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The Michael Shermer Show

Michael Shermer
Artificial Intelligence
Consciousness
Nuclear Weapons
Evolution
Mental Health
Philosophy
Free Speech
UFO Sightings
Neuroscience
Truth
Cold War
Climate Change
Morality
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Natural Selection
Psychology
Happiness
Ufos
Social Media
Language

The Michael Shermer Show is a series of long-form conversations between Dr. Michael Shermer and leading scientists, philosophers, historians, scholars, writers and thinkers about the most important issues of our time.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes633Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScience

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Artwork for The Michael Shermer Show

Latest Episodes

Michael Shermer speaks with Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger shortly after Sanger was permanently banned from editing the site he helped create.

Sanger tells the story of Wikipedia's founding, how its ideal of open collaboration hardened into a sy... more

YouTube

Michael Shermer speaks with political scientist Marlene Laruelle about Russia's turbulent transformation during the 1990s and the rise of Vladimir Putin, why the Kremlin so badly misjudged Ukraine, China's rise and its ambitions regarding Taiwan, why... more

YouTube

How do men and women differ? Where do the differences come from? And how do they shape modern life?

Drawing on a century of research and a billion years of evolution, Steve Stewart-Williams explains why many sex differences appear despite socializa... more

YouTube

Michael Shermer makes the case that the U.S. Founding Fathers were not only steeped in Enlightenment values on which the Declaration of Independence was based, but they were also scientists searching to discover moral truths and values on which to ba... 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.

Recent Guests

Marlene Laruelle
Historian, sociologist, and political scientist at LUISS University
LUISS University
Episode: How to Think Clearly About a World in Crisis: Iran, China, Russia, and the West's Economic Pessimism
Steve Stewart-Williams
Professor of Psychology at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia
University of Nottingham, Malaysia
Episode: The Truth About Sex Differences (Steve Stewart-Williams)
Lawrence Douglas
Grosfeld Professor of Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought at Amherst College
Amherst College
Episode: When History Goes on Trial: Demjanjuk, Eichmann, and Justice After Atrocity
Massimo Pigliucci
Author, philosopher, and evolutionary biologist; KD. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York
Episode: Massimo Pigliucci on Doubt, Moral Courage, and Living Without Illusions
Cathy Young
Writer at The Bullwork; columnist and editor with a long career in journalism
The Bullwork, Newsday, Reason Magazine
Episode: Cathy Young: Why Free Societies Need Free Speech
Eddie McNamara
Author of Zodiactually; former 9-11 first responder, police officer, Penthouse columnist
Author of Zodiactually; Brooklyn Hardcore
Episode: The Zodiac Killer Wasn't Real
Carissa Veliz
Associate Professor at the Institute for Ethics in AI, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: How Algorithms Use Your Data to Control You
Batya Ungar-Sargon
Orthodox Jew, Maga Left; columnist for The Free Press; host of Batya on NewsNation
The Free Press; NewsNation
Episode: Batya Ungar-Sargon: Why the Left Sees Jews Differently Now
Jon Mills
Canadian Philosopher and Psychoanalyst; author/editor of Woke, a Critique of Social Justice Ideology
University of Essex; Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University; New School for Existential Psychoanalysis
Episode: From Equality to Equity: How Social Justice Becomes Ideology

Host

Michael Shermer
Host of long-form conversations with leading scientists, philosophers, historians, and writers. Known for skeptical inquiry and rigorous discussion; founder of The Skeptic Society and editor of Skeptic Magazine.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Great show and…

    Michael! Thank you for your brilliant insights and open-minded curiosity. I love your show. Please, for the love of God, turn down the volume of the ads on your podcast. They ring out seemingly two times louder than your voice audio.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MuthaFcuak
    United Statesa month ago
  • Silent war in IR

    Please talk about our future in Iran. Because “now” doesn’t have any meaning. I am a young person who doesn’t know what should l do about my job ,my education and my life. We have many subjects to study and learn about and let the world to improve anthropology problems. Think about “people” problems in Iran in these days.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    nazaninash
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Great intelligent podcast

    Real thinking regarding fundamental human nature discussion, I love it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A leaf in the fall
    United States3 months ago
  • Always compelling and entertaining.

    A truly favorite listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zed_55
    United States4 months ago
  • Disappointing

    I’ve been following Michael shermer for years, ever since I discovered his skepticism 101 course, which was nothing short of transformational for me. I’ve read several of his books and been a listener of the podcast for a long time. He’s recently been sliding further and further to the right, which is fine since I like to hear different points of view. My problem is that he will have guests on who say blatantly false things and use wildly illogical reasoning and he never calls them on any of it.... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Savage 6300
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality intellectual debates; occasionally polarizing on hot topics.
Guest diversity and challenging questions are frequently praised.
Thoughtful, rigorous discussions with interesting guests and ideas.
Some listeners value the depth and skepticism; others feel bias and partisanship.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Think Clearly About a World in Crisis: Iran, China, Russia, and the West's Economic Pessimism
Q: Can democracy be exported and implemented through external intervention?
Exporting democracy through troops or top-down interventions has often failed or backfired; true democratization tends to be endogenous, arising from within a society rather than imposed from outside.
How to Think Clearly About a World in Crisis: Iran, China, Russia, and the West's Economic Pessimism
Q: What is liberalism, and how do you distinguish it from liberal democratic frameworks?
Liberalism can be understood as an abstract political philosophy focused on individual rights, while liberal democracy refers to the practical, lived system that protects those rights within institutions; the gap between philosophy and practice varies across countries.
Why We Cling to Certainty, Conspiracies, and Bad Predictions
Q: What do you mean by uncertainty?
Uncertainty is a sense of doubt that prevents progress; it can paralyze people, but reframing it as a precursor to learning allows us to move forward and adapt.
Not Monsters. Not Madmen. Just Men.
Q: What else is going to ask you about some of this stuff?
The discussion moves toward comparisons with Milgram and Zimbardo, the psychology of followers versus leaders, and how that informs our understanding of obedience, ethics, and how societies resist autocracy.
Not Monsters. Not Madmen. Just Men.
Q: Go over those points again?
The first point is to reinforce critical thinking in education to help assess credible sources; the second is to make voting easier for qualified voters to cast ballots; the third is a controversial idea that political candidates undergo psychiatric examinations, which the guest argues is not a simple disqualification.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Michael Shermer Show

What is The Michael Shermer Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form conversations that explore science, philosophy, history, and culture through skeptical inquiry and rigorous questioning. Episodes typically feature deep dives with leading thinkers on topics like free speech, cosmology, cognitive health, religion, leadership, and social dynamics, often balancing empirical evidence with thoughtful critique. Highlights include nuanced debates on technology, society, and humanity's future, plus historically informed analyses that connect ideas across disciplines. The show tends to attract listeners who value analytical rigor, intellectual curiosity, and constructive dialogue, even when topics are controversial or polarizing. A notable strength is the ability to host diverse, high-caliber guests and t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Michael Shermer Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Michael Shermer Show:

1. The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss
2. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
3. Into the Impossible With Brian Keating
4. Making Sense with Sam Harris
5. Quillette Podcast

How many episodes of The Michael Shermer Show are there?

The Michael Shermer Show launched 8 years ago and published 633 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 The Michael Shermer Show?

Recent guests on The Michael Shermer Show include:

1. Marlene Laruelle
2. Steve Stewart-Williams
3. Lawrence Douglas
4. Massimo Pigliucci
5. Cathy Young
6. Eddie McNamara
7. Carissa Veliz
8. Batya Ungar-Sargon

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