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Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea

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Covid-19
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Dark Energy
Evolutionary Biology
Natural Selection
Symbiosis

Jonathan responds to your texts and tweets, is joined in studio for all the latest science stories for Newsround and speaks to one of our two guests featured on the show.

CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainment

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PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes475Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Futureproof

Latest Episodes

Guests:

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Jussi Kantola, Data Analyst at the University of Oulu

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Matthew Campbell, Professor of Neurovascular Genetics, Trinity College Dublin

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Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society at Research Ireland

Guest: Rana Gujra, CEO of Behavioural Signals, tech entrepreneur and AI expert

Guests:

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Dr. Frederick Ho, Senior Lecturer in Public health at the University of Glasgow

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Laura Hayes, Assistant Professor and Royal Society-Research Ireland University Research Fellow at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

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Phil... more

Guest: Anuj Chauhan, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines

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Recent Guests

Martin O'Neill
Lecturer in Population Health Informatics and Statistics at the Atlantic Technological University
Atlantic Technological University
Episode: Extra: How VR can improve the health of the elderly
Martin Wikelski
Director at Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Episode: The Internet of Animals
Andrea Kwakowsky
Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
University of Galway
Episode: The Internet of Animals
Felix Morsbach
Privacy and security researcher at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Episode: Extra: How Wi-Fi can be used for surveillance
Mary Ann Cooper
Managing Director in the African Centers for Lightning Education and Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois
African Centers for Lightning Education / University of Illinois
Episode: What happens when you're struck by lightning?
Michelle Carr
Director of the Dream Engineering Lab, Montreal Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine
Montreal Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine
Episode: Extra: Can we cure nightmares?
Corentin Loron
Paleobiologist
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Before Trees - What Were ‘Prototaxites’?
Frederic Auth
Doctoral researcher at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Goethe University Frankfurt
Episode: Extra: Was there human sacrifice in ancient Rome?
Hannah Lyons
Reproduction researcher in Adelaide University
Adelaide University
Episode: How does sperm work in outer space?

Host

Jonathan McCrea
Host of Futureproof series, regular in-studio science discussions and news roundups

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 387 ratings
  • Sound problem

    U say u have a sound engineer but guests and hosts r on a completely different sound level. Impossible to listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    j790000
    Ireland10 months ago
  • Science news programme with some extra snark

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Bragcat
    a year ago
  • Used to be good

    I would have given a five star review a few years ago.

    But recently the main topics of the show are uninteresting, drawn out, not structured well.

    The news round is still good though.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    gnrvrfan
    Irelanda year ago
  • AI boosterism. I expect less gullibility in my tech journalism

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Skrynesaver
    a year ago
  • Jonathan needs to stop being so rude

    I was going to subscribe but every episode I’ve listened to when they do the news at the beginning, Jonathan is always so condescending to the correspondents especially the female correspondents. It drives me nuts. The news they bring forth is very interesting and I hate that Jonathan feels the need to tell us that he’s not surprised by this news and asks “why are you?” in such a condescending manner.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Shelby Lofty
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise accessible science storytelling and broad topic range.
Feedback highlights the host's engaging curiosity and clear explanations.
Some critique sound quality and pacing on certain episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#5
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#73
Argentina/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Internet of Animals
Q: What about real-time data—could we ever have exact, live locations at any moment?
Real-time or near-real-time data is possible in certain terrestrial systems already, with plans to expand to more frequent connectivity and space-ground integration, but it depends on funding and system complexity.
The Internet of Animals
Q: How big are the tracking devices and how often do they transmit?
The smallest tags are one gram and the larger ones are four to five grams; they transmit data only when overhead passes, sometimes daily or every few hours, with onboard processing to summarize behavior before sending.
The Internet of Animals
Q: What exactly is the ECORUS project and how does it work?
The ECORUS project launched two satellites to track small wearables on animals; the system is designed as a bottom-up, community-based data collection approach where data ownership lies with researchers and local landowners, and the aim is to provide global insight with scalable tags and efficient energy use.
Extra: How VR can improve the health of the elderly
Q: Talk to us, just remind people what VR is, before we talk about your work.
VR stands for Virtual Reality and comes in two main forms: true VR, which is a computer-generated immersive environment, and 360-degree live video, which is real footage viewed through a headset. The goal is to expose older adults to meaningful environments they can no longer access in real life.
Extra: Can we cure nightmares?
Q: What practical approaches exist to reduce nightmares, especially for people with PTSD?
Practical approaches include guiding patients to reimagine recurring nightmares with new, empowering dream scenarios for 10-20 minutes before sleep, which can lower nightmare frequency and improve overall sleep and mental health.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Futureproof

What is Futureproof about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show presents accessible science coverage anchored in timely news, with in-depth conversations featuring a rotating set of researchers, clinicians, engineers, and science communicators. Episodes balance explainers of cutting-edge topics (from AI and space to health and environmental science) with broader science storytelling and episodes that showcase methods, funding, and policy contexts. A notable strength is the host's curious, questions-first approach, which helps translate complex ideas for lay listeners while highlighting real-world impact and practical takeaways for patients, professionals, and enthusiasts alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to Futureproof?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Futureproof:

1. The Pat Kenny Show
2. The David McWilliams Podcast
3. The Last Word with Matt Cooper
4. Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
5. Today with David McCullagh

How many episodes of Futureproof are there?

Futureproof launched 15 years ago and published 475 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Futureproof?

Recent guests on Futureproof include:

1. Martin O'Neill
2. Martin Wikelski
3. Andrea Kwakowsky
4. Felix Morsbach
5. Mary Ann Cooper
6. Michelle Carr
7. Corentin Loron
8. Frederic Auth

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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