Adam Savage Interviews Author Mary Roach - The Talking Room

While researching topics for her books, author Mary Roach puts the obscure and fascinating stories of science under a spotlight. Her books cover a diverse range of topics, including sex, colonizing Mars, death, and the human alimentary canal. Please welcome Mary Roach to The Talking Room!
Thanks to Mary Roach--find out more about her books at www.maryroach.net/
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Thanks for watching!

[@ProfSaxby]

Wow. Possibly the best episode in the series. Mary is amazing and delightful and seems to be a bigger geek even than Adam. I will now seek out all of her writing because this episode left me wanting so much more Mary!.

[@susan137]

Yes, that's what I forgot to put in my comment. I am going to find and reaf a book that she wrote.

[@dnr1188]

I had to do a book report for my human sexuality class and chose Bonk by her. A decent audio copy is avaliable on youtube for free!

[@mrnebbi]

Can't say that I've read any of Mary Roach's books before. But I will be buying every single one now. Thank you Adam and Tested for introducing me to this fantastic author.

[@AndroidAndr3w]

I just had to order 4 books. What a crazy and wonderful lady!

[@fireball2004]

This interview, really.. The kind of things I gravitate to. Not necessarily for the topic (although I'm now more inclined to read Mary's books), but just for the sheer amount of passion, interest and curiosity that's so evident between the two. Age of the geek indeed.

[@MrHws5mp]

Years ago there was a series on British TV called "Designs on Your...." in which a couple of designers called Richard Seymour and Dick Powell tried to reinvent and improve some familiar item every episode. One episode was about toilets, and in the course of that they had to visit the British Standards Institute to be briefed on the the legal standards and testing process. It turned out that one test involved the toilet successfully flushing a rubber ball of a certain size and consistency, so yep, there is indeed a British Standard Turd...

[@JadeGordon]

This was AMAZING! I would love to see eleventeen more hours of the both of them nerding out together!

[@RFC3514]

13:00 - What'd the difference between jumping from the 40th floor and jumping from the 4th floor? One goes "Aaaaaahhh.... [thud]", the other goes: "[thud]... uhhh..."

[@swsephy]

Excellent interview! She's very entertaining.

[@rocketsocks]

Fantastic! Thank you for doing this, all of the Talking Room interviews have been extremely high quality, this is great stuff.

[@JohnBare747]

Fantastic interview, I could have watch more, like all day, totally interesting. Having read most of her books it was great to get her take on writing them, thanks Mary, you rock.

[@johncfalk]

This is my favorite comment. You are a fantastic conversationalist and she is a lovely lady. I'm going out tomorrow to buy all of her books because of this. Thank you.

[@bookwoman53]

I love her. I listened to one of her audiobooks but didn't finish it. The narrator was so dull. Mary should have recorded it.

[@cmac8565]

Wonderful interview. Mary Roach is very cool.

[@robburgess4556]

I wasn't familiar with Mary but she's absolutely delightful!

[@rhyscopp4362]

Really interesting episode today id really like you to do a second talking room with her. I could listen to you both for hours.

[@bakkerdc]

Ok she is lovely, and I just realized what I'm listening to as I'm eating lunch. Nom Nom.

[@KarelSeeuwen]

Whow! How could I have lived my 52 years and not have come across this wonderful specimen of humanity (NO! Not you Adam (you do come in close though)). It couldn't have taken more than 10 seconds for me to fall in love. What else can I say ...

[@ethicalphytophage]

She's a real cool lady. I get the feeling I could hang out no pressure with her.

[@rorrt]

YUSS!!! I remember seeing an interview Adam held with her, and La Library? Or something, im too lazy to check. I bought and read all her books. Shes one of my favourite non-fiction writers ever. SHES SO GREAT!!!

[@recalcitrantmisanthr]

That was one of the most interesting conversations I have ever seen

[@tiguidoumonesti737]

Lunch and this talk (while fascinating) do not mix.

[@OrAngeAnArchy]

Tiguidou Monesti Really? I was having my cheese steak with mozzarella stick and bacon cheese fries just fine when they were talking about penis bones and how to care for poop in space etc.

[@SWS50000]

Wow. Absolutely amazing interview. Please have her back!

[@CriticalEatsJapan]

Great discussion!

[@twstdelf]

She seems like a lot of fun - I'll have to read some of her work!

[@mikesmicroshop4385]

Adam this is the best Talking Room Yet! Mary was totally amazing, I loved her!!!!!

