17 Outstanding Podcasts About Science That Will Make You Think

Last updated on March 15th, 2024

If you’re a nerd like me, you’ve probably always thought that podcasts about science were the best thing since sliced bread. They’re like radio shows, except they’re on demand and have more facts.

But even if you don’t have as much time to spend listening to podcasts as I do, there are still plenty of excellent science shows out there for everyone.

Whether your interests lie in zoology or botany or geology or physics or chemistry—or any other discipline in between—there’s bound to be at least one interesting show about it on this list. (Also: sorry for including so many medicine-oriented ones. Sorry, not sorry. I think we need it.)

Sit back, relax and enjoy some fascinating facts from these 17 outstanding science pods!

Radiolab

In their words: “Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.”

The Gold Standard of Documentary Podcast-Making

If you’ve ever thought about science as the most boring subject in school—or if you’re someone who loves science but finds it hard to explain why it’s so fascinating to others—Radiolab’s podcast will be a great way to learn more about how scientists work and why they do what they do. It can be a little confusing at times (if you’re not a scientist), but this podcast will give you insight into some of today’s biggest questions.

The Life Scientific

If you’re into science, medicine, and the arts, then this podcast is for you. Hosted by Michael Moseley and produced by the BBC (and originally broadcast on Radio 4). It explores all aspects of life as we know it.

The BBC – The Sterling Standard in the Story Telling Podcast World

Each week, Moseley interviews top scientists and doctors about their latest discoveries in science and medicine, covering everything from human evolution to cancer treatments. They also feature special episodes where guests share personal stories about how they became interested in science or discovered their passion for a particular area of study.

Stuff You Should Know

If you’re looking for a podcast that’s both educational and funny, Stuff You Should Know is the perfect fit. The hosts—Josh Clark and Charles W. Chuck Bryant—explore everything from the history of world religions to the science behind breaking up at work.

Getting Inside Ones Head is Our Other Favorite Topic

The show is divided into three different segments: first comes “What Is?” where Josh and Chuck explain topics like how to build a hovercraft or what happens if you eat too much salt; then we get into “How Do I?” which tackles questions ranging from how to clear your Internet browser history on an iPhone to what makes soda fizz; finally comes our favorite part: “Who Made That?” It’s basically just a list of interesting stories about people who’ve made important contributions to society over the years (and sometimes, it involves someone breaking the law).

One thing that makes this podcast stand out from others is its format—instead of having one host reading off facts while music plays in the background, they record their conversations with each other live so listeners can hear them interact with each other. This makes it feel more like listening in on a casual conversation between friends than sitting through a lecture by some boring professor who has no sense of humor!

Invisibilia

Invisibilia is a podcast about the invisible forces that control human behavior. The show, hosted by two NPR favorites, Lulu Miller and Hanna Rosin, brings you stories about the invisible forces that control human behavior — things like ideas, beliefs, assumptions, and emotions. You know, psychology. Why we’re all messed up. If you’re a fan of Hidden Brain, try Invisibilia.

Science Podcasting for the Greater Good

You know how you have that friend who is conspiracy prone because it just “makes sense.” Well, an unintended consequence of Invisibilia is that we get to see how Oz is making the magic happen. Just because it makes sense doesn’t mean it’s a conspiracy. Sometimes it’s science.

Invisibilia was created by Kaitlin Prest of WNYC Studios, along with Lulu Miller and Alix Spiegel of This American Life (another great podcast). In 2014, it won a Peabody Award for its “ability to transport listeners to new worlds and make them care about what happens next.”

Science Friday

NPR podcasts have a reputation for being wonky, but this one is a great place to start if you’re looking for an accessible science show that still covers a lot of ground.

NPR… Cranking Out Great Science Podcasts Since… Ever?

The host, Ira Flatow, is an award-winning journalist who regularly reports on science news and discoveries. The show is broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR) stations across the US and Canada, where it reaches more than 2 million listeners each week—and beyond! It’s also available online via iTunes or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

Topics covered include space exploration, physics, biology, chemistry, technology, medicine, health and fitness, engineering, robotics, environmental issues, food production, to climate change.

Ologies with Alie Ward

A word of advice for anyone who wants to make a podcast about their favorite subject: don’t do it if you don’t love your topic. Alie’s Ologies Podcast is proof that passion can overcome any obstacle and make even the most difficult subjects accessible and fun. Did you know mountain goats aren’t goats?

