Episodes

  • Storybook Earth ep. 8 – Lost and Found in Tibet
    Sep 9 2021

    Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess brings us a beautiful tale of her time spent exploring the wonders of Tibet, and how she unraveled her path to geology. Listen as she shares memories of her father and how his connection to his daughter led Jess to embark on a trip through the mountains of Tibet as a young graduate student. From this incredible experience, Jess is now able to explain some of the complex geology that characterizes the Himalayas, one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world. Join Jess for the most thrilling and moving episode of Storybook Earth yet, as Season 1 comes to a dramatic end in the mountains of Tibet.

    Resources associated with this episode:

    Kapp, P., and Peter G. DeCelles, 2019, Mesozoic-Cenozoic geological evolution of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen and working tectonic hypotheses. American Journal of Science March 2019, 319 (3) 159-254.

    Kapp, Jessica L.D., T. Mark Harrison, Paul Kapp, Marty Grove, Oscar M. Lovera, and Ding Lin, 2005, The Nyainqentanglha Shan: A window into the tectonic, thermal, and geochemical evolution of the Lhasa block, southern Tibet. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 110, Issue B8.

    Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

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    20 mins
  • Storybook Earth ep. 7 – A Grand Canyon Twist!
    Aug 12 2021

    Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess unravels the amazing geologic history of the Grand Canyon! If you have never been to this incredible geologic wonder before, then this episode is the perfect place to begin. Jess leads you through time as if you were walking the Canyon yourself. She also details a few spectacular must-see lookouts as well as some of the current geological investigations surrounding the mysteries of the Grand Canyon rocks. This is an episode you don’t want to miss, so join us for a trek through time in this week’s Storybook Earth.

    Resources associated with this episode:

    Gehrels, George E., Ron Blakey, Karl E. Karlstrom, J. Michael Timmons, Bill Dickinson, and Mark Pecha, 2011, Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of Paleozoic strata in the Grand Canyon, Arizona. LITHOSPHERE; v. 3; no. 3; p. 183–200. doi: 10.1130/L121.1

    National Park Service Grand Canyon Website

    Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

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    15 mins
  • Storybook Earth ep. 6 – Zircon: Impossibly Fantastic!
    Jul 29 2021

    Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess shares the stories of zircons and why they have become a cornerstone of geochronology, or, the study of geologic aging. Find out how Jess discovered her passion for zircon geochronology, what zircons are, where you can find them, and why they can be compared to the rings of a tree. You’ll be surprised how much tree rings, clocks, and rocks have in common in this intriguing episode of Storybook Earth.

    Resources associated with this episode:

    Arizona Laserchron Center, University of Arizona

    Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

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    18 mins
  • Storybook Earth ep. 5 – The Gift of Oxygen
    Jul 15 2021

    Episode summary introduction: In this episode, Jess begins our story with the mountains of Tibet, a landscape shaped by time, and an encounter with a lone wolf. From this beautiful setting, Jess tells the tale of oxygen. Oxygen has a varied and interesting history on Earth, and evidence of its existence in the distant past is still visible today in something called a banded iron formation. Listen to this beautifully told episode of Storybook Earth to discover the complex and striking history of oxygen and the banded iron formation.

    Resources associated with this episode:

    American Museum of Natural History, Banded Iron Formations

    Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

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    18 mins
  • Storybook Earth ep. 4 – Take In the Colors
    Jul 1 2021

    Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess tells how some rocks’ stories begin with color. Being able to detect pattern and color is an important tool for any scientist, geologists included. But, color can also be deceiving. Why? Well, Jess can tell you! In a tale woven with color Jess explains the significance of certain colors, which colors can be deceiving, and how the color of a rock can help you to identify how it was formed. Join Jess and learn the stories about the colors beneath your feet in this episode of Storybook Earth.

    Resources associated with this episode:

    Felsic and Mafic, Miami University

    Igneous Rocks, Columbia University

    Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

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    16 mins
  • Storybook Earth ep. 3 – Read the Rocks
    Jun 17 2021

    Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess will tell the story of rocks. Did you know that there are many different kinds of rocks? Do you know how they are made? Well, Jess has all the answers and will share the ins and outs of the earth under your feet. She will even share her favorite rock type! Who knows, maybe by the end of this episode of Storybook Earth you will have a favorite type of rock too.

    Resources associated with this episode:

    American Museum of Natural History – Three Types of Rocks

    Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

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    16 mins
  • Storybook Earth ep. 2 – A Tell-tale Sign of Tectonic Activity
    Jun 3 2021

    Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess tells the intricate tale of faults. She will talk about exactly what a fault is, how it is formed, as well as the different kinds of faults...yes, there are more than one! She will even talk about her own experiences with faults and a special one close to her home in Tucson, Arizona. Tune into this exciting episode to discover the story the Earth has to tell about geologic faults and where you might be able to see one yourself, because they are all around.

    Main points/Main Episode Takeaways Resources associated with this episode:

    USGS – What is a Fault and What are the Different Types https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-a- fault-and-what-are-different-types?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products

    Arizona Geological Survey – Brittle-Ductile Shear Zone on Santa Catalina Mountain Core Complex http://azgs.arizona.edu/photo/brittle-ductile-shear-zone-santa-catalina-mountain-core- complex

    Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

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    17 mins
  • Storybook Earth ep.1 – Ebb and Flow of Ice
    May 19 2021

    Episode summary: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess shares her own experiences with the natural environment of her childhood home and how its unique landscape was shaped by glacial activity during the ice ages of geologic history. What are ice ages? How do they happen? When was the last one? Jess has answers to all of these questions in this beautiful story of the ice ages.

    Resources for further inquiry:

    • Milankovitch (Orbital) Cycles and Their Role in Earth’s Climate, By Alan Buis, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, February, 2020 https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2948/milankovitch-orbital-cycles-and-their-role-in-earths- climate/

    • How They Were Made, Sea Grant, University of Wisconsin https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/resources/the-formation-of-the-great-lakes/how-they- were-made/

    Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

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    16 mins