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The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Dr. Steven Novella
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
NASA
Covid-19
Critical Thinking
Misinformation
Black Holes
Kansas
Vaccines
Pseudoscience
CRISPR
Gravitational Waves
Science
Italy
Alzheimer's Disease
Evolution
Nightmares
Conspiracy Theories
Vaccination
Autism

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly science podcast discussing the latest science news, critical thinking, bad science, conspiracies and controversies. -The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: Your escape to reality - Produced by SGU Productions, LLC: www.theskepticsguide.org

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1087Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Latest Episodes

Back to Basics: Pareidolia and Apophenia; News Items: Smart Watch Health Metric Errors, Space Debris Hitting the Moon, Evolvable AI, Merging Quazars, Longevity Escape Velocity; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Stem Cell Hype; Science or ... more

What's the Word: Cryptomnesia; News Items: Belief in Unproven Health Claims, Regenerating Limbs, Suicide Hotline Seems to Work, Why is Rubber Strong; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Mythos Follow Up, Americans' Knowledge of Mexico; Scie... more

News Items: Artemis Recap, AI Biology Research, AI Security Disruption, Superconductivity Breakthrough, Red Light Therapy; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Mach, Missing and Dead Scientists; Science or Fiction

Dumbest Thing of the Week: Waffle House Teleportation; News Items: Artemis II Heat Shield, Fairness in the Brain, Genetic Engineering Humans, Self-Healing Composite; Who's That Noisy; Science or Fiction

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Christina Cook
Artemis II Astronaut
NASA
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1084 - Apr 18 2026
Kristian Andersen
Professor of Infectious Disease Genomics, Director of Infectious Disease Genomics at Scripps Research Translational Institute
Scripps Research Translational Institute
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1080 - Mar 21 2026
Parrish Knight
Computer desktop support technician
NIH, NASA, The Mint
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1075 - Feb 14 2026
George Hrab
Musician and frequent special guest on the podcast.
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1070 - Jan 10 2026
Ian Callanan
Regular guest on the Year End Wrap-Up show
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1068 - Dec 27 2025
Andrea Jones-Roy
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1064 - Nov 29 2025
Lee Mosbacher
Long-time listener and patron of the show
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1056 - Oct 4 2025
Justin Daab
Former brand strategist, now a fellow focusing on innovation and generative AI.
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1041 - Jun 21 2025
Emily Schoerning
Founder and CEO of American Resiliency, a nonprofit focused on climate education.
American Resiliency
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1039 - Jun 7 2025

Hosts

Steven Novella
Host of the podcast and a neurologist who emphasizes critical thinking and skepticism in science.
Jay Novella
Co-host who brings a humorous and engaging perspective to scientific discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 11.3k ratings
  • Medically biased

    I’m sorry, but after listening to you all for years, it seems you are in support of the current medical system. I know they use helicopters to usher patients around for big dollars. If you guys aren’t going to directly confront that, yet talk about human regeneration? I’m sorry, but we don’t deserve regeneration. Axolotl give their limbs to fish, nature gave them regeneration. Current medicine is literally farming asthmatic patients for secure overtime. How does that equate into nature ch... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    AlexakaXela
    United States8 days ago
  • All - Time Fave

    Always find myself coming back to this show, it was my first podcast and will always be one of my favourites

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Grey889
    Canada22 days ago
  • Still among the best podcasts out there, though slipping

    When the hosts are on-subject, five stars. Sometimes when they’re off-subject, also five stars. But in the last few years I find myself hitting the skip-forward button more often.

    This tends to happen more often in two parts of the show. First, the intro, which sometimes veers into looong off-topic chatting. Sometimes a lot of fun, but sometimes insufferable. (If I hear another extended travelogue of Steve’s most recent lavish vacation, I will just delete the episode on the spot….bleh.) Second... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    That guy in the hat
    United Statesa month ago
  • What happened!

    Disappointing Decline
I’ve been listening to SGU for nearly 20 years, and unfortunately it’s clear the show is no longer what it used to be. What was once engaging, curious, and focused on science has slowly turned into something political, preachy, and frankly boring. The tone now feels heavily biased overtly left‑leaning and it often prioritizes ideology over genuine scientific exploration. Instead of thought‑provoking discussions, listeners get predictable talking points delivered with little... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Zbigniew Rusin
    United Statesa month ago
  • Been listening for 13 years

    This is my all time favourite podcast. Everyone needs critical thinking skills, and science rocks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Werewerekokako
    New Zealand3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the podcast for its commitment to promoting critical thinking and skepticism towards pseudoscience and misinformation.
Overall, it is considered one of the top science podcasts available, providing valuable insights and entertainment.
Many praise the hosts for their entertaining delivery and depth of knowledge on scientific topics.
There are mixed feelings about the perceived increasing political slant of discussions in recent episodes, with some long-term fans expressing dissatisfaction.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#20
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#34
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#16
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#142
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#175
France/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Skeptics Guide #1083 - Apr 11 2026
Q: What makes the Artemis II heat shield discussion important for mission safety?
The heat shield behavior was previously observed with some char loss and gas pockets; NASA says Artemis II will use a safer re-entry profile and that the anomaly does not compromise the core safety function, but Inspector General warnings suggest continued validation is needed.
The Skeptics Guide #1080 - Mar 21 2026
Q: What do we know about the origins of SARS-CoV-2?
The consensus is that the virus emerged from a zoonotic spillover, most strongly associated with the Huanan Seafood Market, though the precise upstream pathways remain uncertain and likely involve multiple factors in wildlife trade and human-animal interfaces.
The Skeptics Guide #1077 - Feb 28 2026
Q: What are the four hypotheses about COVID-19 origins discussed by SAGO?
They are spillover from animals, introduction of the virus via overseas animal markets, a true zoonotic spillover event near the market or in the region, and a lab-related hypothesis whether accidental or engineered, with the scientific consensus leaning toward zoonotic spillover despite ongoing debate.
The Skeptics Guide #1076 - Feb 21 2026
Q: What are some reasons that may be, for example, the AMA, which opposes direct to consumer advertising?
Getting people anxious and allowing less educated consumers to make decisions about medications.
The Skeptics Guide #1076 - Feb 21 2026
Q: Do you think that drug advertising is a good thing or a bad thing?
It has benefits, such as increasing awareness and treatment compliance, but can also lead to overprescribing and misinformation.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

What is The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast engages its audience by exploring a wide range of current science topics, critical thinking issues, and societal controversies. Regular discussions cover recent scientific advancements, pseudoscience, and how personal experiences intersect with broader scientific narratives. Notably, the program blends humor and personal anecdotes with rigorous scientific inquiry, appealing to those who appreciate a thoughtful examination of both familiar and complex issues. The hosts encourage listeners to think critically and challenge misinformation, maintaining a commitment to skepticism as a method for understanding the world. This unique combination of entertainment and education is designed to both inform and amuse, making it an appealin... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe:

1. Political Reality
2. Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria
3. Skeptoid
4. Skeptics with a K
5. The Scathing Atheist

How many episodes of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe are there?

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe launched 20 years ago and published 1087 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 Skeptics' Guide to the Universe?

Recent guests on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe include:

1. Christina Cook
2. Kristian Andersen
3. Parrish Knight
4. George Hrab
5. Ian Callanan
6. Andrea Jones-Roy
7. Lee Mosbacher
8. Justin Daab

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