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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
Spacex
Carl Sagan
Europa
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 weeklyEpisodes1358Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Latest Episodes

We tend to think of private space exploration as a recent phenomenon. But as Alex MacDonald, former Chief Economist at NASA, argues in his book "The Long Space Age," privately funded space exploration has deep roots in American history, stretching ba... more

YouTube

Dennis Stone, president and co-founder of the World Space Week Association, takes us behind the scenes of the largest annual space event on Earth. From its origins as a volunteer effort in Houston to a UN-declared celebration reaching 50,000 events i... more

YouTube

After decades of development, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is preparing to launch. Once in orbit, Roman will conduct the widest surveys of the universe ever attempted, probing the nature of dark energy, discovering thousands of new exoplanet... more

YouTube

Will we change or terraform Mars to better suit humans? Or are we more likely to change ourselves to better fit the red planet? How far can evolution take us in these new and exotic environments? These and many other fascinating questions are at the ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Asa Stahl
Planetary Society Science Editor
Planetary Society
Episode: World Space Week and farewell to Swift
Dennis Stone
President and Co-Founder of the World Space Week Association
World Space Week Association
Episode: World Space Week and farewell to Swift
Julie McEnery
Senior Project Scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA Goddard
Episode: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is ready to launch
Jason Rhodes
Roman Project Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA JPL
Episode: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is ready to launch
Scott Solomon
Biologist, professor, science communicator, author of Becoming Martian
Rice University; Smithsonian Institution; author
Episode: Book Club Edition: Becoming Martian by Scott Solomon
Jared Head
Museum facilitator at Columbia Memorial Space Center; producer on Tomorrow; co-host of All Space Considered
Columbia Memorial Space Center / Tomorrow / Griffith Observatory
Episode: The SpaceX Falcon 9 that crashed into the Moon
David Mann
Bioacoustics researcher, CEO of Haikubox
Haikubox
Episode: Total solar eclipse 2026: Astrophotography and birdsong
Jack Kiraly
Chief of Advocacy at the Planetary Society
Planetary Society
Episode: Space Policy Edition: “Science: A New Golden Age” - Reimagining U.S. science policy
Zach Pirtle
Deputy Director for the Consortium of Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University (formerly at NASA)
Arizona State University / Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes
Episode: Space Policy Edition: “Science: A New Golden Age” - Reimagining U.S. science policy

Hosts

Sarah Al-Ahmed
Host of Planetary Radio, Planetary Society
Casey Dreier
Host of Space Policy Edition on Planetary Radio

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 States8 months ago
  • Excellent podcast

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I’m they
    Canada8 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
    Canada9 months ago
  • Ripples

    Non-white men? Racist nonsense.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States10 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.

A few listeners wish for more traditional news briefings or space-news segments.
Listeners praise the show for clear, enthusiastic discussions of space science and policy.
Fans appreciate accessible explanations of complex topics and the breadth of guests.
Many admire the host's preparation and interview craft; production quality is consistently high.
Some criticism centers on perceived political bias or audio issues in certain episodes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#82
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#142
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#146
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#102
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#30
Poland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#65
China/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

World Space Week and farewell to Swift
Q: What resources are provided to help people run World Space Week events?
The World Space Week Association offers calendars, posters, guides, and coordinate support through partnerships with space agencies and organizations, helping teachers and communities organize NASA- and ESA-backed activities easily across diverse resources and locations.
World Space Week and farewell to Swift
Q: What is World Space Week?
World Space Week is the largest space event on Earth, declared by the UN in 1999, now spanning more than 100 countries with activities in schools, museums, and communities to inspire STEM and space exploration.
Space Policy Edition: “Science: A New Golden Age” - Reimagining U.S. science policy
Q: From a NASA space science perspective, how might the proposals play out in practice?
There is cautious optimism about broader experimentation in funding mechanisms and institution models, but concerns about delays, budget cuts, and whether space science will be prioritized amid wider policy shifts persist. Implementation would require careful alignment with NASA's mission priorities and budget realities.
Space Policy Edition: “Science: A New Golden Age” - Reimagining U.S. science policy
Q: What stood out to you about the report's mythology and its potential to lastingly influence how science is done?
The panel notes that the report foregrounds a non-linear, meta-science approach and shifts away from a purely linear model. It could influence governance, funding diversification, and improved management, but its lasting impact depends on actual implementation, funding levels, and cross-agency alignment.
Space Policy Edition: “Science: A New Golden Age” - Reimagining U.S. science policy
Q: Zach, can you give just a quick rundown of what this report is trying to do and the context it's coming out of?
The OSTP report positions itself as a modernization of science policy, drawing on historical lessons from Vannevar Bush while advocating for faster funding, less bureaucracy, broader institutional roles, and the use of AI. It aims to redefine how science is funded and managed across the government, though critics worry about its feasibility given current budget pressures and interagency frictions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

A science-forward program that blends space exploration, planetary science, and space policy with a steady mix of expert guests and engineers. Episodes commonly cover exoplanet atmospheres, planetary missions, eclipse photography and citizen science, plus ongoing policy debates shaping NASA and commercial space activity. A recurring strength is translating complex research into accessible storytelling, often paired with practical takeaways for listeners interested in space engineering, astronomy, and policy. Notable traits include hands-on engineering and mission planning discussions (e.g., CubeSats and rotorcraft), in-depth policy analysis, and enthusiastic, well-prepared interviewing that frequently ties science to real-world programs and... 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. Main Engine Cut Off
5. This Week in Space (Audio)

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this podcast launched 21 years ago and published 1358 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. Asa Stahl
2. Dennis Stone
3. Julie McEnery
4. Jason Rhodes
5. Scott Solomon
6. Jared Head
7. David Mann
8. Jack Kiraly

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