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The Michael Shermer Show

Michael Shermer
Public Health
Liberal Values
Mental Health
Healthcare Reform
Cancel Culture
Health Inequities
Individual Autonomy
Covid-19
Socio-Economic Factors
Vaccines
Free Speech
Personal Growth
Meaning Of Life
Diversity and Inclusion
Tax Incentives
Identity Politics
Luck
Philanthropy
Educational Practices
Imagination

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 weeklyEpisodes554Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScience

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Artwork for The Michael Shermer Show

Latest Episodes

Common knowledge is necessary for coordination, for making arbitrary but complementary choices like driving on the right, using paper currency, and coalescing behind a political leader or movement. It’s also necessary for social coordination. Humans ... more

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Jim Lampley’s story is a 50-year travelog of an unlikely career that catalogs the evolution of sports television—from his emergence as the first sideline reporter, through hosting and covering 14 Olympics, to working with all major sports networks.

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In this solo commentary, Michael Shermer reflects on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and places it in the larger context of political violence, the psychology of radicalization, the dangers of false beliefs, and the role of free speech in intellect... more

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Science writer Nicholas Wade explains how human nature continues to shape—and sometimes destabilize—modern civilization, and argues that ignoring the effects of human nature on politics is one of society’s greatest mistakes.

Drawing on anthropology... 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

Nicholas Wade
Legendary science writer and author
The New York Times
Episode: The Fate of Nations: Why Ignoring Human Nature Dooms Politics
Jean Twenge
Professor of psychology at San Diego State University and author of several works on generational issues.
Episode: How to Protect Children from Social Media and AI
Alan Stern
Planetary scientist, flown commercial astronaut, and aerospace consultant
Episode: The Future of Space Exploration Amid NASA Mission Shutdowns
Dr. Dean Spears
Economist, demographer, and associate professor at the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: Depopulation: The Silent Global Emergency
Rebecca Lemov
Historian of science at Harvard University and author.
Harvard University
Episode: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-Persuasion
Sarah McLaughlin
Senior Scholar of Global Expression at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression (FIRE), author focusing on free speech issues.
Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression (FIRE)
Episode: How Foreign Governments Influence U.S. Universities
Eric Heinze
Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary University in London and author of "Coming Clean, The Rise of Critical Theory and the Future of the Left"
Queen Mary University
Episode: Why the Left Needs Its Own Reckoning
Christian Smith
William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology and founding director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
Episode: Is Traditional Religion Doomed?
Martin Rees
Lord, Astronomer Royale, former president of the Royal Society, and respected cosmologist
University of Cambridge
Episode: Are We Alone? Martin Rees on Aliens, The Fermi Paradox & The Fate of Humanity

Host

Michael Shermer
Host of in-depth conversations with leading thinkers in science, philosophy, and cultural issues, fostering a platform for skeptical inquiry.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 2k ratings
  • Does not respect experts in humanistic fields

    Michael and the rest of the IDW figures he associates himself with often draw heavily on knowledge from the human sciences and vague humanistic truisms about literature and art that completely ignore the rigorous and highly expert scholarship of those with advanced degrees in fields such as English and Philosophy. Worse yet, Michael seems to actively REFRAIN from interviewing folks who are not disgruntled former humanities scholars to provide “perspectives” on cultural and aesthetic experience. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mousetrap Subscriber
    United States2 months ago
  • Sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought…

    Shermer’s persona fears much and understands little beyond the finite centre of his immediate experience. Seeking the validation of men above his station and loathe to face the bogeyman he constructs, Shermer cuts an antipathetic figure that towers in an echo chamber of astounding resonance. Taken as tragicomedy, the Michael Shermer show is satisfactory entertainment.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mousetrap Subscriber
    United States3 months ago
  • It’s hard to listen to your 2 Rep guests

    I had to bail out after 20 minutes because Phil Gramm and the other guy just trotted out old tired, republican talking points. As if being able to buy more cheap stuff in a shorter amount of time makes up for the lack of real wage growth in the past 50 years. I mean the minimum wage is still what, $7.50 an hour?

    Hearing them talk about how, hey, everyone’s driving a shiny car, nobody even knows the difference between an expensive car and a cheap one. Everyone’s living the good life, stop compl... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Andiobe
    United States4 months ago
  • The Best!

    One of the best, most original voices of intelligent and kind skepticism. Like an immensely more like able Sam Harris!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sooner443
    United States4 months ago
  • He's a bigot.

    Podchaser
    1
    Seyfert
    4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the intelligent discourse and unique perspectives offered by various experts.
Some critiques mention perceived biases from the host that may detract from balanced discussions.
The variety of topics keeps the content engaging and appealing to a diverse but intellectually-oriented audience.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Fate of Nations: Why Ignoring Human Nature Dooms Politics
Q: What's your evolutionary story? How did you get into all of this?
Nicholas Wade described his journey from studying Latin and Greek to choosing science, which led him into journalism and ultimately to writing about evolutionary theory.
Depopulation: The Silent Global Emergency
Q: What is the carrying capacity of Earth in terms of population?
No one knows the exact number, but stabilizing the population requires an average birth rate around 2.
Why Do Humans Speak?
Q: How do you think about the idea that mothers have to raise the children? Is there something biological or evolutionary about the nuclear family?
A family is a unit of selection because they're all related, but modern changes have isolated parents, making this structure less supportive than in the past.
Why Do Humans Speak?
Q: Would it be correct to say that the FuxP2 gene is necessary but not sufficient to explain language acquisition?
It's necessary for vocalization but not for comprehension; they could infer what the past tense of a verb is, but they couldn't do that.
Why Do Humans Speak?
Q: What is your theory of language for or against? Who has the other theories and what are they and how is yours different?
No one came up with a theory for why language came about; most theories focus on how it developed.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Michael Shermer Show

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

Engaging deeply with contemporary scientific, social, and philosophical issues, this series features conversations with esteemed experts across various disciplines. Topics explored range from the evolution of language and the implications of social media on mental health to polarized political environments and the future of space exploration. The series is likely to resonate with listeners who appreciate a blend of intellectual discourse and thought-provoking discussions that challenge mainstream narratives and delve into complex societal themes.

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How many episodes of The Michael Shermer Show are there?

The Michael Shermer Show launched 8 years ago and published 554 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. Nicholas Wade
2. Jean Twenge
3. Alan Stern
4. Dr. Dean Spears
5. Rebecca Lemov
6. Sarah McLaughlin
7. Eric Heinze
8. Christian Smith

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.

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