Rephonic
Artwork for Science Friday
Climate Change
East Palestine
National Transportation Safety Board
Spacex
Colorectal Cancer
Lithium Sulfur Batteries
Odie
Social Media
Shark Research
Astronomy
Gut Health
Artificial Intelligence
Environmental Defense Fund
Methane Leaks
FADEC
Science Communication
Michael Mann
Camembert
Brie
Generative AI

Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1262Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScienceLife Sciences

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Science Friday

Latest Episodes

On social media, the vagus nerve often gets billed as the gateway to nervous system nirvana: It’s your ticket to better rest, relaxation, and health if you “stimulate” it correctly. Where did this idea come from, and what does the research say?

Host... more

In recent months, AI music has moved from novelty act into the realm of listenable music. For the first time, AI-generated songs from AI-generated artists are on the Billboard top 100 charts, and more musicians are coming out saying they use AI in th... more

March Madness is almost upon us, which means basketball arenas across the country will be filled with the thunderous roar of fans and the surprisingly loud squeaks of basketball shoes. At his first NBA game, physicist Adel Djellouli was surprised by ... more

Skepticism around public health policy, experts and institutions has left some researchers asking basic questions about their role and relationship with the public. Can public health be done better?

Epidemiologist Erica Walker has a perspective on j... more

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.

Radiolab
RadiolabWNYC Studios
Hidden Brain
Hidden BrainHidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Recent Guests

Adel Djellouli
Experimental physicist at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: The Surprising Science Of Why Sneakers Squeak
Erica Walker
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Brown University; runs the Community Noise Lab
Brown University
Episode: Can ‘Suggestion-Box Science’ Make Public Health More Useful?
Nick Chater
Professor of Behavioral Science at Warwick University and co-author of It's On You
University of Warwick
Episode: Fixing Society's Toughest Problems? ‘It’s On You’
Brian May
Astronomer and guitarist of Queen
Queen + astrophysicist
Episode: 3D Images Of Galaxies Will Rock You (Ft. Queen)
Derek Ward-Thompson
Astrophysicist at the University of Lancashire, England
University of Lancashire
Episode: 3D Images Of Galaxies Will Rock You (Ft. Queen)
Alexandra Witze
Correspondent for the journal Nature
Nature
Episode: Slow Release Of Federal Science Funds Holds Up Research
Dr. Anath Shahar
Vice President for Research at the Carnegie Institution for Science
Carnegie Institution for Science
Episode: Slow Release Of Federal Science Funds Holds Up Research
Frances Arnold
Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology and winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
California Institute of Technology
Episode: The Evolution Of An Enzyme Engineer Who Changed Chemistry
Jake Brasch
Playwright based in Brooklyn, author of The Reservoir
The Ensemble Studio Theater
Episode: The Art And Science Of Staving Off Cognitive Decline

Hosts

Flora Lichtman
Host of Science Friday, known for engaging storytelling and inquisitive nature.
Ira Flatow
Host of Science Friday, recognized for long-time contributions to science journalism.
Kathleen Davis
Producer and co-host contributing to content development and episode preparation.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 7.4k ratings
  • One of the best and widest-ranging podcasts of its class

    I’ve been listening to this show since its earliest days on NPR (when it aired on Friday). I can offer only superlatives. It’s always covered all sorts of science, and finds guests with the ability to speak to listeners across a broad experiential base. There are so many good scientists of any age and gender and it’s always fun to sit in the room with them. Even things that don’t interest me actually turn out to be interesting. Ira Flatow has presented this show from the beginning, but he’s r... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michael Carnes
    United States19 days ago
  • Thank you for making Fridays so informative.

    The hosts always ask smart questions and the guests are always knowledgeable leaders in their field of science.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Murphy and Roger
    United States20 days ago
  • Dig This!

    There's a lot to learn from this show, served in bite size amounts. Good guests, good questions! Some longer pieces, maybe, with more depth, would be nice, but as it is this show covers lots of ground in an engaging way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    donna ree row
    United States21 days ago
  • SCI 1/2 science

    I’m sorry that people may hear these. Just remember the reason it’s called sci and not science Friday is because they filter real science through a

    Heavy bias you listen to anyone and you’ll know what side weighs more.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ScottyPNoregerts
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great science show!

    Def my favorite science podcast that I’ve been able to find

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MarkJack71
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

There are mixed sentiments regarding the frequency of certain conversational habits by hosts that some find repetitive.
Overall, the hosts are frequently commended for their inquisitive interviewing style and genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter.
Listeners praise the podcast for its wide-ranging scientific topics and engaging conversations with knowledgeable guests.
Many appreciate the balance between depth and accessibility, allowing complex subjects to be easily understood.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fixing Society's Toughest Problems? ‘It’s On You’
Q: What role can behavioral science play in reframing policy to land with people without triggering resistance to taxes like a carbon tax?
Chater argues for reframing carbon taxes as redistributive tools and designing communications that emphasize fair sharing of costs and benefits, while also enabling gradual industry reformulation (e.g., reducing sugar and salt in foods) to avoid consumer detriment and maintain business viability.
Fixing Society's Toughest Problems? ‘It’s On You’
Q: Tell us a little bit of that story about your involvement with climate policy and the Nudges.
Nick Chater explains his dual role on the UK's Behavioral Insights Team, later reflecting that nudges, while useful, didn't suffice for climate policy because large systemic changes—like decarbonizing the grid—were the real levers. He emphasizes shifting focus from individual behavior to the underlying rules and structures of the economy and governance.
3D Images Of Galaxies Will Rock You (Ft. Queen)
Q: What is the value of combining art and science in this project?
Marrying artistic interpretation with scientific rigor helps make complex concepts accessible and engaging to a broad audience, sparking curiosity and combating misinformation.
3D Images Of Galaxies Will Rock You (Ft. Queen)
Q: How did the stereoscopic approach to galaxies come about?
The authors describe a pioneering process that reconstructs 3-D structures from existing spatial data of galaxies, enabling truly three-dimensional representations for the first time in a book format.
Into the Woods, From Chestnut Genetics To Tiny Forests
Q: What is the Miyawaki Method and how does it contribute to mini-forests?
The Miyawaki Method focuses on regrowing native forests by planting entire climax communities, ensuring ecological functionality and community engagement.

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 Science Friday

What is Science Friday about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides listeners with a wide-ranging exploration of various scientific topics, from astronomy to microbiology, offering engaging discussions that are both informative and entertaining. With a consistent focus on evidence-based science, it showcases expert guests who share their insights and research on pressing issues like climate change, health sciences, and emerging technologies. Unique perspectives are often brought to the forefront, enabling discussions on contemporary topics such as the impact of genetic research on understanding diseases or the implications of current environmental policies.

Where can I find podcast stats for Science Friday?

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

How many listeners does Science Friday get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Science Friday, 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 Science Friday?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Science Friday, 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 Science Friday have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Science Friday 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 Science Friday?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Science Friday:

1. Radiolab
2. Short Wave
3. Hidden Brain
4. Fresh Air
5. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

How many episodes of Science Friday are there?

Science Friday launched 21 years ago and published 1262 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 Science Friday?

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 Science Friday?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Science Friday 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 Science Friday?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Science Friday. 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 Science Friday?

Recent guests on Science Friday include:

1. Adel Djellouli
2. Erica Walker
3. Nick Chater
4. Brian May
5. Derek Ward-Thompson
6. Alexandra Witze
7. Dr. Anath Shahar
8. Frances Arnold

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