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Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea

Newstalk
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
Neuroscience
Evolution
Alzheimer's Disease
Biodiversity
Immune System
Mars
Ireland
Cancer
Genetics
Memory
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Wallace Line
University Of Galway
Dark Energy
Evolutionary Biology
Covid-19
Natural Selection
Epidemiology

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

Listen to Newstalk at newstalk.com/listenlive | Download the GoLoud app now, the new home for Newstalk

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes487Founded16 years ago
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Science

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Artwork for Futureproof

Latest Episodes

Guests:

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Steven A. Benner, Chemist, Astrobiologist and author of ‘Meet the Neighbors: Life on Mars and How to Find It’

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Jessamyn Fairfield from the University of Galway

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Fergus McAuliffe, Head of Research Engagement and Impact Trinity ... more

Guest: Rose Anne Kenny, Regis Professor of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and Founding Principal Investigator of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

Guests:

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Alex Smith, Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

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Dr Ruth Freeman from Science Foundation Ireland

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Matthew Campbell from TCD

Guest: Professor Róisín Dolan, Chief Investigator with the Sentinel Study Ireland at St. Vincent's University Hospital

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Emilie De Loose
Project Officer, Atlantic Whale Deal
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
Episode: The Greenland shark discovered on Ireland’s coast
Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist, science communicator, and director of the Hayden Planetarium
Hayden Planetarium
Episode: Gold: Neil DeGrasse Tyson - A Brief Welcome to the Universe
Peter Gallagher
Director of the Dunsink Observatory at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies; adjunct professor at Trinity College Dublin
Dunsink Observatory, DIAS; Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Observing the Solar Eclipse
Anil Seth
Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, University of Sussex
University of Sussex
Episode: Gold: How does the brain conjure consciousness?
Alan Smeaton
Professor of Computing, DCU; AI expert
Dublin City University
Episode: Could AI be conscious?
Kevin Mitchell
Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin; author
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Could AI be conscious?
Oliver Bower
Founding scientist at Preventive
Preventive
Episode: Extra: Could base editing lead to designer babies?
Ed Ricemeyer
CEO Bioinformatician in the Chair of Animal Systems Genomics
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Episode: The fish species with no males
Michael Garrett
Astrophysicist, University of Manchester; chair of the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Committee
University of Manchester
Episode: Extra: ET Code of Conduct

Host

Jonathan McCrea
Host of Futureproof; in-studio and in-studio discussions on weekly science stories.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 398 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
    Irelanda year 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.

Content is generally engaging with strong guest expertise and practical insights.
Listeners appreciate accessible science storytelling and clear explanations of complex topics.
Some listeners note production or pacing changes over time and desire more Irish guest presence.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#7
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#121
Argentina/Science
Apple Podcasts
#239
New Zealand/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gold: Neil DeGrasse Tyson - A Brief Welcome to the Universe
Q: How did your ability to communicate science develop, and was Carl Sagan a major influence?
While I learned from studying effective communication and from observing how others engage audiences, I also developed a personal approach that blends clear explanations with pop culture references and humor. Carl Sagan's work reinforced the importance of making science accessible, but I've built my own style rather than trying to imitate him exactly.
The fish species with no males
Q: So tell me about this incredible fish, the Amazon molly.
Ed explains that Amazon mollies are all-female, give live birth to clones of themselves, and still require a sperm trigger for development, though the DNA from the sperm does not enter the egg, resulting in offspring that are genetic copies of the mother.
Extra: Neuroscience and AI
Q: Can AI truly read emotions, and what are the limits of using emotion data in business and healthcare?
AI can detect cues like vocal tension and disengagement, and can support clinicians or customers, but there are ethical boundaries, privacy concerns, and the need for human oversight to ensure it augments rather than manipulates people.
Extra: ET Code of Conduct
Q: How do we handle amateur discoveries in the age of social media and rapid information spread?
Amateur discoveries should still follow the same verification and collaboration steps; the document encourages using quick checks and AI tools to assess the situation, but ultimately emphasizes caution and responsible disclosure to prevent misinformation.
Extra: ET Code of Conduct
Q: What is the protocol for sharing a discovery if it is verified?
Verification should precede any public announcement, and sharing typically involves collaboration with other telescopes and teams to reproduce results before a formal communication to the scientific community and the public.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Futureproof

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

The show covers a broad spectrum of science news, interviews, and explainers with a curious, layperson-friendly bent. Host-led conversations weave current weekly science stories with in-depth interviews from researchers and practitioners across astronomy, biology, neuroscience, AI, and environmental science. Episodes frequently blend practical demonstrations, data interpretation, and real-world implications, from eclipse missions and wildlife tracking to genome editing and consciousness. A standout is the mix of hands-on field stories, expert context, and accessible science communication, often featuring Irish institutions and international guests. This format is especially useful for listeners who want approachable science stories plus exp... more

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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 Last Word with Matt Cooper
3. The David McWilliams Podcast
4. Brendan O'Connor
5. Talking History with Patrick Geoghegan

How many episodes of Futureproof are there?

Futureproof launched 16 years ago and published 487 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. Emilie De Loose
2. Neil DeGrasse Tyson
3. Peter Gallagher
4. Anil Seth
5. Alan Smeaton
6. Kevin Mitchell
7. Oliver Bower
8. Ed Ricemeyer

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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