How Cool Are Caves? with Professor Kathleen R. Johnson

How Cool Are Caves? with Professor Kathleen R. Johnson

Author: Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness August 16, 2023 Duration: 1:07:44
Getting Curious is going spelunking! Caves are full of evidence about our Earth’s past: they can tell us about monsoons in Laos and sea surface temperatures in Mexico over tens of thousands of years ago. They can also help predict our climate future. This week, Professor Kathleen R. Johnson takes us through the incredible world of caves and shares what it’s like to scale 200-foot ladders, kayak all day in the dark, and encounter pythons, big ass spiders, and other creatures along the way—all in the name of science! Kathleen Johnson is a Professor in the Department of Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She is a geochemist and a paleoclimatologist who specializes in reconstructing past climate changes using stalagmites from tropical and monsoon regions, with current projects in Laos, Vietnam, and Mexico. In addition, she directs the new UCI CLIMATE Justice initiative which aims to culturally transform the geosciences through training postbaccalaureate and PhD Fellows in community-engaged research practices and environmental justice. You can follow Professor Johnson on Twitter @cavesandclimate, and on Threads @kathleen.r.johnson. For more information on her work, check out her lab website and department website. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Curious for more? Check out these episodes next: How Major Are Volcanoes? What's It Like To Survive An Earthquake? Does Groundwater Go With The Flow? How Does Dust Impact Earth's Climate? Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our executive producer is Erica Getto. Our producer is Chris McClure. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Samantha Martinez, and Anne Currie. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know that feeling when you’re just trying to figure it all out, and you need a guide who’s equal parts insightful and hilarious? That’s the space where Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness lives. Hosted by the beloved Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye, this podcast turns genuine curiosity into a powerful engine for personal growth. Each episode feels like a vibrant conversation with a deeply empathetic friend who isn’t afraid to ask the big, awkward, or wonderfully silly questions. Jonathan sits down with a diverse array of experts, authors, and thinkers, weaving together discussions that are as enlightening as they are unexpectedly funny. The result is a unique blend of education, comedy, and culture that tackles everything from societal issues to the intimate details of self-improvement. You’ll find yourself laughing one moment and having a profound revelation the next, all while feeling less alone in the challenges of modern life. This isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about the ongoing, messy, and beautiful process of understanding ourselves and the world. Produced in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, the podcast delivers consistently engaging audio experiences that are both a lifeline and a joy. Tune in for a weekly dose of warmth, wit, and the kind of conversations that leave you feeling genuinely better equipped to navigate your own path.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness
Podcast Episodes
How Major Are Volcanoes? with Professor Chris Jackson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:34
Since 1997, Jonathan has been haunted by a question: could a volcano erupt a la Dante’s Peak and turn a local creek into a river of hot acid? This week, Professor Chris Jackson answers all of Jonathan’s burning questions…
What’s Indigenous Science? with Dr. Jessica Hernandez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:02
Indigenous peoples represent about five percent of the world’s population—and sustain nearly 80 percent of the world’s biodiversity. This week, Dr. Jessica Hernandez joins Jonathan to discuss the principles of Indigenous…
Can Figure Skaters Defy Gravity? with Dr. Deborah King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:07
What happens when you add JVN to E = mc²? You get an episode of Getting Curious all about physics, explored through one of Jonathan’s favorite topics: figure skating! This week, Dr. Deborah King joins Jonathan to break d…
Do Spider Exoskeletons Go Out Of Style? with Dr. Maydianne Andrade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:24
As the itsy bitsy spider crawls up the water spout, it dawns on her: her exoskeleton doesn’t fit. Is it a fashion emergency—or her moment to shine? This week, Dr. Maydianne Andrade joins Jonathan to share the ins and out…
What’s The Soundtrack To Your Life? with Brandi Carlile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:24
We’re ending this year on a high note with none other than Brandi Carlile! She and Jonathan talk Brandi’s incredible music career, queer faith, and Dolly Parton—and Jonathan asks hard-hitting questions like, “Did you kno…
How Much History Is In A Burrito? with Pati Jinich [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:28
This week’s episode is as nourishing as they get, as chef Pati Jinich joins Jonathan to discuss cuisines along the US-Mexico border, holiday foods she associates with growing up in Mexico, and what we can learn from taki…
What’s It Like To Be An Ex-Nun? with Kelli Dunham and Mary Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:20
If you’re a regular listener of Getting Curious, you know how much Jonathan loves the Sister Act films. But how realistic were they? This week, former nuns Kelli Dunham and Mary Johnson share what it was like to serve wi…
Who Built The Panama Canal? with Professor Kaysha Corinealdi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:48
In 1903, a Frenchman and an American granted the United States ninety nine years of control over the Isthmus of Panama. No Panamanians signed that treaty. This week, Professor Kaysha Corinealdi and Jonathan explore the p…
How Sharp Is The History Of Scissors? with Teresa Collenette [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:29
This week’s episode is a cut above the rest, as we explore the history and cultural significance of scissors. Join Jonathan and design historian Teresa Collenette as they talk ancient spring scissors, Victorian-era chate…
How Expansive Is Oregon Trail History? with Professor Margaret Huettl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:02
Can you map out the Oregon Trail? If you just flashed back to playing The Oregon Trail video game in your sixth grade computer lab, get ready for a journey. Jonathan and Professor Margaret Huettl explore how Native knowl…