06

13d ago10:06

10:06

Welcome back to Artbeat Radio!Have you ever wanted to join an orchestra? Play a song by Beethoven? Or perhaps, Van Halen? Then choose your favorite flavor of "Maestro Incredo Gum", simply chew and your musical skills will magically multiply! Each flavor corresponds to an instrument: vanilla flavor is piano, mint is guitar, tutti frutti is violin, c…

1
$8B Of Climate Tech Projects Canceled | In Louisiana, A Successful, Growing Wetland 20:34

13d ago20:34

20:34

How will market uncertainty and a lack of federal support for climate efforts affect the future of clean energy in the United States? Plus, many wetlands are disappearing, but Louisiana’s “accidental” Wax Lake Delta is growing—and informing coastal restoration techniques. $8 Billion Of Climate Tech Projects Were Canceled In 3 Months In the first th…

1
Alabama's Ranching Revolution: from Legislation to Livestock with EVP Erin Beasley 14:21

14d ago14:21

14:21

Join us LIVE from Montgomery, AL as host Ty deCordova sits down with Alabama Cattlemen's Association Executive Director Erin Beasley to discuss our April 24 video auction and get an insider's look at the passionate team driving Alabama's beef industry forward. Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from the leadership shaping the ranching com…

1
Investigating Cat Behavior Through Genetics 18:13

14d ago18:13

18:13

With the help of cat owners, a new project investigates cats’ biology and aims to link some of their behaviors to their genes. Calling all cat people: This one’s for you. Despite humans’ long history of welcoming felines into their homes and delis, research on cats lags far behind research on dogs. Now, scientists behind the project Darwin’s Ark ar…

1
Advances In Brain-Computer Interfaces For People With Paralysis 18:37

16d ago18:37

18:37

An evolving technology is changing the lives of people with paralysis: brain-computer interfaces (BCI). These are devices that are implanted in the brain and record neural activity, then translate those signals into commands for a computer. This allows people to type, play computer games, and talk with others just by thinking, allowing more freedom…

1
Stocky Needs Our Help: Saving native freshwater fish from extinction with Dr. Mark Lintermans 55:32

15d ago55:32

55:32

Questions, comments, feedback? Tap here to send us a message! Stocky Galaxias, or 'Stocky', is one of Australia's most critically endangered species — a tiny fish hidden away in the pristine alpine waters of Kosciuszko National Park. Can the survival of this elusive, critically endangered species illuminate the future of Australia’s rivers? In this…

1
How Raindrops Can Be Turned into Electricity 8:24

15d ago8:24

8:24

Today’s episode is all about rain — but not the kind that ruins your beach day. Instead, we’re looking at how raindrops themselves could become tiny power plants. A 2025 study from the National University of Singapore, published in ACS Central Science, has shown that water droplets can be used to generate clean, renewable electricity using a brand-…

1
A Blind Inventor’s Life Of Advocacy And Innovation 18:31

16d ago18:31

18:31

In Connecting Dots: A Blind Life, inventor Josh Miele recounts his life story and path to becoming an accessibility designer. When inventor and scientist Josh Miele was 4 years old, a neighbor poured sulfuric acid on his head, burning and permanently blinding him. In his new book Connecting Dots: A Blind Life, Miele chronicles what happened afterwa…

1
The Lack Of Science In Road Design Is Deadly 18:40

17d ago18:40

18:40

Are traffic engineering decisions based on evidence-based research? Not as much as you might think. If you’ve seen a car crash on the side of the road, you might look at it and think that the person at fault is the driver. But how much blame should be shared by the people who designed those roads in the first place? Well, some traffic engineers are…

1
Light, Particulate Matter and ... Thyroid Cancer? 12:27

18d ago12:27

12:27

I’m your host, and today we’re talking about a new study that brings together two things we all encounter daily—air pollution and city lights—and links them to something unexpected and alarming: thyroid cancer in children. This study, titled “Perinatal Exposures to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Outdoor Artificial Light at Night and Risk of Pe…

1
Possible Signature Of Life Detected On Exoplanet—Maybe | A Colossal Squid Video 24:20

20d ago24:20

24:20

The Webb Space Telescope picked up traces of dimethyl sulfide on planet K2-18b. On Earth, the molecule comes from microbes and phytoplankton. Also, researchers captured the first confirmed video of a colossal squid swimming in its natural habitat—almost 2,000 feet deep. Possible Signature Of Life Detected On Exoplanet—Maybe In major galactic news, …

1
Stories and Strings 6:52

20d ago6:52

6:52

Welcome back to Artbeat Radio! Tune in to today's episode to hear a sweet story of how Brian's parents met! Also, please enjoy our first instrument review, where we will be talking about a six-stringed instrument, the guitar! Please enjoy this episode and tune in next time to catch more instrument reviews, and to see what the Able Arts Work team is…

