Rephonic
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
Spirit and Opportunity
Mars Exploration Rover Mission
Grey Zones
Space Governance
Archaeoastronomy
Total Solar Eclipses
Asteroid Dinkinesh
Marsquake
Nasa's Insight Mission
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 weeklyEpisodes1328Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Latest Episodes

The Artemis II crew has returned home safely after a historic 10-day journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. In this episode, we celebrate some of the mission's most extraordinary moments: the record-breaking Flight ... more

Four astronauts — Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — are on their way around the Moon, on a journey that will take them farther from Earth than any human has gone before. This week on P... more

YouTube

What makes Cape Canaveral the center of U.S. spaceflight? The answer is a fascinating mix of geography, military strategy, Cold War politics, and a fair amount of historical accident.

In this episode of the Space Policy Edition of Planetary Radio, ... more

YouTube

Artemis II is the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17, and riding alongside the crew is one of the most ambitious biology experiments ever sent to space. It's called AVATAR, short for A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response: tiny organ chip... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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.

Astronomy Cast
Astronomy CastFraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay
The Supermassive Podcast
The Supermassive PodcastThe Royal Astronomical Society
The 365 Days of Astronomy
The 365 Days of Astronomy365DaysOfAstronomy.org

Recent Guests

Stephen C. Smith
Author of Return to Launch, Florida and America's Space Industry; Space Policy writer
The Space Pundit Substack; Planetary Society interviewee
Episode: Space Policy Edition: Return to Launch — Cape Canaveral's unlikely history
Lisa Carnell
Director of NASA's Biological and Physical Sciences Division
NASA
Episode: Artemis II’s AVATAR and a sungrazing comet
Alain Marie
MAPS program founder/lead, MAPS team member
MAPS Program, Chile
Episode: Artemis II’s AVATAR and a sungrazing comet
Steve Platts
Chief Scientist, NASA Human Research Program
NASA
Episode: The astronaut health experiments of Artemis II
Caleb Scharf
Author of The Giant Leap, Professor of Astrobiology/Exoplanetary science
Columbia University (former Director of Astrobiology); NASA Ames Research Center
Episode: Book Club Edition: The Giant Leap: Why Space is the Next Frontier in the Evolution of Life
Dorte Baer
Germany's Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space
Germany government
Episode: The 18th European Space Conference: Dreaming of European boots on the Moon
Benjamin Haddad
France's minister delegate for European Affairs
France government
Episode: The 18th European Space Conference: Dreaming of European boots on the Moon
Thomas Dimitrov
Deputy Executive Director of Lagos and Business Bridge Europe
Lagos and Business Bridge Europe
Episode: The 18th European Space Conference: Dreaming of European boots on the Moon
Gentry Lee
Former chief engineer at JPL and subject of the documentary Starman
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Episode: Starman: Looking back on a life exploring the Solar System

Hosts

Sarah Al-Ahmed
Host and producer of Planetary Radio, known for raising public awareness about space science and exploration and engaging with various experts in the field.
Matt Kaplan
Senior Communications Advisor for the Planetary Society and former host of Planetary Radio, contributing to science communication and public engagement with space programs.

Reviews

4.7 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 States3 months ago
  • Excellent podcast

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I’m they
    Canada4 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
    Canada4 months ago
  • Ripples

    Non-white men? Racist nonsense.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MarkChicagoIL
    United States6 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 States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is often praised for its educational value and ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible.
Listeners appreciate the engaging storytelling and depth of information presented in each episode.
Some listeners have expressed concerns over perceived political biases in content or the focus of discussions.
Many reviews highlight the motivating and inspiring nature of the discussions around space exploration and the prospects for humanity's future in space.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#71
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#85
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#153
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#131
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#46
Israel/Science
Apple Podcasts
#68
Philippines/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Artemis II’s AVATAR and a sungrazing comet
Q: What can you tell us about Comet MAPS, its Kreutz lineage, and what observers should expect as it approaches perihelion?
Comet MAPS is a Kreutz sungrazer with a potentially dramatic fate near the Sun. Depending on its survival through perihelion, it could become visible in daylight or with a striking tail, particularly benefiting southern hemisphere observers in the second week of April.
Artemis II’s AVATAR and a sungrazing comet
Q: How does the MAPS program actually work, and what have been some of its key software and hardware innovations?
MAPS uses a pipeline of software to move telescopes, select fields, stack hundreds of images, and compute asteroid vectors. Innovations include synthetic tracking to keep moving objects on a pixel, CMOS cameras for sensitivity, GPU-based processing, and TECO Tracker for orbit confirmation and MPC submissions.
Artemis II’s AVATAR and a sungrazing comet
Q: So what has Avatar meant for NASA's approach to testing human biology in space, and why bone marrow as a model is particularly informative?
Avatar provides a realistic, human-relevant model of how the immune system and hematopoietic tissue respond to deep-space conditions. Bone marrow is extremely radiosensitive and linked to immune function, so studying it through organ chips helps predict health risks and tailor countermeasures for astronauts.
The astronaut health experiments of Artemis II
Q: What are the main health risks NASA has identified for Artemis II, and how are they addressed in the mission design?
The main risks are grouped into five hazards—radiation, isolation and confinement, distance from Earth, gravity changes, and environment. They are addressed through a combination of modeling, habitat design that mitigates these factors, analog studies (e.g., Antarctica), wearable health monitoring, onboard imaging like ultrasound, cognitive and mood assessments, and careful medical countermeasures planning to adapt to long-duration deep-space conditions.
Starman: Looking back on a life exploring the Solar System
Q: How did you transition from science to co-creating Cosmos and collaborating with Arthur C. Clarke?
The guest explains the genesis of Cosmos, the collaboration with Carl Sagan, and how their early planning sessions evolved into a groundbreaking TV series that helped popularize space science.

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 This Podcast

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

Featuring engaging discussions with scientists, engineers, advocates, and astronauts, this production shines a spotlight on the exploration of our Solar System and beyond. Listeners can expect to explore various astrophysical topics, including the potential for life on other planets, budgetary implications for NASA's missions, and the latest advancements in space technology. This podcast is unique for its blend of scientific rigor and relatable storytelling, making sophisticated subjects accessible and enjoyable for listeners of all backgrounds. With a commitment to generating interest and excitement about space science, it serves as an inspiring platform for those curious about the universe.

The podcast consistently promotes a sense of co... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this 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 this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this 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 this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

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

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 20 years ago and published 1328 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 this 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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Stephen C. Smith
2. Lisa Carnell
3. Alain Marie
4. Steve Platts
5. Caleb Scharf
6. Dorte Baer
7. Benjamin Haddad
8. Thomas Dimitrov

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days