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Artwork for Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

The Planetary Society
NASA
Space Exploration
Planetary Society
Mars
Space Policy
Astrobiology
Europa Clipper
Artemis Program
James Webb Space Telescope
Carl Sagan
Europa
Spacex
Enceladus
Jupiter
Planetary Defense
Astronomy
Titan
Human Spaceflight
Dava Sobel
Asteroids

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1349Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyScience

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Artwork for Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Latest Episodes

Two hot Jupiters presented at the 248th American Astronomical Society meeting push our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres to the extreme. Research Scientist Tiffany Kataria from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory shares new JWST observations of HD8... more

YouTube

It may be the best book subtitle we’ve encountered in the Planetary Society book club: “Particles, Poetry and the Cosmic Dream Boogie.” Theoretical physicist and black feminist science theorist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein has followed her acclaimed firs... more

YouTube

“Baby's Guide to the Night Sky” introduces the youngest kids — down to newborns — to constellations and the wonders of the Cosmos. It comes from two people who've spent their lives chasing that same wonder in very different ways.

This week, we are ... more

YouTube

Green Bank, West Virginia is home to the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope. It's also the only town in the U.S. where cell phones and Wi-Fi are banned, so the telescope can listen for faint signals from across the Universe undisturbed. ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Tiffany Kataria
Research scientist focusing on atmospheric dynamics and chemistry
NASA JPL
Episode: Hot Jupiters: The ‘Roasted Planet’ and the wrong-way hotspot
Lisa Dang
Assistant Professor studying hot Jupiter atmospheres and lava planets
University of Waterloo
Episode: Hot Jupiters: The ‘Roasted Planet’ and the wrong-way hotspot
Chanda Prescott-Weinstein
Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at University of New Hampshire; author
University of New Hampshire
Episode: Book Club Edition: “The Edge of Space-Time” by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Cyan Proctor
Commercial space astronaut, geoscientist, artist and poet
Learn to Stargaze / Planetary Society
Episode: Sian Proctor and John Read on teaching babies to love the Cosmos
John Read
Astronomer, science communicator, author
Learn to Stargaze / Earthlight project
Episode: Sian Proctor and John Read on teaching babies to love the Cosmos
Katie Dellamaggiore
Director of Small Town Universe
Filmmaker
Episode: Small Town Universe: Inside Green Bank's Radio Quiet Zone
Ellie White
Physicist featured in Small Town Universe
West Virginia University, Green Bank Observatory
Episode: Small Town Universe: Inside Green Bank's Radio Quiet Zone
Clayton Swope
Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow at CSIS
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: Space Policy Edition: What's going on with commercial space stations?
Jorge Vago
ExoMars Project Scientist at the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
Episode: Rosalind Franklin and the search for life on Mars

Hosts

Matt Kaplan
Host and producer focused on space policy, communication, and planetary science, affiliated with the Planetary Society.
Casey Dreier
Chief of Space Policy; frequent host on policy-focused editions, with emphasis on advocacy and audience engagement.
Sarah Al-Ahmed
Host of Planetary Radio, facilitating interviews with scientists, engineers, and policy experts.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Ad Astra for Real

    Planetary Radio is the most hopeful, and the most humane, place on the internet. Every episode gives us a chance to feel connected, included, and welcomed, whoever we may be or wherever we may be coming from. Every episode gives us a chance to experience awe. This is what it means to be one human family, headed inexorably Ad Astra. I am so grateful for the weekly reminder of what we can be when we're at our best and doing great things together <3

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yuhfdfbged
    United States7 months ago
  • Excellent podcast

    Fascinating topics given by enthusiastic hosts. Could listen all day to programs like this!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I’m they
    Canada7 months ago
  • So inspiring, well produced!

    I've listened to this podcast and every episode grabs me by the *****. Just bought the Moons book after hearing about it here! Keep up the great production!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coolfactor
    Canada7 months ago
  • Ripples

    Non-white men? Racist nonsense.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States9 months ago
  • Republicans are raising taxes for middle class and poor

    Casey begs for the listeners to become a member and donate to them on one hand, while he promotes billionaires’ business ventures on another hand.

    Republicans keep raising taxes for regular people, by way of tariffs, and lowering taxes for rich people, by way of the Big Beautiful Bill, making regular people even poorer. But that doesn’t stop this podcast from begging for more donations from regular people. Somehow the rich keep getting richer while the rest of us keep getting screwed.

    This i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Fatty2820
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews push back on perceived emphasis on policy or personalities over pure science.
Critics note gaps where political bias is perceived by some audiences.
Listeners praise accessible, hopeful space storytelling and thorough interviews.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#84
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#123
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#128
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#119
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#106
Chile/Science
Apple Podcasts
#109
China/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Small Town Universe: Inside Green Bank's Radio Quiet Zone
Q: What were the challenges in filming intimate moments with Ellie and other town residents, and how long did the process take?
Katie and Ellie describe a lengthy, trust-building process that spanned about eight years, emphasizing continued engagement with the people involved rather than hurried, surface-level shooting.
Small Town Universe: Inside Green Bank's Radio Quiet Zone
Q: How did you come up with the idea for telling this story as a documentary?
Katie explains that the idea grew from recognizing the observatory as the heartbeat of the town and that human stories around the telescope would illuminate radio astronomy in a relatable way.
Book Club Edition: “The Edge of Space-Time” by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Q: What to you is the dream boogie, and why do you celebrate this epic poem in a book that is largely about physics and cosmology?
The dream boogie frames the universe as a space of joy, brilliance, and resilience, while acknowledging grief and trauma—using Langston Hughes to bridge the human experience with scientific wonder and to invite a broader audience into cosmology through culturally resonant metaphors.
Hot Jupiters: The ‘Roasted Planet’ and the wrong-way hotspot
Q: What exactly is a hot Jupiter?
A hot Jupiter is a Jupiter-sized planet that orbits very close to its host star, leading to very high temperatures and unique atmospheric dynamics.
Space Policy Edition: What's going on with commercial space stations?
Q: What do you think is the core reason for the funding and policy shifts over the past seven years?
Clayton argues the core issue is the mismatch between a visionary belief in a broad space economy and the practical budget, with NASA repeatedly highlighting the market uncertainties and the need for a sustainable funding path, while industry pressures and political narratives complicated the decision making.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

Across recent episodes, the show centers on space exploration, policy, and science communication, with conversations ranging from Artemis II and NASA funding to planetary science, education outreach, and the ethics of exploration. Guests often include scientists, policy experts, engineers, and advocates who illuminate how funding, governance, and public engagement shape our path to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Notable strengths include accessible explanations of complex missions, strong emphasis on advocacy and policy, and a consistent commitment to science storytelling that connects research to real-world impact. The format frequently blends technical detail with human-interest narratives, memorable anecdotes, and timely updates on missions... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Universe Today Podcast
2. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary
3. The Supermassive Podcast
4. Astronomy Cast
5. Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries

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this podcast launched 21 years ago and published 1349 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Tiffany Kataria
2. Lisa Dang
3. Chanda Prescott-Weinstein
4. Cyan Proctor
5. John Read
6. Katie Dellamaggiore
7. Ellie White
8. Clayton Swope

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