Rephonic
Artwork for The Michael Shermer Show

The Michael Shermer Show

Michael Shermer
Artificial Intelligence
Consciousness
Mental Health
Nuclear Weapons
Evolution
Philosophy
Free Speech
UFO Sightings
Neuroscience
Truth
Cold War
Climate Change
Social Media
Morality
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Public Health
Natural Selection
Covid-19
Psychology
Happiness

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 weeklyEpisodes610Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Michael Shermer Show

Latest Episodes

What kind of person helps build a regime like the Third Reich? A monster? A madman? Or something far more unsettling?

Michael Shermer sits down with author Jack El-Hai to talk about the true story behind Nuremberg. At the center is Dr. Douglas Kell... more

What actually makes a life feel meaningful? In this conversation, Daniel Coyle joins Michael Shermer to talk about why fulfillment rarely comes from optimization, status, or trying to "win" at everything. Instead, it grows out of connection, shared e... more

YouTube

What actually causes cognitive decline, and how much of it can we do something about?

In this episode, Michael talks with neurologist and neuroscientist Dr. Majid Fotuhi about dementia, Alzheimer's, memory loss, and the everyday habits that shape b... more

YouTube

Why does religion still dominate American politics when so many other wealthy democracies secularized long ago?

In this episode, Michael Shermer talks with historian Matthew Avery Sutton about the long relationship between Christianity and American... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

Daniel Coyle
New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code; advisor to high-performing teams
Author, Culture Code; advisor to various organizations
Episode: Flourishing in the Age of Algorithms
Majid Fotuhi
Neuroscientist and author of The Invincible Brain
Johns Hopkins University Mind-Brain Institute; George Washington University; Harvard Medical School
Episode: What Really Prevents Cognitive Decline
Matthew Avery Sutton
Claudius O and Mary Johnson Distinguished Professor and Department Chair in History, Washington State University
Washington State University
Episode: How Christianity Made America—and How America Remade Christianity
Lee Cronin
Professor of Chemistry at University of Glasgow, developer of assembly theory
University of Glasgow
Episode: What Turns Sand Into Cells? How Nonliving Matter Becomes Alive
Jennifer Fraser
Author of The Bullied Brain and The Gaslit Brain
The Bullied Brain / Skeptic Magazine contributor
Episode: The Psychology of Gaslighting, Bullying, Cults, and Coercion
Bart Ehrman
Leading authority on the New Testament and the history of early Christianity
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Episode: Did Jesus Really Change Western Morality? Bart Ehrman
Lionel Shriver
Critically acclaimed American novelist and journalist
Author of We Need to Talk About Kevin
Episode: Lionel Shriver on Immigration, Religion, and the Decline of the West
Zion Lights
Science communicator and activist; founder of Emergency Reactor; former Extinction Rebellion spokesperson
Emergency Reactor; Extinction Rebellion
Episode: The Biggest Blind Spot of the Climate Movement: Nuclear Energy
Jeremy Jones
Co-founder of Rhetor, AI-powered intelligence and strategy company for campaigns, advocacy orgs, and government departments
Rhetor
Episode: DOGE, Government Fraud, and AI Audits

Host

Michael Shermer
Host with a background in skepticism, science communication, and promoting rational inquiry. Known for engaging conversations with various thought leaders and scholars on contemporary issues.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • Always compelling and entertaining.

    A truly favorite listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zed_55
    United States12 days 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 States23 days ago
  • Do books, not blurt out anti-woke BS. So sad.

