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The Supermassive Podcast

The Royal Astronomical Society
James Webb Space Telescope
Neptune
Aurora Borealis
Voyager Missions
Black Holes
Multiverse
Interstellar Space
Baby Names
NASA
Inflation Theory
Triton
Quantum Mechanics
Astronomy
Cosmic Dust
Space Expansion
Euclid Space Telescope
Simulation Hypothesis
Io
Proxima Centauri B
Supernova

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 monthlyEpisodes106Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhysicsScienceAstronomy

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Latest Episodes

Fire up your flux capacitor and dematerialise your Tardis because The Supermassive Podcast is traveling in time. Is it possible? How does it work? And, crucially, which films got the physics right (or wrong!)? 

Thank you to Dr Emma Osborne from the ... more

What would it be like to feel gravitational waves? How are satellites protected from extreme solar storms? How do gravity slingshots work? Are aliens potentially communicating outside of the electromagnetic spectrum? Plus Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert s... more

What are the threats to our dark night skies? And what needs to be done to protect them? Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert explore this important topic and head outside (...and the weather was not on their side!) 

Thank you to Dr Samantha Lawler at the Uni... more

Can JWST detect exomoons? How can black holes keep absorbing more mass? How big is our cosmic neighbourhood? And what is a rogue black hole?! Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert answer YOUR questions.

You can add to The Supermassive Mailbox by emailing podc... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Why This Universe?
Why This Universe?Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman
Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries
Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic DiscoveriesProfessor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
Ask a Spaceman!
Ask a Spaceman!Paul M. Sutter

Recent Guests

Dr. Samantha Lawler
Professor of Astronomy at the University of Regina
University of Regina
Episode: Protecting Our Dark Skies
Andy Lawrence
Regis Professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
Episode: Protecting Our Dark Skies
Joe McNeil
Martian geologist and expert on Martian water history from the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Episode: A Watery History of Mars
Andy Saunders
Photographer specializing in space missions
Episode: BONUS - Mercury, Gemini and Pringles
Daniel West
Mission scientist for the ESA mission called FIGIL
European Space Agency
Episode: Don't Panic…but a solar storm could be a disaster
Rosemary Coogan
British ESA astronaut and astrophysicist
European Space Agency
Episode: BONUS - What Shape is Space?
Tim Peake
Former astronaut who spent 186 days in space as part of his Principia mission, inspiring a generation.
European Space Agency
Episode: Astronauts. Do we need them?
John McFall
Surgeon and Paralympic sprinter, training to become the first astronaut with a disability
European Space Agency
Episode: Astronauts. Do we need them?
Meganne Christian
Reserve astronaut working for the UK Space Agency on commercialization of space exploration.
UK Space Agency
Episode: Astronauts. Do we need them?

Hosts

Izzie Clarke
Science journalist and host, known for engaging discussions about astronomy and space science, often infusing humor into complex topics.
Dr. Becky Smethurst
Astrophysicist and host, providing scientific insights and explanations on a variety of astrophysical phenomena.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Long time listener, first time reviewer

    I continue to enjoy listening to your podcast on my daily walks in Alexandria, VA, USA. As a very amateur/backyard stargazer, I really appreciate how you can impart some very technical topics in terms that even I can understand. So far I have found every podcast topic extremely interesting and informative. “Thanks “!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Greg L Law
    United Statesa month ago
  • Very insightful but the giggling is annoying

    I listen to this and love the content, very insightful and interesting. I find the constant giggling amongst Dr Becky and Izzie very annoying, it’s like I’m a fly on the wall of teenage girls having a sleepover! Can we maybe have less giggling please?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Hopefullyfitagain
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Too Many Ads

    Often quite simplistic. Some episodes have been vaguely interesting but not sufficiently to put up with ads.

    Unsubscribed

    "Why This Universe" is much better and free of any ads (and giggling)

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    16841597425983268843
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Delete

    Delete

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States4 months ago
  • Interesting but simple

    It is a bit surprising that a podcast representing the Royal Astronomical Society would be at such a simple level and have such giggling hosts.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Carneades
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the podcast is praised for making astronomy approachable for audiences of all ages, with positive feedback from younger listeners.
Listeners appreciate the mix of humor and scientific insight, often highlighting how well complex topics are explained in an accessible manner.
Many find the content entertaining and educational, enjoying the dynamics between the hosts.
Some express frustration over the volume of advertisements and the lighthearted banter, indicating a desire for more straightforward scientific discussion.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BONUS - Slingshots, Christmas Presents & Alien Communication
Q: Is it possible that aliens are out there using something other than the light spectrum to communicate?
While it's possible, electromagnetic radiation is likely the default way for communication since it's the easiest to transmit and can carry a lot of data.
BONUS - Slingshots, Christmas Presents & Alien Communication
Q: What would it be like to experience gravity waves that could be felt?
You would feel a sort of oscillation through your body, akin to being squashed and expanded, rather than simply experiencing the environment moving around you.
BONUS - Supermassive Gone Rogue
Q: Is there a theoretical upper limit to the density of black holes?
Dr. Becky Smethurst explains that as black holes increase in mass, their density actually drops, which is a counterintuitive phenomenon linked to how we define black holes and their structure.
BONUS - Supermassive Gone Rogue
Q: With JWST, are we able to see satellites, natural or man-made, orbiting exoplanets?
Dr. Robert Massey discusses the challenges in detecting exo-moons and highlights current efforts to find them, emphasizing that no definitive discoveries have been made yet, though there are candidates being studied.
BONUS - Supermassive Gone Rogue
Q: How close would a decent sized rogue black hole have to get to the solar system to affect the sun and planet's gravitational effects?
Dr. Becky Smethurst explains that gravity only cares about mass and distance, so the effects of a rogue black hole would depend on its size and distance from the solar system, indicating that significant gravitational influence would not occur until it got within 100 times the Earth-Sun distance.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Supermassive Podcast

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

This space-focused podcast engages listeners with discussions around a wide range of astronomical topics, including recent scientific research, historical insights from archives, and audience questions. It features knowledgeable hosts who navigate complex concepts such as black holes, Mars exploration, and the mysteries of time while keeping the tone accessible and entertaining. Unique elements include live Q&A sessions and guest experts from various fields like geology and space exploration, which blend expert insights with humor and relatability, making challenging subjects enjoyable for both enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Supermassive Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Supermassive Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Supermassive Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Supermassive Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Supermassive Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Supermassive Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Supermassive Podcast:

1. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary
2. Why This Universe?
3. Universe Today Podcast
4. Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries
5. Ask a Spaceman!

How many episodes of The Supermassive Podcast are there?

The Supermassive Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 106 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Supermassive Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Supermassive Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Supermassive Podcast?

Recent guests on The Supermassive Podcast include:

1. Dr. Samantha Lawler
2. Andy Lawrence
3. Joe McNeil
4. Andy Saunders
5. Daniel West
6. Rosemary Coogan
7. Tim Peake
8. John McFall

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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