The idea behind this show is pretty simple: A university campus is a destination for all kinds of interesting people, so why not invite some of these folks out to brunch, where we’ll have an informal conversation about their work, and then we’ll turn those brunches into a podcast?

It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

A New York Times bestselling author, Sam Kean has written four books on science—books with titles like The Disappearing Spoon and The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons. So as you might guess, he’s someone who appreciates a good story just as much as an interesting discovery. Here, he and host Ted Fox talk all kinds of science, from ill-fated efforts to control the weather and early research on DNA to the bum rap that mercury gets and everyone’s favorite precious metal … aluminum?