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Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea

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

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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PublishesDailyEpisodes493Founded16 years ago
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Artwork for Futureproof

Latest Episodes

Presenter Jonathan McCrea and Producer Aidan McKelvey discuss the making of the Futureproof documentary ‘The Lost Bridge’.

Guests:

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Genevieve Von Petzinger, Paleoanthropologist and rock art researcher and Project Director of the LIACARA Project

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Dr. George Nash, Associate Professor in the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of L... more

We conventionally think of time as something simple and fundamental that flows uniformly, independently from everything else, from the past to the future, measured by clocks and watches.

In the course of time, the events of the universe succeed each... more

Guest: Julie Elie, Associate Project Scientist in the Department of Neuroscience at University of California, Berkeley.

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Recent Guests

Carlo Rovelli
Theoretical physicist, author of The Order of Time
Centre de Physique Théorique / Aix-Marseille University
Episode: Gold: What is time?
Julie Elie
Associate Project Scientist in the Department of Neuroscience at University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: Extra: Decoding Birdsong
Matthew Campbell
Professor of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: Jim Al-Khalili on time and time travel
Jim Al-Khalili
Theoretical physicist, author of On Time
University affiliations not specified in transcript
Episode: Jim Al-Khalili on time and time travel
Kathryn Paige Harden
Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin; author
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: Extra: The Genetics of Wrongdoing
Steven A. Benner
Chemist, astrobiologist, author of Meet the Neighbors, Life on Mars and How to Find It
Meet the Neighbors / California Institute of Technology (contextually inferred)
Episode: Did we find evidence of life on Mars in the 1970’s?
Rose Anne Kenny
Regis Professor of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and founding Principal Investigator of the TILDA study
Trinity College Dublin, TILDA
Episode: Extra: Growing Old in Ireland - 20 Years of the TILDA Study
Alex Smith
Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology
University of Guelph
Episode: How many insects are there?
Aidan McKelvey
Studio guest/producer presence in segment
Trinity College Dublin (as mentioned)
Episode: How many insects are there?

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
    Ireland2 years ago
  • AI boosterism. I expect less gullibility in my tech journalism

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Skrynesaver
    2 years 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
#6
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#40
United Arab Emirates/Science
Apple Podcasts
#59
Argentina/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Extra: Growing Old in Ireland - 20 Years of the TILDA Study
Q: Yeah. So talk us through the sort of information you're gathering from these people every two years. It's quite comprehensive. What do you ask them and what do you measure?
We collect a huge amount of data, including a health assessment that takes about five and a half hours, plus extensive questions on living situation, education, finances, social networks, loneliness, and mental health, coupled with objective health tests to capture the tapestry of a person's life.
Jim Al-Khalili on time and time travel
Q: Did it take a lot of time to put together the book, given the breadth of the subject?
Jim explains that writing On Time required a comprehensive treatment of physics, psychology, and philosophy to cover both the scientific definitions of time and our subjective perception, making it a long but rewarding process.
Gold: What is time?
Q: Can you talk to us about some of the ideas that you start off with in your book?
Rovelli explains that time is not as straightforward as we think: time can run differently in different gravitational or velocity contexts, and the common notion of a single universal present does not hold up under scientific scrutiny.
Extra: The Irish scientists tackling organ transplant rejection
Q: So why would a recipient reject a donor organ?
Rejection is driven by multiple, patient-specific factors and differences between donor and recipient, including immune exposures and mismatches at the antigen level, which can trigger immune responses against the transplanted organ.
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.

Audience Metrics

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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. Show Me the Science with Luke O'Neill
2. The Pat Kenny Show
3. The David McWilliams Podcast
4. The Other Hand
5. The Last Word with Matt Cooper

How many episodes of Futureproof are there?

Futureproof launched 16 years ago and published 493 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. Carlo Rovelli
2. Julie Elie
3. Matthew Campbell
4. Jim Al-Khalili
5. Kathryn Paige Harden
6. Steven A. Benner
7. Rose Anne Kenny
8. Alex Smith

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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