Smart Tea

Smart Tea

Who are the people behind the discoveries that have changed our lives? Join Aarati as she spills the tea on scientists and inventors throughout history!

Episodes

July 9, 2025 74 mins

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Frances refused FDA approval of thalidomide for treating morning sickness until it was deemed safe... which it wasn't. Aarati tells the story of the FDA medical officer who held the line against a shady pharmaceutical company and saved American babies. 

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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 it to help her country's people.

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For someone who was literally blinded by science, Gustaf remained optimistic. And why shouldn't he have been? He saved countless lives and won the Nobel prize by improving lighthouses. And he set a new standard in home cooking!

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Meet the scientist whose discoveries led to him almost winning the Nobel Prize SEVEN times. From the Aurora Borealis, to electromagnetic cannons, to fertilizer, the impact Kristian Birkeland had on science cannot be overstated.

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April 23, 2025 59 mins

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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, the Stanford professor who set up the first sleep clinics to study what is goes on while we are dreaming.

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Any pilot will tell you, bird strikes are unfortunately a common occurrence. But thanks to Roxie's work, the skies are less dangerous for airplanes and our flying feathered friends. Aarati tells her story and introduces Maria, the new podcast co-host!

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From wild child to a Nobel laureate! Aarati tells the story of the artistic scientist whose beautifully intricate drawings unraveled the secrets of the brain.

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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 at invisible bowls of milk. 

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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 is quantized. 

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February 12, 2025 54 mins

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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 the harrowing journey into the deep. 

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January 29, 2025 59 mins

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From tiny tremors to catastrophic disasters, earthquakes are a difficult phenomenon to measure. Aarati tells the story of Charles Richter, a man who wanted to study the stars, but ended up studying the literal earth instead.

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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 unexpected interests. 

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December 11, 2024 34 mins

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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 beauty of snowflakes.

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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 in immunology.

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Would you drink embalmed milk?! Arpita tells the story of the scientist who cracked down on harmful preservatives and additives in food and started the FDA.

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October 30, 2024 47 mins

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As soon as X-rays were discovered, scientists realized the potential they had to revolutionize healthcare. Aarati tells the story of the very first physicist who won the Nobel Prize.

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October 16, 2024 52 mins

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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 for Dr. Omalu's surprising motives. 

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Are rats and spiders actually scary or have you just been conditioned to think so? Aarati tells the story of a controversial psychologist whose "Little Albert" experiment on fear went a bit too far. 


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September 18, 2024 55 mins

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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 immigrant scientist whose discoveries were the key in creating these wonder drugs. 

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September 4, 2024 51 mins

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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 invention of the microwave oven. 

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