Ward has a background in biology and chemistry, but her real interest lies in “the science of the everyday.”

The Ology of life. Is that Theology? No. Wait. Is it?

She’s been writing about science since she was young, starting with her blog Misadventures of a City Girl (which later became an Amazon best-selling book). Most recently, she has written for Popular Mechanics, Wired Magazine, and National Geographic Society, among others. In 2016 she published “Ologies,” which went on to become an international bestseller.

Science Vs

Science Vs is a podcast that explores the evidence behind popular science topics. The hosts are Wendy Zukerman, Julia Belluz, and Christie Taylor. They won the Peabody Award for their show in 2017, which means they’ve been recognized by the most prestigious of awards committees for their excellent work on this podcast.

In 2022 it remains one of the more interesting science podcasts you’ll find.

The show is produced by Gimlet Media, a business that creates podcasts on nearly every subject imaginable — from education to politics to entertainment — so you can be sure there’s something for everyone here, no matter what your interests are.

Science Magazine Podcast

Science Magazine Podcast is a weekly show produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The podcast is “hosted” by AAAS CEO Rush Holt, who interviews scientists and other experts on a wide range of topics. Though the bulk of the work is done by writers, editors, and even interns. So each show has a different vibe to it which keeps it fresh and made it one of the best science podcasts 2021 had to offer… that garbage year.

2022 has seen much of the same.

The podcast covers a variety of topics, including space exploration and planetary science to technology, public health, and biology. It also features interviews with Nobel Prize winners and other notable figures in science.

This Week in Virology (Virology)

If you’re looking for a weekly podcast that discusses the latest news in virology, then This Week in Virology (Virology) is the show for you. The show’s host is Dr. Vincent Racaniello and he covers all things related to viruses, including influenza, Ebola and Zika viruses!

Listen to Science

The production quality of this podcast is great—you can hear different voices talking about interesting topics each episode, as well as music that sets the mood for each topic being discussed. There are even videos from scientists explaining parts of their research or testing methods that they’ve developed. Scientists tempered by writer Alan Dove make this one of the best science podcasts for adults.

Like, hey, did you need good science podcasts about coronavirus to share with your uncle (you know, Uncle “what even are podcasts about science anyway) this Thanksgiving? Here you go.

This podcast also covers many different types of viruses like those mentioned above but also ones such as measles and mumps, so there’s something for everyone!

This Week in Parasitism (Parasitology)

This Week in Parasitism (Parasitology) is a weekly podcast about parasites. The show explores their biology and ecology as well as their impact on humans and other animals. So, once the virus (see above) is under control, science can figure out where it came from.

Recent episodes have included interviews with experts about dung beetles that can jump like fleas, parasitic wasps that lay eggs in cockroach brains, and tapeworms found in walrus stomachs.

The Story Collider

The podcast is a weekly show featuring stories about science, medicine, and life from all kinds of people. It’s a nonprofit organization dedicated to the art and science of storytelling. It uses the explainer podcast style to make it a contender for winner of funny science podcasts monthly.

Good Podcasts About Science are Relatable

On this podcast, you’ll hear stories about everything, from what it’s like finding out your uncle was part of Hitler’s inner circle to living with OCD or Tourette’s syndrome. You’ll learn what it was like for a woman who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the 1950s (and then again today), how an astronomer used math to help his sister understand her diagnosis after she survived cancer, and why one man decided not only to become an astronaut but also a poet—with both professions at once!

StarTalk Radio

Hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, this show is a weekly podcast that covers a range of topics. It also features interviews with scientists and celebrities as they discuss issues surrounding science, pop culture, and the intersection between the two.

He seems to feel right at home in the classroom or educating laymen like Joe Rogan. Neil deGrasse Tyson demonstrates over and over again why he’s such a quality, engaging messenger for astrophysics. But also science in general.

One of the Top Science Podcasts for a Reason

Astrophysicist, A minus list celebrity, and other titles, I’m sure. This is one of the “out of this world” scientific podcasts on the internet. Like Carl Sagan, deGrasse Tyson makes the literal infinite digestible. Nothing like those textbook science courses you may have hated in high school.

60-Second Science

60-Second Science is a weekly podcast that explains a new discovery in short, scripted discussions. A rotating cast of science journalists from Scientific American hosts delivers the show, which keeps it dynamic.