    Michael used to do book reviews with the author. No longer. He just spouts anti-woke insanity. He’s true colors come out, and they’re very hateful.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    DrM1ke
    United Statesa month ago
  • Shermer fell through the Anti-woke Pipeline

    Shermer’s show has become a case study in how the anti-woke pipeline works. He started as a scientific skeptic doing genuinely valuable work against pseudoscience. But “skepticism” as an identity is parasitic on whatever it’s skeptical of, and once the culture war became the primary target, the whole apparatus started selecting for guests who confirm a particular grievance rather than guests who actually know things. The libertarian-to-right pipeline has its own logic. Shermer was always liberta... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Mousetrap Subscriber
    United Statesa month ago
  • The host hives free rein to all sorts of right wing commentators, without displaying any scepticism whatsoever. Very disappointing.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    mpr196
    a month ago

Listeners Say

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

The episodes are generally well-received for their depth and complexity, appealing to intellectually curious audiences.
Listeners appreciate the thought-provoking and intelligent discussions that challenge conventional viewpoints.
There is a divide in opinions regarding the host's political biases, with some critics feeling it leans too far right.
The variety of guests brings valuable insights, but some listeners wish for a broader representation of perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Turns Sand Into Cells? How Nonliving Matter Becomes Alive
Q: So Dr. Cronin, what is the core idea behind assembly theory and how does it help distinguish life from non-life?
Assembly theory proposes that life is characterized by high molecular complexity and a high assembly index, meaning molecules are built through a long, low-entropy sequence of steps. This complexity, reflected in a measurable assembly index, serves as a robust signature that differentiates life-bearing chemistry from random non-living chemistry. It provides a testable framework to detect life and understand how chemistry transitions into biology.
What Really Prevents Cognitive Decline
Q: How early should you intervene for best results?
Earlier is better. The patient must maintain daily functioning and address modifiable factors early; once significant memory loss or inability to recognize people occurs, reversal becomes unlikely, but lifestyle improvements can still slow decline and improve quality of life.
What Really Prevents Cognitive Decline
Q: What about lifestyle changes and the five pillars of brain health?
The five pillars—exercise, sleep, diet, meditation, and brain training—together produce meaningful improvements. Exercise boosts mitochondria and hippocampal neuron growth, diet matters (Mediterranean pattern), sleep quality affects cognitive function, meditation reduces stress and repetitive negative thoughts, and challenging brain activities support cognitive reserve. Implementing all five yields the best outcomes.
What Really Prevents Cognitive Decline
Q: What is dementia, Alzheimer's, all this stuff, and why have people been misinterpreting this?
Dementia is an umbrella term comprising many causes of cognitive decline; Alzheimer's is a common subtype, but not the only form, and many people can age with some cognitive decline yet not be demented. The key is functional impairment and daily life impact, not just plaques and tangles. Treatment focuses on lifestyle factors and overall brain health to improve functioning.
Why the Same Childhood Doesn't Affect Everyone the Same Way
Q: How do you redefine nature and nurture in light of epigenetics and environment ?
He emphasizes a three-way integration of evolution, genetics, and environmental factors, arguing that a modern developmental synthesis is necessary to move beyond simplistic nature-versus-nurture debates.

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 The Michael Shermer Show

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

Conversations center around engaging discussions with prominent scientists, philosophers, and thought leaders, exploring significant issues ranging from skepticism, human behavior, and the dynamics of belief to topics like celebrity culture and the importance of truth. Each episode typically interweaves personal anecdotes with empirical research to offer listeners diverse perspectives on the complex relationship between society, science, and philosophy. Uniquely, episodes also tackle contemporary debates on morality, identity, and personal responsibility, making it a platform for critical thinking and open discourse.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Michael Shermer Show?

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

How many listeners does The Michael Shermer Show get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Michael Shermer Show, 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 The Michael Shermer Show?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Michael Shermer Show, 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 The Michael Shermer Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Michael Shermer Show 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 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 610 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 The Michael Shermer Show?

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 The Michael Shermer Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Michael Shermer Show 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 The Michael Shermer Show?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Michael Shermer Show. 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 The Michael Shermer Show?

Recent guests on The Michael Shermer Show include:

1. Daniel Coyle
2. Majid Fotuhi
3. Matthew Avery Sutton
4. Lee Cronin
5. Jennifer Fraser
6. Bart Ehrman
7. Lionel Shriver
8. Zion Lights

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