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Unobtainium Podcast

Adam Sigel & Dr. Amy Mainzer
Time Travel
Lucid Dreaming
Space Odyssey (2001: A Space Odyssey)
Science
Science Fiction
Dreaming
Inception
Memory
Blade Runner
Hollywood
Flux Capacitor
Delorean
Visual Cortex
Stanford University
NASA

The Unobtainium Podcast is hosted by Adam Sigel, a Hollywood writer-producer, and Dr. Amy Mainzer, an astrophysicist. Together, they explore the science in science fiction. Each episode unpacks the Unobtainium behind movies—what’s real, what’s cinematic, and why filmmakers bend reality. This is for the nerds, sci-fi fans, film junkies, and anyone curious about the science behind the story.

Hosted... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes9Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Science FictionFictionScience

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Artwork for Unobtainium Podcast

Latest Episodes

What makes the deep-space horror classic film Alien (1979) one of the scariest science fiction movies ever made? Amy and Adam explore science, psychology, and the enduring power of Ridley Scott’s masterpiece. In space, no one can hear you scream—but ... more

Episode Description

Is Godzilla Minus One just a wonderful homage to the classic monster movies or is it the ultimate warning about nuclear energy? 🦖⚛️

In this episode of Unobtainium, Adam and Amy break down the real science, historical context,... more

Episode Description

Blade Runner is famous for its flying cars, neon cyberpunk skylines, and bioengineered replicants—but its most enduring questions are about what it means to be human. In this episode of the Unobtainium podcast, hosts Adam and Amy... more

In this episode of Unobtainium, Amy, Adam, and UCLA planetary scientist Dave Jewitt (discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) explore Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey—a film that remains one of the most scientifically realistic depictions of... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Dr. Hiro Ono
Robotics expert
Georgia Institute of Technology
Episode: Can Robots Feel? Roboticist Hiro Ono joins us to explore consciousness, mortality, AI Robots, and what it means to be human as we discuss Ridley Scott’s thought-provoking sci-fi film Blade Runner.
Dave Jewitt
Professor of planetary science, UCLA; discoverer of the Kuiper Belt; expert on asteroids and comets
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Episode: Alien Intelligence, Physics of Space, a Homicidal AI, and More with UCLA planetary scientist (and discoverer of the Kuiper Belt) Dave Jewitt on Kubrick’s Masterpiece
Betül Kaçar
Professor of astrobiology
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Episode: Is It Actually Possible to Bring Back Dinosaurs? Unearthing Ancient DNA, CRISPR, Chaos Theory in Jurassic Park with Astrobiologist Betül Kaçar
David Eagleman
Neuroscientist, bestselling author and Stanford professor
Stanford University
Episode: Lucid Dreaming Is Real, but Is Shared Dreaming Also Possible? David Eagleman Discusses Neuroscience of Dreams, Memory, Consciousness in Christopher Nolan's Inception

Hosts

Amy Mainzer
Host of Unobtainium Podcast, astrophysicist and professor of planetary science at UCLA
Adam Sigel
Host of Unobtainium Podcast, writer and producer in film and TV

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 4 ratings
  • Charming and informative

    If you’ve ever yelled at the screen for bad science, this is for you. The hosts are hilarious and smart, and you learn something while laughing. A great new listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    laurkoz
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Great balance of film insight and scientific accuracy.
Engaging and witty hosts deliver strong science with humor.
Thoughtful guests elevate the discussion beyond surface.
Clear explanations make complex topics accessible to non-experts.
Motivates curiosity about how science applies to storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#57
Australia/Fiction/Science Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#246
Australia/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#29
Sweden/Fiction/Science Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#120
Austria/Fiction/Science Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#160
Sweden/Fiction

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lucid Dreaming Is Real, but Is Shared Dreaming Also Possible? David Eagleman Discusses Neuroscience of Dreams, Memory, Consciousness in Christopher Nolan's Inception
Q: In the movie, shared dreaming is portrayed—could that ever be possible?
Not in the near term; due to unique brain wiring, shared dreaming is unlikely, though future tech might allow some level of cross-brain alignment, but it would still yield individualized experiences.
Lucid Dreaming Is Real, but Is Shared Dreaming Also Possible? David Eagleman Discusses Neuroscience of Dreams, Memory, Consciousness in Christopher Nolan's Inception
Q: So, what is a dream?
A dream is computed by the brain as it creates a storyline from random visual cortex activity, stitched together by memory and emotion into a narrative we experience as a dream.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Unobtainium Podcast

What is Unobtainium Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show blends rigorous science with science-fiction cinema, using film as a doorway to real-world science and ethical questions. Episodes typically feature a scientist or expert alongside the hosts to unpack what's real, what's cinematic, and how storytelling bends science to serve narrative. The discussions span robotics, space physics, genetics, time travel, and memory, with a playful, accessible tone that appeals to nerds, students, and professionals who enjoy thoughtful curiosity about how movies reflect and reshape scientific ideas. A standout quality is the way complex concepts are broken down through film-specific examples, guest perspectives, and relatable anecdotes, making it a compelling listen for both sci-fi fans and curious ... more

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1. StarTalk Radio
2. The Daily
3. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
4. The Rest Is History

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Unobtainium Podcast launched 2 months ago and published 9 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 Unobtainium Podcast?

Recent guests on Unobtainium Podcast include:

1. Dr. Hiro Ono
2. Dave Jewitt
3. Betül Kaçar
4. David Eagleman

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