1
Protecting Texas Ranching: TSCRA Leadership Tackles Rural Challenges & Industry Future 19:13

21d ago19:13

19:13

In this essential episode for Texas cattle producers, host Ty deCordova brings you an exclusive conversation with the current leadership team of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association from the 2025 Cattle Raisers Convention in Fort Worth. President Carl Ray Polk Jr. (Lufkin), First Vice President Stephen Diebel (Victoria), and Second V…

1
How ‘Science Interpreters’ Make Hidden Science Visible 18:53

22d ago18:53

18:53

Imagine you’re diving into a cell. You’re paddling around in the cytoplasm, you’re climbing up a mitochondria. If you’re having a hard time picturing this, that’s okay! There are professionals who do this for a living. We wanted to learn more from expert science interpreters, who take the results section of a research paper and translate it into so…

1
The Navajo Researcher Reviving A Desert Peach | A New Dino With Blade-Like Horns 31:51

23d ago31:51

31:51

Bringing back Southwest peach orchards won’t be easy, but researchers are on the lookout for remaining trees—and they need help. And, the newly discovered Lokiceratops is challenging paleontologists’ understanding of how horned dinosaurs evolved and existed together. How A Navajo Plant Researcher Is Reviving A Desert Peach When you think of states …

1
How Interjections Regulate Conversation | Saccharin For Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria 18:28

24d ago18:28

18:28

We are rounding up your questions about roads. What confounds you about traffic, or how interstates are laid out? Are there certain road design elements that ignite your road rage? Tell us about it: we’ve got a traffic engineer in the passenger seat this week, ready to answer your questions. Call us at (877) 4-SCIFRI or 877-472-4374. In this episod…

1
Trump’s Nominee For NASA Administrator Meets Congress 15:01

25d ago15:01

15:01

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation heard testimony from Jared Isaacman, President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA. During the confirmation hearing, Isaacman indicated a priority of sending humans to Mars—while maintaining the agency’s plans to return people to the lunar surface. In response to a question from Se…

1
How Real Doctors Brought ‘The Pitt’ To Life 20:32

27d ago20:32

20:32

We go inside the scientifically accurate ER world created for the TV show with one of its medical consultants. What is it actually like to work in an emergency room? To deal with overcrowded waiting rooms, a shortage of hospital beds, and a constant flow of life-and-death health conditions—while trying to maintain your sanity at the same time? That…

1
Live Market Preview: April 11 Video Auction | Episode 5 16:09

27d ago16:09

16:09

Step into the action of LiveAg's April 11 Video Auction as hosts Ty deCordova and Casey Mabry break down the day's market outlook ahead of our auction at the TSCRA Convention in Fort Worth, Texas. Whether you're marketing cattle or building your program, this conversation offers real-world market intelligence from folks who live the livestock busin…

1
AAW Snackdown 14:15

27d ago14:15

14:15

Welcome back to Art Beat Radio!In this episode, join us for Able Arts Work SNACKDOWN, where we try a variety of different snacks and rate them from 1-10. Top snacks go head to head for the ultimate AAW SNACKDOWN! Listen along as we discuss savory treats, and what we would pair them with for the most epic snacking experience!! Follow us on instagram…

1
What Will Replace The International Space Station? 17:24

29d ago17:24

17:24

NASA is planning to decommission the International Space Station by the end of 2030. The ISS, which began operations in 2000, is reaching the end of its lifespan and has become costly to maintain. NASA selected SpaceX to construct a vehicle that would “de-orbit” the football field-sized station, pushing it down into the atmosphere where it’ll burn …

1
What Artificial General Intelligence Could Mean For Our Future 29:14

30d ago29:14

29:14

What happens when AI moves beyond convincing chatbots and custom image generators to something that matches—or outperforms—humans? Each week, tech companies trumpet yet another advance in artificial intelligence, from better chat services to image and video generators that spend less time in the uncanny valley. But the holy grail for AI companies i…

1
Climate Change Has Made Allergy Season Worse. How Do We Cope? 15:53

1M ago15:53

15:53

In many parts of the United States, spring has sprung. There’s nothing quite like those first few beautiful days of spring. They’re delightful—until the sneezing starts. According to the CDC, a quarter of US adults deal with seasonal allergies. And if you think they’re getting worse, it’s not just in your head. Previous research has shown that clim…

1
Microdosing Peanut Butter Could Alleviate Some Peanut Allergies 17:23

1M ago17:23

17:23

Over the past two decades, rates of peanut allergies in children have more than tripled. A variety of theories has been proposed to explain this, from a rise in industrialization keeping kids away from the germs that develop the immune system, to the previous pediatric guidelines that urged parents to restrict access to peanuts early in life. Whate…

1
The Department Of Health And Human Services Cuts 10,000 Jobs 12:14

1M ago12:14

12:14

The cuts hit multiple agencies, affecting work on HIV, gun violence prevention, vaccines, minority health research, and more. On April 1, thousands of federal health workers woke up to find that they had been laid off. Scientists and civil servants at the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institu…

