StarTalk is a podcast on science, comedy, and popular culture hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice, with various other comic and celebrity co-hosts and frequent guests from the worlds of science and entertainment.[1] Past co-hosts have included Colin Jost, Lynne Koplitz, Leighann Lord, Eugene Mirman, John Oliver, and Kristen Schaal.[2] Guests have included astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actor Morgan Freeman, George Takei, comedian Joan Rivers, Arianna Huffington, YouTuber Sam Denby, Richard Dawkins and writer Mary Roach. StarTalk has a segment called Cosmic Queries, in which listeners send in questions about the universe to be answered on the show.
| StarTalk Radio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Popular science, comedy |
| Cast and voices | |
| Hosted by | Neil deGrasse Tyson |
| Music | |
| Theme music composed by | Roy Harter |
| Production | |
| Production | Curved Light Productions |
| Publication | |
| No. of seasons | 17 (as of May 2026[update]) |
| No. of episodes | 1096 (as of 1 May 2026[update]) |
| Original release | June 1, 2009 |
| Related | |
| Adaptations | StarTalk (American talk show) |
| Website | startalkradio |
In May 2014, Rolling Stone ranked StarTalk at number 13 on its list of "The 20 Best Comedy Podcasts Right Now".[3]
On February 29, 2016, it was announced that there would be a spinoff podcast, StarTalk All-Stars, whose rotating hosts will be former StarTalk guests. In addition, the regular StarTalk comedy co-hosts will appear.[4]
Starting on February 1, 2017, a second spinoff, Playing with Science, was launched to discuss the science of sports. It is hosted by Gary O'Reilly and frequent StarTalk co-host Chuck Nice.[5]
StarTalk is partially funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.[6]
As a homage to Jack Horkheimer, an astronomer who hosted the weekly television show Star Gazers on PBS, Tyson frequently ends his podcast with Horkheimer's trademark sign-off "Keep looking up!".[7]
Television series
editIn January 2015, the Washington Post reported that a late-night talk show called Star Talk, hosted by Tyson, would air on the National Geographic Channel starting in April 2015.[8] On July 29, 2015, it was announced that the show was renewed for a second season.[9]
As of February 4, 2016, audio recordings of all twenty TV episodes have subsequently aired as podcast episodes.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "About Us". StarTalk Radio Show with Neil deGrasse Tyson. Curved Light Productions.
- ↑ "StarTalk Radio Show by Neil deGrasse Tyson".
- ↑ "Listen Up: The 20 Best Comedy Podcasts Right Now". Rolling Stone. May 8, 2014.
- ↑ BREAKING NEWS: StarTalk Radio Announces New Spin-Off Show: StarTalk All-Stars
- ↑ Welcome to Playing with Science
- ↑ "Project Details: StarTalk Radio Show". Informal Science. National Science Foundation.
- ↑ Tyson, Neil deGrasse (11 June 2015). "Reddit AMA 11 June 2015". Reddit. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ↑ Berenson, Tessa (January 8, 2015). "Neil deGrasse Tyson Is Getting His Own Talk Show". Time. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ↑ Breaking News: StarTalk TV Season 2 Premiere Announcement