The show features questions like “Why do we need sponges?” and “How does plastic pollution affect animals?” These are answered by scientists from around the world who provide clear explanations of complicated topics without dumbing down their work or simplifying it too much for laypeople to understand—and all within one minute! If you’re looking for something quick but engaging that will change your perspective on how things work, this is definitely the podcast for you.

Stuff to Blow Your Mind

The name says it all. As a podcast created by the editors of Scientific American, this show is about mind-blowing science. The hosts discuss topics like “Why do we love horror movies?” and “What makes you you?” The episodes are short (usually about 20 minutes), but the information is always fascinating. With nearly 2,000 (yeah, you read that right) episodes, it remains one of the best science podcasts 2022 can offer up.

Stuff to Blow Your Mind is a podcast hosted by Robert Lamb and Christian Sager. It is a near-daily show about the brain, mind, and human behavior.

The hosts discuss science news items and interview guests on topics related to neuroscience, psychology, and the science of everyday life. They also delve into pop culture to see how science fiction has influenced society’s understanding of these fields.

Stuff to Blow Your Mind features interviews with scientists who are working in the field or are expert writers on their subject matter area—including Maria Konnikova, who spoke about her book Mastermind: How To Think Like Sherlock Holmes (2015), as well as Carl Zimmer who discussed his book Brain Cuttings: The Curmudgeonly Quest In Neuroscience To Understand Yourself (2016).

The Infinite Monkey Cage

This apish theorem has been a staple of pop culture since the turn of the millennium. In fact, it was first introduced to American audiences by none other than Stephen Colbert on his show The Colbert Report. As he explained in an episode from 2005:

“So you’re saying there’s a chance?”

Although Colbert was being facetious at the time (he’s not actually that much of a science buff), this quote inspired many people to take up this strange idea and run with it—to ask themselves if maybe there are things beyond human understanding that we could never explain, even with all our knowledge about the universe.

What makes popular science podcasts successful is relatability. That’s where Cox and Ince shine as hosts. They bring in comedians and make science communication accurate but irreverent. That’s what cool science podcasts do.

Quirks and Quarks

Quirks and Quarks is a weekly half-hour science program that has been on the air since 1972. It’s produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the national public broadcaster for Canada, and airs on CBC Radio One across the country.

In addition to its radio broadcasts, there are also podcasts for those who want to listen on their own time in any location with an internet connection! The show also airs as part of American Public Media’s popular podcast feed PRI’s The World, which means you can hear it if you have a favorite listening app like Stitcher or Podcast Addict.

It’s an amazing show covering anything and everything quantum. Quantum entanglement, you bet. Quantum computers? Yes. This isn’t even a podcast about science. It’s a podcast about existence itself.

Give this show a listen.

Brain Science with Ginger Campbell, MD: Neuroscience for Everyone

Making a subject like neuroscience accessible to the masses isn’t easy. As a philosophy student, I am fascinated with neuroscience. It’s the math behind what I just postulate on. Dr. Campbell gets the job done.

Ape language studies, embodied cognition, and how the brain interacts with the mind are just some of the topics discussed. It’s like little shots of science vs a whole treatise. I love this one.

What Are the Best Podcasts About Science?

The best Podcasts about science are useful, explain, and excite.

As you can see from the podcasts listed above, science is a process, not so much a subject. We get to explore the brain (my topic of choice), the cosmos, and the sub-atomic.

Any podcast that attacks the subject matter with rigor can rightly be said to be a podcast about science.

What Are Good Science Podcasts?

Good science podcasts make the complex relatable.

Journalists who listen to science put together some of the best podcasts about science. They make science podcasting relatable, understandable, and entertaining. That is exactly what makes this genre so exciting.

There are so many more cool science pods to discover… Get it? What Are Some Other Pods?

It’s true! There are science pods for people of all ages and interests. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

The Royal Society podcast features talks by cutting-edge scientists, but it also touches on topics like the history of science and how it affects our lives today.

The 60 Second Adventures in Science is a great podcast for kids with short episodes that focus on a single topic each time.

If you’re looking for something more adult-oriented, check out the BBC Radio 2 Science In Action program. It covers pretty much everything from astronomy to zoology—and even includes interviews with top scientists from around the world!

Conclusion

So there you have it: our list of what we think are the best science podcasts. If you haven’t listened to any of them yet, now is your chance! We know they will help you stay informed and entertained while learning more about the world around us. And if you already love one or two of these shows but want more, just check out our other articles on awesome educational podcasts—there are so many great ones out there!