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Artwork for Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

The Planetary Society
NASA
Mars
Titan
James Webb Space Telescope
Space Shuttle Program
Enceladus
K2-18b
Day Of Action
Mars Exploration Rover Mission
Spirit and Opportunity
Space Governance
Grey Zones
Total Solar Eclipses
Archaeoastronomy
Asteroid Dinkinesh
Nasa's Insight Mission
Marsquake
Chandrayaan-3
Artemis Program
Phosphorus

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 weeklyEpisodes1286Founded20 years ago
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Artwork for Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Latest Episodes

Bill Nye, CEO of The Planetary Society, has officially joined the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In this episode, we speak with Bill about what this rare honor means to him and to science communication. Then, we take you inside the star ceremony in Los Ange... more

YouTube

Only six people have received The Planetary Society’s Cosmos Award for Outstanding Public Presentation of Science. We were honored to present it to author and historian Dava Sobel in May of 2025. She has created a brilliant library of books that illu... more

YouTube

Pack your cosmic suitcase. This week on Planetary Radio, host Sarah Al-Ahmed is joined by Mark McCaughrean, astronomer, science communicator, and former Senior Advisor for Science & Exploration at the European Space Agency, to talk about his new book... more

YouTube

This week on Planetary Radio, we look forward to International Observe the Moon Night on October 4, 2025. Host Sarah Al-Ahmed speaks with Staci Horvath, outreach coordinator for NASA’s Solar System Exploration Division at Goddard Space Flight Center ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Mark McCorcoran
Adjunct scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy and author.
Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Episode: A cosmic travel guide: 111 Places in Space That You Must Not Miss
Franklin Foer
Staff writer at the Atlantic Magazine and political commentator
Atlantic Magazine
Episode: Space Policy Edition: Does the rise of Elon mean the decline of NASA?
Dr. Michael Roman
Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy specialized in ice giants.
Universidad Adolfo Ibanez
Episode: Uranus revealed: Solving the ice giant’s heat mystery
Kyle Hill
Award-winning science communicator and head of science education and outreach at Basilisk.
Basilisk
Episode: Esports and space: BASILISK’s quest for “Science Victory”
Keelan Hoke
Giancoli Fellow at the Space Telescope Science Institute
Space Telescope Science Institute
Episode: Silicate clouds and a dusty ring: JWST looks at YSES-1
Emily Rickman
Science Operations Scientist for the European Space Agency, Project Level Member of the JWST Telescope Scientist Team
Space Telescope Science Institute / European Space Agency
Episode: Silicate clouds and a dusty ring: JWST looks at YSES-1
Bryce Bolin
Research scientist at Eureka Scientific, involved in the study of interstellar objects
Eureka Scientific
Episode: 3I/ATLAS: The third interstellar object ever found
Dr. Bhavya Lal
Professor of Policy Analysis at the Rand School of Public Policy, co-author of the report on in-space nuclear power
Rand Corporation
Episode: Space Policy Edition: Is this the moment for in-space nuclear power?
Erin Flynn-Evans
Director of the Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center
NASA
Episode: The science of sleep in space

Hosts

Casey Dreier
Chief of Space Policy at the Planetary Society, Casey Dreier is known for his insights into space legislation and the political aspects of space exploration.
Sarah Al-Ahmed
Host of Planetary Radio and a prominent advocate for space exploration, Sarah Al-Ahmed brings a depth of knowledge and a passion for astronomy to her interviews.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • 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 States2 months ago
  • So-S0

    Generally ood science/astronomy content, but unfortunately tainted with DEI dogma and recurring leftwing political bias…. Could use a bit more “diversity” and “inclusion” when it comes to worldviews and obvious bias.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Oracle ofTruth
    Canada2 months ago
  • Casey Dreier & Mary Guenther

    These 2 people are out of touch with Middle America and have no clue of anything that happens here. People are poor, people have lost everything, people are scared and people are dying. Billionaires have taken over our country and these two don’t seem to get it or even care. Stop robbing from all the poor Americans and giving our cash to the wealthiest Americans.

    P.S. Poor people don’t do polling, so please don’t give us the polling numbers from now on.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Fatty2820
    United States3 months ago
  • Look up at night sky and be inspired!

    As an artist living in the USA, I have always been interested in the mysteries of the night sky and how little old me figures into the grand scheme of space! I always inspired by the Apollo missions. It might have been my innocence of youth that made me think everyone loved space flight and exploration of the universe like me! Out on the farm where I grew up, it was so dark at night that one could see satellites, planets, the edge of the Milky Way and what I called “foreverland ”! Outer planeta... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HeyJude2U
    United States3 months ago
  • The best society, and the best podcast

    What is there to say, this podcast helps you find your place in space while understanding the people and science that goes into space, science, and exploration. I never get board listening to the content. Also the host Sarah Al-Ahmed is always a joy to listen to with her knowledge and wit!

    If you enjoy the show I highly recommend joining the planetary society!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Olikoth
    Canada3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The quality of episodes is frequently commended, along with the expertise of guests, though audio issues have been noted by some.
Some reviews indicate a desire for a more balanced representation of perspectives, especially regarding political content.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and informative discussions, often highlighting the passion of hosts and guests for space science.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#70
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#135
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#215
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#227
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#38
India/Science
Apple Podcasts
#68
New Zealand/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A cosmic travel guide: 111 Places in Space That You Must Not Miss
Q: How did you go about deciding what you wanted to add to this book and leaving other things out?
I relied on my experience as an astronomer and structured it from the sun to the cosmic microwave background.
A cosmic travel guide: 111 Places in Space That You Must Not Miss
Q: Why did you go with Apollo 12 instead of, say, Apollo 11 or any of the other ones?
The reason it's first in the book is purely alphabetical, chosen based on the structure.
Space Policy Edition: Does the rise of Elon mean the decline of NASA?
Q: What surprised you about NASA itself?
He noted the divide between human spaceflight and other scientific endeavors, revealing that while human spaceflight faced challenges, other scientific achievements at NASA have remained impressive.
Space Policy Edition: Does the rise of Elon mean the decline of NASA?
Q: What was your idea and conception of NASA and the US space program before you started reporting this piece?
Foer describes growing up with the romance of human space exploration but as someone who wasn't a space enthusiast, he began to question why NASA had declined.
Silicate clouds and a dusty ring: JWST looks at YSES-1
Q: And what is this Young Suns Exoplanet Survey?
The Young Suns Exoplanet Survey, called WISUS for short, targets young stars for studying exoplanets, with JWST effectively following up on ground-based observations.

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?

The podcast offers an engaging exploration of space science and exploration, spotlighting the voices and insights of scientists, engineers, astronauts, and advocates during each episode. Listeners can expect to hear interviews that illuminate the latest discoveries in astronomy, missions, and projects that propel humanity into the cosmos. Regular segments enhance understanding while fostering an enjoyable listening experience, with a particular emphasis on space policy issues affecting the future of U.S. space efforts. Noteworthy is the blend of educational content with a passion for space, making it accessible and appealing to anyone interested in the vast universe beyond our planet.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Universe Today Podcast
2. SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy
3. Astronomy Cast
4. The Supermassive Podcast
5. Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 20 years ago and published 1286 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. Mark McCorcoran
2. Franklin Foer
3. Dr. Michael Roman
4. Kyle Hill
5. Keelan Hoke
6. Emily Rickman
7. Bryce Bolin
8. Dr. Bhavya Lal

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