# 206. Jessica Malaty Rivera | Making Sense from the Noise

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/language-of-god-423722/206-jessica-malaty-rivera-making-sense-from-the-noise
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/language-of-god-423722/206-jessica-malaty-rivera-making-sense-from-the-noise.md
Podcast: [Language of God](https://stenobird.com/podcast/language-of-god-423722)
Published: 2026-04-16T08:05:00+00:00
Episode link: https://biologos.org/podcast-episodes/jessica-malaty-rivera-making-sense-from-the-noise
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/7g426c5fz4wbbzyw/206_Jessica_Malaty_Rivera_Making_Sense_from_the_Noise9gwc0.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/language-of-god-423722/episodes/206-jessica-malaty-rivera-making-sense-from-the-noise
Duration seconds: 3129

## Resource

In this episode, infectious disease epidemiologist and science communicator Jessica Malaty Rivera reflects on what it means to help people make sense of science in the midst of uncertainty. Drawing on her experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, she explores the gap between data and decision-making, and why clear, empathetic communication is essential for public health. Jessica shares how her work has focused not just on understanding disease, but on translating complex information into something people can actually use. From social media to national data efforts, she considers what builds trust—and what breaks it—when the stakes are high and the science is still evolving. The conversation also turns to her faith, and how her background in the church shaped her understanding of community, responsibility, and care for others. Together, they explore the tension between individual choice and the common good, and what it might look like to approach both science and faith with humility in a world that resists nuance. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Ricky Bombino, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/language-of-god-423722/episodes/206-jessica-malaty-rivera-making-sense-from-the-noise/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/language-of-god-423722/206-jessica-malaty-rivera-making-sense-from-the-noise.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.