The 20 Best Science Podcasts Get Ready to Binge Listen!

Get ready to expand your mind and learn some fun, new facts! Luckily there are many amazing, free podcasts that will teach you all kinds of cool things in a seriously entertaining way. They’re the perfect companion for your commute, workout, or for when you just want to kick back and relax.



So get excited! Here are the 20 best science podcasts on the internet, chosen by the GeekWrapped science staff.

Star Talk Radio @StarTalkRadio Hosted by: Neil deGrasse Tyson @neiltyson and friends Overview:

StarTalk is an incredibly entertaining science and space podcast devoted to all things in the universe. It’s hosted by science popularizer and renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey fame). StarTalk Radio bridges the intersection between pop culture and science with clarity, humor, and passion. Hilarity ensues as Tyson is joined each week by a large variety of comedian co-hosts, celebrities, and other special guests. Link: www.startalkradio.net Fun recent episode to try: NASA’s Vision for Space with Charles Bolden

The Infinite Monkey Cage @themonkeycage Hosted by: Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox and Robin Ince Overview:

A witty, irreverent look at the world around us through two scientists’ eyes. The show isn’t afraid to tackle the big concepts of science, but a fantastic selection of guests and some great humor make it infinitely entertaining. Featured guests include a mixture of scientists, comedians, and innovators. Link: BBC Fun recent episode to try: Serendipity

60-Second Science Hosted by: Scientific American Team Overview:

Being up-to-date on the newest developments in science doesn’t have to take long. Tune in every weekday for quick reports and insighful commentaries on the world of science — it’ll just take a minute. Link: www.scientificamerican.com Fun recent episode to try: Is Lying a Good Strategy?

Science Friday @scifri Hosted by: Ira Flatow @iraflatow Overview:

Lovingly called SciFri by its fans, this clever show has been around since 1991. It regularaly produces award winning science coverage and some of the most original content online, covering everything from octopus camouflage to cooking on Mars. Hosted by veteran NPR science correspondent Ira Flatow, the podcast is brain fun, for curious people. A science classic. Link: www.sciencefriday.com Fun recent episode to try: Lollipops Meet Lasers in This Lab

Talk Nerdy @CaraSantaMaria Hosted by: Cara Santa Maria Overview:

A new but highly recommended podcast featuring the talented Cara Santa Maria. Cara has dedicated her life to improving science literacy by communicating scientific principles across media platforms. She is also the newest member of the wonderful Skeptics’ Guide to The Universe podcast featured below. Talk Nerdy combines clever interviews with a inspiring curiosity for everything science. One of our favorites! Link: www.carasantamaria.com Fun recent episode to try: Special Guest Dr. Steven Novella

Science for the People Hosted by: Desiree Schell @desireeschell and Rachelle Saunders @afterthree Overview:

Science for the People is a syndicated radio show and podcast based in Edmonton, Alberta, that broadcasts weekly across North America. They explore the connections between science, popular culture, history, and public policy, to help you understand the evidence and arguments behind what’s in the news, in your life, and on the shelves. In a nutshell, they explore a plethora of fascinating topics, using curiosity and critical analysis. Link: www.scienceforthepeople.ca Fun recent episode to try: Biohacking

The Guardian Science Weekly Hosted by: Ian Sample @iansample & The Guardian Science Team Overview:

An incredible mix of breaking science news and deep analysis, this podcast is science journalism at its best. The Guardian’s science team bring you the current topics and fascinating interviews from the worlds of science and technology — all wrapped into a magazine style format. Link: www.theguardian.com Fun recent episode to try: The Potential of Quantum Computing

The Skeptics’ Guide to The Universe @SkepticsGuide Hosted by: Dr. Steven Novella @stevennovella Overview:

A weekly science podcast discussing news in the world of science and pseudoscience. This entertaining and all-around amazing show is dedicated to promoting critical thinking, reason, and the public understanding of science. A science podcast leader on iTunes! Skeptical? Check it out for yourself! Link: www.theskepticsguide.org Fun recent episode to try: Jurassic World

