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The Supermassive Podcast

The Royal Astronomical Society
Black Holes
Mars
Royal Astronomical Society
James Webb Space Telescope
NASA
Gravitational Waves
Solar System
Astronomy
Gravity
Dark Matter
Neutron Stars
Venus
Extraterrestrial Life
Cosmology
Fast Radio Bursts
SETI Institute
Supernova
Earth
Primordial Black Holes
Baby Names

The UK's #1 space podcast.

Science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst whizz through the universe to explore the latest research with leading experts, dive to history from the society’s archives and take on your weird and wonderful questions about all things space. Can we gravitationally hitch-hike out of the solar system? Do we live in a multiverse? What is time? Plus Dr... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes118Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
AstronomyPhysicsScience

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Artwork for The Supermassive Podcast

Latest Episodes

What is the Bootes Void? Why do we only see one side of the Moon? Can time travel be sped up? And what's the smallest amount of visible space debris? The Supermassive Podcast team answer your questions... And work on their Australian accents!?

For t... more

Is this the toughest subject we’ve ever tackled? Izzie certainly thinks so and it’s even making Dr Becky and Dr Robert's brains hurt. Helping them to make sense of these ‘weird and interesting’ particles are Dr Kirsty Duffy at the University of Oxfor... more

What happens if two diamond core stars collide? Will the Moon drift away from Earth? Why is there motion in the universe? And why we need a space AND time machine. Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert dive into The Supermassive Mailbox to answer your questions... more

Nancy Grace Roman. Ariel. The next generation of space telescopes are here. Astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst and science journalist Izzie Clarke explore how they work, what they can tell us and why they might unravel our current understanding of the... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Kumiko Kotera
Director of the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris; neutrino hunter, coordinates GRAND
Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris; GRAND project (Gobi Desert)
Episode: What the heck are neutrinos?
Kirsty Duffy
Particle physicist at University of Oxford and Queen's College; researcher on Fermilab neutrino experiments
University of Oxford, Queen's College; Fermilab experiments
Episode: What the heck are neutrinos?
Tom Barclay
Scientist from NASA Roman Space Telescope team
NASA
Episode: How Do Space Telescopes Work?
Chris Pearson
Head of Astrophysics at RAL Space, overseeing Ariel instruments
RAL Space
Episode: How Do Space Telescopes Work?
Emma Chapman
Radio astronomer and author (Radio Universe)
University/Research context not specified
Episode: How Do Space Telescopes Work?
Megan Perks
Researcher at University of Southampton studying space debris safety
University of Southampton
Episode: Into the Space Debris Swamp
Max Alexander
International photographer focusing on space and debris; organizer of Our Fragile Space exhibition
Photographer
Episode: Into the Space Debris Swamp
Dr Robert Massey
Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
Episode: Into the Space Debris Swamp
Stuart Clark
Editor of Astronomy Now magazine
Astronomy Now
Episode: When Space Goes Rogue....

Hosts

Izzie Clarke
Science journalist and host focusing on space science and public outreach.
Becky Smethurst
Astrophysicist and co-host, known for accessible explanations of complex space topics.
Robert Massey
Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society; co-host providing institutional and policy perspectives.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Is this pitched at children?

    Over excitable giggling presenters and GCSE level explanations make what should be a flagship show for the RSA into something more puerile. A real shame. Could be so much more.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Sherbet Revolver
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Ban 3

    Great info in your casts, don’t worry about the magas they hate everyone

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeffbanner3
    United States2 months ago
  • Fantastic

    Great podcast. Very informative and entertaining about what’s going on in the sky and the research being done. Love the enthusiasm of the hosts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GEMW85
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Brilliant!

    Great topics, brilliant hosts and super informative. Do a live show!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MrLewisDean
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Liberals.

    I liked this show alright I guess till they got into POLITICS and rewrote history. Pluto was a panel until Barack HUSSEIN O’Bummer cancelled it because it wasn’t woke enough. Don’t try to push your views to anyone. MAGA!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    EvanWagnerATL
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Occasional criticisms about host dynamics; audience enjoys humor but some find it distracting.
Strong guest variety and high-quality science content.
Clear, insightful discussions with accessible explanations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#2
United States/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts
#56
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#1
United Kingdom/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts
#3
Canada/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts
#24
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#44
Canada/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What the heck are neutrinos?
Q: Where do neutrinos come from and why are there so many?
Kirsty Duffy describes neutrinos arising from beta decays and nuclear processes, including the Sun, bananas via potassium decay, and various cosmic sources; the sheer abundance comes from numerous ongoing beta decays in the universe.
How Do Space Telescopes Work?
Q: What are the limitations when using telescopes in space, excluding weight and size?
The major challenges are keeping the instruments operating in harsh space conditions, performing repairs or upgrades when possible, and ensuring long-term stability and calibration; some telescopes (like Hubble) have had service missions to fix issues, while others (like JWST) rely on extensive pre-launch testing and cannot be serviced as easily if something goes wrong.
How Do Space Telescopes Work?
Q: How important is it that Roman works in concert with JWST?
Roman surveys the sky quickly to build large catalogs and identify interesting targets; JWST then conducts deep, precise follow-up observations on a smaller patch of the sky, creating a powerful complementary workflow between a wide-field surveyor and a deep-dive observatory.
How Do Space Telescopes Work?
Q: But can we take it back a bit? What can space telescopes do that ground-based telescopes can't?
They provide unfettered access to wavelengths blocked by Earth's atmosphere (gamma rays, hard ultraviolet, infrared) and can observe without atmospheric blurring, yielding spectra and images of much higher fidelity; space telescopes also enable rapid, wide-area surveys and systemic, large-scale studies that are impractical from the ground.
Did Gravity Wipe Out The Dinosaurs?
Q: Does the gas tail from Mercury reach Earth and could it affect Earth in any noticeable way?
Becky and the team respond that Mercury's tail is extensive but extremely tenuous and would not affect Earth; Venus also has a tail, but likewise with negligible impact on Earth due to vast distances and low particle densities.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Supermassive Podcast

What is The Supermassive Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show delivers accessible space science with a blend of expert interviews, news roundups, and listener Q&As. Topics span brave questions about time, gravity, and cosmology to pressing issues like space debris, satellite constellations, and upcoming missions. A hallmark is mixing rigorous science with playful chatter and clear explanations, making complex topics approachable for curious listeners who want both depth and entertainment. A standout is the strong connection to the Royal Astronomical Society, plus a recurring emphasis on public engagement and outreach through exhibitions, events, and collaborations with prominent researchers.

Listeners likely skew toward science-minded individuals who enjoy approachable explanations, occasio... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Supermassive Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Supermassive Podcast:

1. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary
2. Universe Today Podcast
3. Ask a Spaceman!
4. The Astrophysics Podcast
5. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

How many episodes of The Supermassive Podcast are there?

The Supermassive Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 118 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 The Supermassive Podcast?

Recent guests on The Supermassive Podcast include:

1. Kumiko Kotera
2. Kirsty Duffy
3. Tom Barclay
4. Chris Pearson
5. Emma Chapman
6. Megan Perks
7. Max Alexander
8. Dr Robert Massey

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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