About This Episode

Worlds collide when Neil deGrasse Tyson puts on his StarTalk Radio hosting hat to interview astrophysicist Dr. Steven Soter, co-writer of both the new COSMOS series on FOX hosted by Neil and the original PBS series hosted by Carl Sagan. Along with co-host Chuck Nice, they talk about the making of the show, from the challenges of creating for broadcast TV (commercials!) to how the show’s presentation of evolution and the age of the universe generated a controversial response from creationists and others. You’ll find out how they choose which science to include, why there’s so much history in the series, and why they use animation to illustrate it. Steven also shares stories about working with Carl and Ann Druyan, the surprising derivation of the phrase “billions and billions” and what Carl originally wanted the show’s final episode to be about rather than the now classic episode on nuclear war and the survival of humanity.

NOTE: All-Access subscribers can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: A COSMOS Conversation with Steven Soter.