Mindy Weisberger with Paula Croxson: Rise of The Zombie Bugs

In this episode of Library Talks , science writer Mindy Weisberger discusses her new book Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control with Neuroscientist Paula Croxson. Zombies aren't just the stuff of nightmares. Explore the fascinating world of real-life insect zombification. In Rise of the Zombie Bugs, Mindy Weisberger explores the eerie yet fascinating phenomenon of real-life zombification in the insect class and among other invertebrates. Zombifying parasites reproduce by rewriting their victims' neurochemistry, transforming them into the "walking dead": armies of cicadas, spiders, and other hosts that helplessly follow a zombifier's commands, living only to serve the parasite's needs until death's sweet release (and often beyond). Blending scientific rigor with a flair for the macabre, Weisberger takes readers on a global journey—from Brazilian rainforests to European meadows—to uncover the dark secrets of parasitic manipulation.

You can listen to Mindy Weisberger with Paula Croxson: Rise of The Zombie Bugs online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Mindy Weisberger with Paula Croxson: Rise of The Zombie Bugs is an episode from The New York Public Library Podcast by The New York Public Library.

This episode is 56:59 long.

This episode was published on Dec 31, 2025.

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