[@GengoNoTabi]

Another super interesting interview. This is the best thing on this channel in my opinion.

[@ConiAndrea]

Awesome interview! Mary Roach is a fantastic non-fiction author, her books are always super informative and very funny! :) Looking forward to the next one.

[@phototristan]

I've read all her books, they're great.

[@KyoshoBallard]

What a delightful person! And fascinating.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Awesome interview, must read her books now :-)

[@zapfanzapfan]

Packing for Mars was excellent, I highly recommend the audio book!

[@DuncanMargetts]

How awesome is Mary Roach!!! Great interview!

[@phillpratt1864]

I love you Mary Roach! I can't wait for your new book!!

[@eakherenow]

Best interview possible with two smart people equally curious,equally clever and fun.

[@constancemiller3753]

I'm going to dinner and bringing Mary Roach, Adam Savage and you the viewer who loves this:)

[@kelly2fly]

What are we having and, more importantly, will we be stuffing ourselves?

[@constancemiller3753]

@@kelly2fly sausages and sushi.

[@kelly2fly]

Constance Miller so that’s a definite “yes” to getting stuff...I like this dinner already 🤓

[@josephdavis2695]

What a fascinating person Mary is.

[@Dimitrije_Miljus]

Such a fun interview 😃 i love her nutty personality and hope to meet her one day 😁

[@Riverhill]

I haven't heard about this lady before but I'm definitely going look up her books now, very entertaining interview!

[@evilkoolade]

I decided i want to donate my body to science after reading Stiff

[@d33b33]

The "shelf bottomed" toilets aren't just German or Eastern European. They're found in every hospital in Europe, because doctors can use them to inspect stools if necessary.

[@ElgarL]

First time watching this. I expected to be bored but was surprised to find this riveting viewing.

[@gabsrants]

Could you guys make the Talking Room shows available as Podcasts? You did it once with the Andy Weir episode and I think it worked out great. After all, it`s not very visual. Thanks for the great shows.

[@illumecast7197]

I wish these interviews be also released on podcast.

[@Beatleguy]

We need more of these!

[@BrienMalone]

I love this lady!!! LOL she is so "my people"

[@skip9766]

Ok after watching this I now have to read something by this woman. Great interview.

[@DowncastParadox]

Fantastic talk! I'd love to see more!

[@thudeets]

according to the story she jumped from the 86th floor which is the observation deck and was able to clear the building all the way to the ground. Some 17 people have also been able to do that all the way down to the bottom

This was lovely.

[@kylehammond]

Stellar interview!

[@MelanieOh]

that was downright lovely.

[@derpderpington8720]

This was awesome!

[@DavidLindes]

Adam, I hope you've tried bidets since then. I have (I hadn't, when you recorded this), and they're quite nice.

[@susan137]

76,233 views, how could there only be 1.3K 👍 for such an excellent and engaging interview .... (sigh) .... I hadn't heard of Mary Roach or read any of her books (yes, I'm one of those awful people that can tell you all about book and have no idea who wrote it). But anyhow, I'm watching this becoming inspired to actual write my novel not just think about. Then I sway over to thinking about what teachers might want to use this in their class or what individual student would be inspired to reach out to learning more.

[@battman919]

"I have still never gotten up the nerve to try a bidet at this point." -AS, 30:45 THEN YOU, SIR, HAVE NOT LIVED!!!!!!! PERFECT 'TESTED' EPISODE!!! When you get mud on your car, do you go get a big wad of paper towels to wipe it off, or do you get the hose? Honestly, it was a huge upgrade in my house. Never going back to TP. Just make sure you get one with the "warm water" feature. It makes winter time bearable. And if you think a bidet is harrowing, wait until you try 'Mr. Thirsty' in zero gravity orbital space, Adam! I'll bet Cmdr. Hadfield uses bidets.

[@chadsomethingorrather5300]

Great interview!

[@999-i6p]

Me encanta toda la informacion que nos diste. Los libros que escriviste cambiaron mi vida. love it. keep it up .

[@chaselepard]

Yeeeessss! I love Mary! this will be amazing.

[@TheCellCH]

awesome interview!!

[@Reichiruu]

This may be the best interview ever :)

[@RichardM-kv4uu]

Why am I only just finding out about this incredible person?

[@gerardmartin6353]

I love this lady. My goodness she's a breath of fresh air. 😂😂😂

[@jeannetterw]

Mary made me actually read and enjoy it. Fascinating mind. Just waiting on Fuzz to arrive but have all her books. She asks all the random questions I would ask

[@suzumes6738]

S/O to my Grad school human sexuality course professor, for bringing this woman to my attention. Now I know who to email if I am ever working on something absolutely bizarre.