Radiolab @radiolab Hosted by: Jad Abumrad @JadAbumrad and Robert Krulwich @rkrulwich Overview:

Radiolab is a podcast and radio show that cleverly weaves together stories and science into sound- and music-rich documentaries. It covers all kinds of interesting topics, guided by its central theme of scientific curiosity. The podcasts unique concept reinvents audio storytelling. It’s where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience. Highly recommended. Link: www.radiolab.org Fun recent episode to try: The Trust Engineers

Stuff You Should Know @SYSKPodcast Hosted by: Charles Bryant and Josh Clark @josh_um_clark Overview:

How do landfills work? How do oceans work? How do mosquitos work? Your curious mind has so many questions, but where can you find entertaining and enlightening answers? Join Josh and Chuck as they explore the science behind the Stuff You Should Know about everything from genes to the Galapagos. SYSK Covers lots of interesting facts about all the common things around us and how they work. Link: www.stuffyoushouldknow.com Fun recent episode to try: How Junk Food Works

The Story Collider @story_collider Hosted by: Changing scientists as hosts Overview:

Science surrounds us. Even when we don’t notice it, science touches almost every part of our lives. The amazing folks at the Story Collider believe that everyone has a story about science — a story about how science made a difference, affected them, or changed them on a personal and emotional level. They find those stories and share them in their wonderful podcasts. Each week they bring together scientists, comedians, librarians, and other disreputable types to tell true, personal stories of times when, for good or ill, science happened. New episodes every week, often live from New York and Boston. Link: www.storycollider.org Fun recent episode to try: What Would Stephen Hawking Do

Quirks & Quarks @CBCQuirks Hosted by: Bob McDonald Overview:

Quirks & Quarks is the award-winning radio science program of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. For the past 39 years, Quirks & Quarks has brought its listeners to the cutting edge of scientific inquiry. Every week, the program presents the people behind the latest discoveries in the physical and natural sciences — from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the largest objects in the sky and everything in between. The program also examines the political, social, environmental and ethical implications of new developments in science and technology. A program for people fascinated by the world around them and often a great space podcast as well. Link: www.cbc.ca Fun recent episode to try: Chimps Take Cooking Lessons (Note: Link plays audio immediately)

Professor Blastoff @blastoffpodcast Hosted by: Tig Notaro @TigFansUnite, Kyle Dunnigan @kyledunnigan, and David Huntsberger @huntsbergerjunk Overview:

This show isn’t exactly … science. It’s more science adjacent. Essentially, it’s three comedians who love science having a weekly conversation with a special guest about topics ranging from science to philosophy to the metaphysical. It’s wild, funny, interesting — and definitely worth a listen. Link: www.stitcher.com Fun recent episode to try: Loneliness

Stuff to Blow Your Mind @BLOWtheMIND Hosted by: Robert Lamb, Joe McCormick and Christian Sager Overview:

A powerful podcast that examines neurological quandaries, cosmic mysteries, evolutionary marvels and the technological underpinnings of our transhuman future. The perfect podcasts to get your friends and family member excited about science. Prepare for a trip down the rabbit hole! Link: www.stufftoblowyourmind.com Fun recent episode to try: Grizzly Bears from Outer Space

Nature Podcast @NaturePodcast Hosted by: Kerri Smith @minikerri and Adam Levy Overview:

A weekly, high-quality show produced by nature.com, highlighting content from the week’s edition of the magazine including interviews with the people behind the science, and in-depth commentary and analysis from journalists covering science around the world. Link: www.nature.com Fun recent episode to try: Lizard Sex Change

Physics Central @PhysicsCentral Hosted by: American Physical Society Team Overview:

Served up fresh weekly, the Physics Central podcast connects you with the most engaging research and personalities in the world of physics. It makes physics easy to understand with range of interesting and accessible features that open up the subject to anyone with a bit of curiosity. Lots of fun. Link: www.physicscentral.com Fun recent episode to try: The Physics Behind Thor’s Hammer