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The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Dr. Steven Novella
Climate Change
Covid-19
RSV
Influenza
Thanksgiving
NASA
Generative AI
Sickle Cell Disease
Artificial Intelligence
CRISPR
Vaccination
King Charles III
Dr. Michael Dixon
Royal Medical Household
Pseudoscience
Alternative Medicine
Free Will
Pew Research Center
Misinformation
3D Printing

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1058Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Latest Episodes

Interview with David Kyle Johnson; Quickie with Steve: Liver Xenograft; News Items: Nobel Prizes 2025 for Medicine, Physics and Chemistry, Long COVID Discovery; Who's That Noisy; Science or Fiction

Quickie with Bob: Galaxy Wave; News Items: Redrawing the Human Family Tree, Fig Wasps, ALS May Be Autoimmune, Complex Chemistry on Enceladus, Genius Act; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Kea Intelligence; Science or Fiction

What's the Word: Autism; News Items: New NASA Mission Control, Element l120, Scalable Quantum Computer, Using AI Increases Lying, Scams and Fraud; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Hydrogen as a Propellent; Name That Logical Fallacy; Scie... more

News Items: Conspiracy Physics, Cancer Misinformation, Improved Nuclear Thermal Propulsion, Oldest Mummies, Not The Screwworms; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Ethics in Research; Name That Logical Fallacy; Science or Fiction

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
George Robb
Guest rogue
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1038 - May 31 2025
Melanie Trecek-King
Associate professor of biology at Massasoa Community College and activist skeptic
Thinking Is Power
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1034 - May 3 2025
Michael Marshall
Podcaster involved in discussions about skepticism and critical thinking
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1028 - Mar 22 2025
Cecil Cicirello
Podcaster and guest discussing skepticism and media analysis
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1028 - Mar 22 2025
Dave Farina
YouTube educator known as Professor Dave, focusing on scientific explanations and debunking misinformation
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1027 - Mar 15 2025
Adam Russell
Bassist for the band Story of the Year and host of the podcast Thank the Maker
Story of the Year
Episode: The Skeptics Guide #1025 - Mar 1 2025

Host

Stephen Novella
Host of a scientific podcast engaging in discussions on a wide array of science-related topics, often merging humor with critical analysis.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 11.2k ratings
  • Terrible

    Podcast Addict
    1
    hhhh
    18 days ago
  • One of my top 5 for over a decade.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Kyllo
    25 days ago
  • THEY HAVE THE MOST DELICIOUS BRAINS ON THE PLANET! BRAINSSSS BRAINSSSS TWELVE THIRTEEN FOURTEEN FIFTEEN

    Audible
    5
    justin schaffold
    United Statesa month ago
  • AYO

    Elio(a movie)has a documentary with Carl Sagan in and it’s about aliens and it’s for kids

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cool guy666!!!???
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Done with this one

    What used to be a skeptical review of scientific news is slowly starting to feel like neoliberal sanewashing of non-scientific topics, such as AI chatbots. Audience criticism is met with “trust us, bro, we aren’t biased.” The only skepticism supported on these controversial new fad “technologies” is that which supports the status quo. The latest episode featuring a full-on rant defending the capitalist benefits a certain fascist billionare has contributed to a certain company is mind-blowing. Bu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    mmmjjjmaria
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Critical feedback mentions a shift towards broader cultural and political discussions that might detract from the core scientific focus.
Loved for its ability to make complex scientific issues accessible and enjoyable, fostering a supportive community for critical thinking.
Some listeners express concerns about perceived biases on political matters or specific health topics, indicating a desire for more neutrality.
Highly rated for its engaging hosts and thought-provoking topics, blending humor with educational content.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#26
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#21
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#50
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#19
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#73
Italy/Science
Apple Podcasts
#225
Germany/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Skeptics Guide #1056 - Oct 4 2025
Q: What do you think are the implications of the Genius Act on venture capital?
It has the potential to allow more people access to venture capital investments through retirement plans, but it also carries risks due to the early-stage nature of the investments.
The Skeptics Guide #1056 - Oct 4 2025
Q: You mentioned ALS earlier; what do you think about the recent paper claiming is it an autoimmune disease?
The evidence presents that inflammation in ALS may not be the cause but rather a response to dying motor neurons, though this new study claims otherwise.
The Skeptics Guide #1039 - Jun 7 2025
Q: How do you deal with misinformation being pushed by the fossil fuel industry?
I focus my energy on getting actionable information out there rather than fighting misinformation.
The Skeptics Guide #1034 - May 3 2025
Q: How do you feel your science background prepared you for all of the content that is necessary to understand in order to fight misinformation in pseudoscience?
I feel like my science background prepared me for a little niche within science, but not necessarily to help understand the misinformation in the science.
The Skeptics Guide #1030 - Apr 5 2025
Q: What do you think about RFK Jr. and his approach to vaccines?
RFK Jr. is seen as a conspiracy theorist who undermines vaccine efforts and could significantly impact public health.

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?

Engaging listeners with a comedic take on current science issues, recent events, and societal trends, multiple hosts unpack complex topics ranging from innovative technologies to critical analyses of public health claims. Frequent discussions include critical thinking, medical controversies, and scientific misunderstandings, often utilizing humor to navigate serious subjects, which helps to underscore the importance of skepticism and rational discourse. The show is distinct for its broad appeal, making advanced science digestible and relevant to both casual listeners and those more well-versed in the scientific community, while encouraging a healthy questioning of information.

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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. Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria
2. Skeptics with a K
3. Skeptoid
4. The Scathing Atheist
5. Cognitive Dissonance

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

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe launched 20 years ago and published 1058 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. Lee Mosbacher
2. Justin Daab
3. Emily Schoerning
4. George Robb
5. Melanie Trecek-King
6. Michael Marshall
7. Cecil Cicirello
8. Dave Farina

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