Science, which fuels our technological economy, and has a strong influence on our contemporary culture, is paid for in part with public dollars. But non-scientists often tell me they are mystified and unsettled by science -- they feel they don't understand what science really is, how it's done, what it means, and what it doesn't mean. This seems neither healthy, nor fair -- why shouldn't taxpayers know a lot more about their investment, and, meanwhile, share in the pleasures and excitement of discovery?  In my public talks, I address a wide range of the subtle and important questions that concern the content and societal implications of science, in a way that aims to be accessible to the intelligent non-expert, remain intellectually honest, avoid sensationalism, and take seriously public concerns about science.  I try also to convey the strengths of the scientific approach to understanding nature, and the joys that arise from carefully studying the world around us.