1
Spring Magic 9:33

1M ago9:33

9:33

Welcome back to Artbeat Radio! Tune in to today's episode as we premier our first ever segment of "Nature Facts" where we talk about rosemary. Also, please enjoy our stop motion short film, titled "Rainbow with Gold". The characters you see in this episode were all made in ART Center's air dry clay class. Please enjoy this episode as we celebrate t…

1
Forecasting Cuts Spark Worries About Hurricane Season | Soothing Babies With Music 17:16

1M ago17:16

17:16

Emergency response experts say that funding and staff cuts at the National Weather Service could mean less reliable weather forecast. And, babies like music, but they generally have preferences. A music therapist reveals the best kinds of music to soothe a baby. Forecasting Cuts Leave Some Worried For Hurricane Season Many in Georgia are still reco…

1
Financing the Herd: Ag Lending Essentials Part 2 37:41

1M ago37:41

37:41

In this practical follow-up episode, Ty and Casey continue their conversation with John Sloan of AgTexas Farm Credit, diving deeper into the nuts and bolts of agricultural lending. Walk step-by-step through the entire lending process - from application to acquisition to marketing your cattle and planning for the next season. Whether you're running …

1
Massive Iceberg Breaks Off Antarctica, Revealing Wonders Below 17:55

1M ago17:55

17:55

In January, an iceberg the size of Chicago splintered off from the Antarctic Peninsula and drifted away in the Bellingshausen Sea. As luck would have it, a team of scientists was nearby on a research vessel, and they seized the chance to see what was lurking on the seafloor beneath that iceberg—a place that had long been covered, and nearly impossi…

1
TikTok Is Shaping How We Think About ADHD 18:09

1M ago18:09

18:09

Mental health information on social media can be both revelatory and misleading. How do clinicians and their patients make sense of it? TikTok and other social media sites are full of mental health content—often short, grabby, first-person videos detailing symptoms for conditions like ADHD and autism. But what does this mean for teens and young adu…

1
Engineering Lessons One Year After The Baltimore Bridge Collapse 18:34

1M ago18:34

18:34

Engineers take an in-depth look at why the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed and how to prevent future tragedies. In the early morning of March 26, 2024, the container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Within 30 seconds, the bridge collapsed into the river below. Six construction workers lost their lives. On …

1
23andMe Bankruptcy | A Coating That Can Slow A Golf Ball’s Roll 24:28

1M ago24:28

24:28

The company has genetic data of 15 million people, which could be shared with a future buyer. Here’s how to delete it. Plus, an experimental coating could make golf balls roll more reliably on greens with different conditions. After 23andMe Bankruptcy, Customers Urged To Delete Their Data If you’re one of roughly 15 million people who used 23andMe …

1
World's Greatest Red Velvet Brownies 9:42

1M ago9:42

9:42

Welcome back to Art Beat Radio! This week ART Center wants to share our mouth-watering Red Velvet Brownie recipe that we made in the Inclusive Cuisine class! We also share some important kitchen safety tips before we dive into the ingredients, so please watch along and make your own version of the ART Center "World's Greatest Red Velvet Brownies". …

1
Financing the Herd: Ag Lending Essentials Part 1 35:41

1M ago35:41

35:41

Part one of a two part series! Join Ty and Casey as they welcome John Sloan of AgTexas Farm Credit for an insider's look at agricultural lending. Through real-world role-play scenarios, they break down exactly how to approach your banker, structure your operation for maximum credit potential, and build the relationships that keep your cattle busine…

1
AI Word Choice | When Dwarf Lemurs Hibernate, Their Chromosomes Do Something Odd 24:27

1M ago24:27

24:27

Certain words are overrepresented in text written by AI language models. A study investigates why such patterns develop. Also, the ends of chromosomes, called telomeres, typically shorten as an organism ages. But when some fat-tail dwarf lemurs hibernate, they lengthen. ‘Delving’ Into The ‘Realm’ Of AI Word Choice Several years ago, some eagle-eyed…

1
Developing Faster, Simpler Tools To Treat Tuberculosis 18:27

1M ago18:27

18:27

TB kills more than a million people each year. Dr. Mireille Kamariza has spent her career developing better detection and treatment tools. As the United States retreats from global health leadership—withdrawing from the World Health Organization, dismantling USAID—public health experts warn that there will be implications for the spread of certain …

1
Author John Green On The Many Ways Tuberculosis Shaped Human Life 19:00

1M ago19:00

19:00

In a new book, author John Green traces how the disease has impacted culture, geography, and even fashion over the centuries. Tuberculosis (TB) has had an incredibly large impact on human history. One staggering statistic? It’s been estimated that by the start of the 1800s, the disease had killed one in seven people who had ever lived. Because of t…

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Conversations On The Reef Podcasts

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