If you have a sense of humor, Mary Roach is either already your favorite science author or she’s about to be. She came to Portland in 2017 to talk about her latest book Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War, and our onstage interview ranged from asking how she gets inspiration for her books to tips on how to approach someone in special forces and ask if he’s ever had diarrhea while on a secret mission. We talk about her other books too, and stick around for some audience questions at the end.

Also, this one is for Jamie. Miss you, and thanks for bringing cupcakes!