[@JoseEncarnacao]

THIS IS SO RELEVANT NOW WITH COVID19!!!!!!!!!!!

[@spaxatov5999]

Never heard of this author and fountain of strange knowledge before, amazing.

[@StubbornProgrammer]

I can tell you exactly why "time of death" is a thing - paperwork and closure. I imagine the paperwork angle is pretty obvious, but closure is important too. Some people who have just lost a loved one will cope well with a report that "your loved one died sometime in the last 20 minutes, but we don't know exactly when because life and death have fuzzy borders". So medicine chooses to sacrifice a little scientific accuracy in the name of compassion, which I think we can agree is probably warranted.

[@RFC3514]

+StubbornProgrammer - Her issue wasn't so much with "time of death", it was with the concept of "dying instantly". And most people don't really care whether their loved ones died at 14:20 or 14:40. It's not the accuracy that bothers them, it's mainly the fact that they're dead (and may have suffered). Most reports say "approximately", anyway, because time of death had to be estimated, unless the person's vital signs were being monitored.

[@OrAngeAnArchy]

Tested MORE PLEASE!! I love her personality. so full of curiosity, interest on these "morbid", "esoteric", or not seemingly interesting topics. AND holey shit. I share the same sentiment about showering...feels like such a chore before you go in. but then end up in the shower WAY longer than needed because it just feels so nice. :D

[@david6532]

amazing lady

[@arthurblundell6128]

What a funny and interseting lady !

[@Pencilandpaperaddict]

Tested.com Give Mary a regular spot on the show! She'd be perfect! Plus, you could do with some female representation....

[@robfenwitch7403]

Watching this has made my day :)

[@Razorice]

This was very intressting

[@aaronhokanson6718]

it's fascinating to watch these two professionals betray some of their small quirks over the course of the conversation.

[@punishedfink]

this was a great interview. it kind of made my thoughts and ways of talking and asking people about subjects on stuff more concrete. you never know what to ask until you see it or experience it. I love her hole phlosify on stuff. I to think that the museums don't show us the really interesting stuff because people might feel alienated. but how would we discover those topics or even learn and understand more of the world if where not shown or directed to those subjects.

[@sferrin2]

Loved it. She's hysterical. :-)

[@frankiesomeone]

from the thumbnail and title i fully expected this to be boring and boy i was wrong

[@MrBeen992]

I dont care what people say but her American Idol audition was the best !

[@TerryWillard]

Much better lighting over previous episodes. Looks amazing, however Adams mic seemed a little too sensitive to movement. Great job and informative interview none the less.

[@semperjase]

Mary Roach is cool.

[@spectrum3808]

please have her on mythbusters!!!!!

[@GOCrannell]

Evelyn McHale is the woman who jumped from the Empire State Building in 1947.

[@tijn3798]

looking forward to watching this!

[@CYellowan]

This was great in all the scientific ways. But none other. Crazy subjects.

[@wandaburns8075]

I love her books, I learn so much.

[@OwenBuckingham11]

55:00 awesome :)

[@DigitalGus75]

She just made my list of ultimate dinner party guests.

[@willemvandebeek]

I wonder if Chris Hadfield can tell more about these obscure topics than his fellow American astronauts, just because he is Canadian?

[@estenray6685]

This woman is delightful!

[@pedrogregorio]

Damn she's awesome

[@SuperLiktor]

I fucking love her books!!

[@Fuszybear]

"They get to wear space suits...kinda...."

[@RC-1290]

30:00 another benefit of a "shelf" in your toilet is a lack of splash back. And not just in Eastern Europe, by the way.

[@tobiaszw2201]

"I guess I know what this is", Will's awesome!

[@rebekahbridges-tervydis5054]

I love Mary Roach AND Adam Savage!

[@popeppel]

About the toilets with the shelf's... they are still very much present in Hungary!

[@gerardmartin6353]

Has Mary got anything on KZbin or does she lecture anywhere? Anyone?

[@bogee4u]

did a TED talk

[@wetlazer2443]

Why does Mary remind me of Jamie Lee Curtis?

[@LasseHuhtala]

I have to side with Jamie on the artificial poop question. :-)

[@MartinSona-eg7lv]

So the topic of Barbie is starting to become a common denominator. Remember Tom Sachs?

[@julieyearwood4204]

I really need to read Bonk and Gulp.