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Serious Inquiries Only

seriouspod.com
Covid-19
Climate Change
Elon Musk
Mental Health
Neuroscience
Synesthesia
Donald Trump
Neuralink
Feminism
Capitalism
Philosophy
ADHD
Health and Human Services
Dinosaurs
Simulation Theory
Charlie Kirk
Chatbots
Autism
Atheism
Voting Rights

Join Thomas for some critical thinking on questions of science, philosophy, skepticism and politics. These serious topics are discussed with some serious guests, but in an entertaining and engaging way! This is not your typical interview podcast; it's a friendly dialogue, conducted thoughtfully and with plenty of humor. It's Serious Inquiries Only; but like, not boring or anything.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes833Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Serious Inquiries Only

Latest Episodes

Thomas is joined by Dr. Eric Jaffe, biologist, dinosaur enthusiast, and high school biology teacher, for a conversation that starts with a deceptively simple question: what are biological definitions actually doing?

It turns out that biology is far... more

Thomas is joined by Dr. Jenessa Seymour to dig into the brain science behind a surprisingly strange phenomenon: why do astronauts who spent just nine days in space need weeks of physical therapy to walk normally again?

The answer turns out to invol... more

The history of disability rights is often treated as a modern story, but what if that framing misses centuries of earlier, more complicated history? This week, Thomas is joined by Professor Sari Altschuler, Associate Professor of English at Northeast... more

Continuing the discussion of the CNN Rape Academy article. It gets even worse. And also, how our information environment is ruined and getting ruineder.

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Recent Guests

Sari Altschuler
Professor, author of Before Disability: A History of American Citizenship
University of Maryland? (as discussed in episode)
Episode: SIO516: How a Botched 1840 Census "Proved" Freedom Made Black Americans Disabled, with Sari Altschuler
Doug Mills
New York Times photographer featured for eyewitness imagery and authoritative stills
The New York Times
Episode: SIO513: Debunking Butler Conspiracy Theories in Descending Order by Scope
Nick Shirley
Mormon out of Utah who creates YouTube videos; presented a testimony about fraud
YouTube creator / commentator
Episode: SIO506: Minnesota Fraud and the Death of Information
Teyana Gibson Brown
Whistleblower who testified about ICE actions and Fourth Amendment violations
ICE (Institute of Law Enforcement) witness
Episode: SIO505: The ICE Whistleblower Hearing Was Astonishing. It Needs More Attention.
Ryan Schwank
Former ICE instructor and whistleblower who described training to violate the Constitution
ICE Academy, Glencoe, Georgia
Episode: SIO505: The ICE Whistleblower Hearing Was Astonishing. It Needs More Attention.
Nick Fish
President of American Atheists
American Atheists
Episode: SIO499: Trump Is Weaponizing Government Against Political Enemies. Nick Fish, President of American Atheists, on How to Be Prepared
Dr. Alan Smerbeck
Professor of Psychology
Episode: SIO495: Can AI Chatbots Make You Delusional? A Psychologist Explains
Jenessa Seymour
Co-host, has ADHD
Episode: SIO493: Kids with ADHD/Autism Struggle with Mental Health. New Study Says Maybe It's the Stress of Being Different
Evan McDonnell
Nuclear engineer
Federal Government, Naval Nuclear Program
Episode: SIO487: How Close Is Iran Actually To Nuclear Weapons?

Hosts

Thomas Smith
Host of Serious Inquiries Only
Lydia Smith
Co-host on Serious Inquiries Only

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Variety of science, culture, and political topics. Down to earth and trustworthy.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Bryan
    2 months ago
  • Casino and debt consolidation and shitty counselling services ads mar great insightful discussions. Change your ad service.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Zerotan
    a year ago
  • If you care about reality, listen to this podcast!

    Thomas has always delivered sharp thoughtful analysis but his latest batch of episode since the election has been on fire! If you recognize what’s happening in our government as the slow motion disaster it is, this is the podcast you need in your ears. If you think everything’s fine… Well, enjoy the view from under that rock.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    loving the podcast
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love Thomas's take on science stuff.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Midwest Mom
    a year ago
  • Great show

    Thomas is awesome

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IcenineCC
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests bring credible expertise and clear explanations.
Engaging balance of science and policy with sharp humor.
Some listeners crave deeper focus or less politics, but overall quality is solid.
Thoughtful, data-driven discussions that challenge assumptions.
Advertising frequency can be distracting for some listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#244
South Africa/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

SIO516: How a Botched 1840 Census "Proved" Freedom Made Black Americans Disabled, with Sari Altschuler
Q: How do you see the relationship between disability and citizenship evolving across the 19th century?
The discussion highlights a pendulum between restrictive, coercive uses of disability to police eligibility for rights and a more utopian vision where diverse bodies could participate in a republic, with race and gender repeatedly influencing which versions of citizenship prevailed.
SIO516: How a Botched 1840 Census "Proved" Freedom Made Black Americans Disabled, with Sari Altschuler
Q: Why did the 1840 census produce such distorted numbers for Black deaf and disabled people?
She outlines a confluence of factors: early statistical practices, problematic census forms, and later tabulation issues, plus political manipulation by pro-slavery advocates who used the data to argue against Black citizenship, creating long-lasting misperceptions.
SIO516: How a Botched 1840 Census "Proved" Freedom Made Black Americans Disabled, with Sari Altschuler
Q: How much research went into this? Like, how long did it take to write this book?
Altschuler explains she has been seriously researching for about a decade, with a germinal essay published around 2008 and a longer project evolving since then, involving extensive archival work and engaging with debates about the social and legal meanings of disability across centuries.
SIO506: Minnesota Fraud and the Death of Information
Q: What is the scale of fraud in Minnesota according to the hearing?
The panel discusses various figures, notably a claimed $9 billion in false claims, with counterpoints that the actual figures may be different and that the numbers often get conflated with broader fraud narratives.
SIO505: The ICE Whistleblower Hearing Was Astonishing. It Needs More Attention.
Q: Was it legal for officers to enter the home without a warrant before the memo was issued?
No; the answer remained that entering without a judicial warrant was not legal even before the memo, and the memo did not change that fundamental requirement.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Serious Inquiries Only

What is Serious Inquiries Only about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Analytical, skeptical discourse that blends science, philosophy, and politics with thoughtful humor. Episodes frequently critique media framing, explore misinformation, and unpack complex policy and scientific topics through rigorous analysis and guest expertise. Noteworthy is the host's habit of challenging sensational narratives while inviting credible guests to illuminate contested issues for a discerning, motivated audience.

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Which podcasts are similar to Serious Inquiries Only?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Serious Inquiries Only:

1. Where There's Woke
2. Dear Old Dads
3. Opening Arguments
4. The Skepticrat
5. The Scathing Atheist

How many episodes of Serious Inquiries Only are there?

Serious Inquiries Only launched 12 years ago and published 833 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 Serious Inquiries Only?

Recent guests on Serious Inquiries Only include:

1. Sari Altschuler
2. Doug Mills
3. Nick Shirley
4. Teyana Gibson Brown
5. Ryan Schwank
6. Nick Fish
7. Dr. Alan Smerbeck
8. Jenessa Seymour

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