Science Fictions
Tom Chivers and Stuart RitchieA weekly podcast about the latest scientific controversies, with Tom Chivers and Stuart Ritchie sciencefictionspod.substack.com
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 140 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ScienceTechnology | |||
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Latest Episodes
We are sorry we’ve been missing so many episodes recently! Stuart’s been busy and Tom’s been… also busy. We’re busy. Hopefully back to normal service next week.
In the meantime, here’s an old paid episode, unpaywalled. Apologies.
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Johann Hari is... more
We made it: triple figures! And as luck would have it, Nature just simultaneously published four major meta-science papers that are right up our street. Aw. Thanks, Nature. You shouldn’t have.
How screwed is social/behavioural science? We read all f... more
Here’s another one for the annals of “entire scientific field becomes totally misguided for decades”. How could it have been possible that so many scientists fell for the idea of candidate genes—that there were individual gene variants that explained... more
For a while in the early-to-mid 2010s, the most prominent psychology research in the world was on power posing. Harvard’s Amy Cuddy did a TED talk that reached tens of millions; her exhortation to “fake it til you make it” struck a chord and produced... more
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- Possibly the best science podcast
I really like how they go wherever the data takes them. They try to figure out what the data really show, how we know what we know, and what we can do about it.
Apple Podcasts5Matthhjjj
United Statesa year ago - Interesting topics but cooky
A lot of simplistic and superficial conclusions
Apple Podcasts3aasmundUnited Statesa year ago - Misleading In Many Ways
I was disappointed about this one. With the title “The Studies Show” i figured the primary topic of discussion would be “studies”. Boy was i wrong. Tom and Stuart went on and on about United States political stuff. It over took 10 minutes before they had mentioned anything studies related. One of the host, i don’t remember who, was it not good at speaking in a podcast environment and it was extremely distracting. So much of the episode was dedicated to making fun of people and generalizing whole... more
Apple Podcasts1PaulJ93United Statesa year ago - Can’t hear you, which is sad, because your show is great.
I love your show. It’s great. I also sometimes listen as I work out or in my car. Please, please, please record your show at a higher level. Even with the volume turned all the way up, I can just about hear you above moderate ambient noise.
Thank you.
Apple Podcasts5BrianbuchUnited Statesa year ago the best show on studies with the worst cover art in the history of podcasting.
Podchaser5a year agosketchn98
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #162 |  Australia/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #173 |  Ukraine/Science |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Science Fictions
What is Science Fictions about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show features two science writers who critically examine contemporary scientific claims, with a strong emphasis on methodology, evidence quality, and how research is communicated to the public. Episodes span topics from replication and robustness in psychology and economics to genetics, neuroscience, and public-health debates, often featuring deep dives into landmark studies, data sharing, preregistration, and the politics of scientific publishing. The tone blends rigorous skepticism with accessible banter, frequently challenging sensational narratives and highlighting how conclusions can be shaped by study design, analysis choices, and media representation. A standout throughline is applying strict scrutiny to what science actually sh... more
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What are the audience demographics for Science Fictions?
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How many subscribers and views does Science Fictions have?
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Which podcasts are similar to Science Fictions?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Science Fictions:
1. More or Less
2. In Our Time
3. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast
4. The Rest Is History
5. Reflector
How many episodes of Science Fictions are there?
Science Fictions launched 3 years ago and published 140 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 Science Fictions?
Recent guests on Science Fictions include:
1. Sholto David
2. Hannah Ritchie
3. Dr. Andrew Bladon
4. Andrew Pontzen
5. Pedro Gomes
6. Jesse Singal
7. Dorianne Coleman
8. Keith Humphries
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.