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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 weeklyEpisodes1362Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Latest Episodes

JAXA's Hayabusa2 flew within 400 meters (1,300 feet) of asteroid Torifune on July 5 and confirmed that it's a contact binary, two lobes stuck together. Paul Abell, NASA's Chief Scientist for Small Body Exploration at Johnson Space Center, walks us th... more

Where are we most likely to find evidence of life, past or living, in the Solar System? Planetary scientist and author Kevin Hand looks to warm, salty ocean depths beneath protective layers of ice on worlds such as Europa and Enceladus. His enthralli... more

YouTube

This is part two of our Star Trek 60th anniversary series. Robert Picardo, the Emergency Medical Hologram on Star Trek: Voyager and a member of The Planetary Society's board of directors, reads a vintage letter from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry... more

YouTube

Star Trek turned 60 on Sept. 8, 2026, and to celebrate, we're kicking off a special two-part series exploring the franchise's deep and lasting connection to real-world space exploration. In Part 1, Robert Picardo, the Emergency Medical Hologram from ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kevin Hand
Planetary scientist, Ocean Worlds Lab at NASA JPL
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Episode: Book Club Edition: Alien Oceans by Kevin Hand
George Takei
Actor and Planetary Society advocate; Star Trek alumnus
Planetary Society; Star Trek cast
Episode: Star Trek at 60: What Vulcans and Klingons can teach us about being human (Part 2)
Karim Diané
Jay-Den Kraag, Klingon cadet at Starfleet Academy
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Episode: Star Trek at 60: What Vulcans and Klingons can teach us about being human (Part 2)
Tim Russ
Tuvok, Star Trek Voyager; guest analyst on Vulcans and space psychology
Star Trek; Voyager actor
Episode: Star Trek at 60: What Vulcans and Klingons can teach us about being human (Part 2)
Robert Picardo
Actor known for Star Trek Voyager; advisor to the Planetary Society
Planetary Society (board member)
Episode: Star Trek at 60: What do we value the most? (Part 1)
Alex MacDonald
Senior Economic Advisor at the Office of the Administrator at NASA; author of The Long Space Age
NASA
Episode: Space Policy Edition: The Long Space Age with Alex MacDonald
Dennis Stone
President and Co-Founder of the World Space Week Association
World Space Week Association
Episode: World Space Week and farewell to Swift
Asa Stahl
Planetary Society Science Editor
Planetary Society
Episode: World Space Week and farewell to Swift
Jason Rhodes
Roman Project Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA JPL
Episode: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is ready to launch

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 States9 months ago
  • Excellent podcast

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I’m they
    Canada9 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 Statesa year 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
#93
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#113
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#139
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#149
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#50
India/Science
Apple Podcasts
#63
Netherlands/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Space Policy Edition: The Long Space Age with Alex MacDonald
Q: What is the central claim about why space investment has persisted beyond the Apollo era?
Investment persists because space programs create costly signals of national capability and commitment, and because a mix of private passion and public funding remains necessary to sustain large, complex projects.
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.

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?

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. Astronomy Cast
3. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary
4. The Supermassive Podcast
5. The 365 Days of Astronomy

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this podcast launched 21 years ago and published 1362 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. Kevin Hand
2. George Takei
3. Karim Diané
4. Tim Russ
5. Robert Picardo
6. Alex MacDonald
7. Dennis Stone
8. Asa Stahl

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