Best Michael Shermer Podcasts (2025)

1
Why i Care About the Existence of God | A Conversation with Michael Shermer 1:34:12

2h ago1:34:12

1:34:12

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard Dawkins joins Michael Shermer for a compelling conversation about Richard's latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead along with a wide array of topics including evolution, genetics, science, and the broader cultural forces that shape our understanding of truth.This episode was filmed at as part of …

1
Inside the CIA’s Mind Control Experiments 1:33:18

6h ago1:33:18

1:33:18

This is the inside story of the CIA’s secret mind control project, MKULTRA, using never-before-seen testimony from the perpetrators themselves. Sidney Gottlieb was the CIA’s most cunning chemist. As head of the infamous MKULTRA project, he oversaw an assortment of dangerous―even deadly―experiments. Among them: dosing unwitting strangers with mind-b…

1
Sixteen Candles | S2E8 1:30:54

13h ago1:30:54

1:30:54

Welcome back to Retromade! Today, we’re flashing back to 1984 to revisit Sixteen Candles—the film that launched a thousand crushes and immortalized teenage awkwardness in this John Hughes classic and the unforgettable pop culture landscape of ‘84. Returning to the show are two of my favorite time-traveling podcasters—Jamie and Milo from The 80s and…

1
Neanderthals and Us: A Complex Story of Coexistence and Hybridization 1:33:04

3d ago1:33:04

1:33:04

In this eye-opening episode, Michael Shermer chats with evolutionist Telmo Pievani about the surprising coexistence—and hybridization—of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. They discuss recent scientific discoveries, the evolving understanding of race and biology, and the crucial role of serendipity in advancing scientific knowledge. This episode offers…

1
Ken Drysdale and Karen Esperson: Suffer the Children 2:00:38

3d ago2:00:38

2:00:38

Canada’s children are not doing well. Ken Drysdale of the National Citizens’ Coalition delivers dire results from their latest hearings. And Universal Ostrich Farms continues to attract protestors, media and controversy. The owner, Karen Esperson, appears from the farm to update the story. Follow Trish on X @woodreporting Website: www.trishwoodpodc…

1
Is New Atheism Losing? | A Conversation with Matt Ridley 1:30:30

7d ago1:30:30

1:30:30

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard Dawkins joins Matt Ridley for an insightful conversation touching on evolution, genetics, science, and culture. Matt Ridley is a science writer and journalist whose work spans evolutionary biology, economics, and the role of innovation in human progress.Join Substack:https://richarddawkins.substack.…

1
ChatGPT Passed the Turing test, but… | A Conversation with Brian Keating 1:32:13

10d ago1:32:13

1:32:13

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard Dawkins joins Brian Keating for an insightful conversation touching on evolution, genetics, science, and culture. They explore Richard's latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead along with a wide array of topics including AI, the extended phenotype, evolution, the possibility of alien life followed…

1
AI, Trade Wars, Degrowth: What's Next for the Global Economy? 1:11:15

9d ago1:11:15

1:11:15

Amid rising concerns about AI, inequality, trade wars, and globalization, New Yorker staff writer and Pulitzer Prize finalist John Cassidy takes a bold approach: he tells the story of capitalism through its most influential critics. From the Luddites and early communists to the Wages for Housework movement and modern degrowth advocates, Cassidy’s g…

1
Will the Supreme Court Gender Case Victors Get The Apologies They Deserve? 6:23

7d ago6:23

6:23

This article was published by the Spectator on the 17th of April 2025, with the title “Will the Supreme Court gender case victors get the apologies they deserve?By Richard Dawkins

1
Is Modern Life Making Us Miserable? What’s Fueling the Mental Health Crisis & What Can Help? 1:23:23

12d ago1:23:23

1:23:23

What does your diet have to do with your mood? Is mercury in fish really dangerous? Psychiatrist Dr. Drew Ramsey joins Michael Shermer to discuss the science behind nutritional psychiatry and how food, sleep, exercise, and social habits influence brain health. They explore why mental health issues are rising—especially among teens—and what role par…

1
FIGHTING FOR THE FLOCK: GUEST KATIE PASITNEY 1:28:53

10d ago1:28:53

1:28:53

COVID-19 brought out the cruelty in bureaucrats, and now a 400-bird ostrich flock is in jeopardy from that same mindset. On a farm in BC, they are awaiting a kill order while their desperate owners fight for the lives of these birds that they love. An extraordinary interview with a farmer fighting for her flock. And why is our new prime minister li…

1
Beethoven | S2E7 1:21:58

12d ago1:21:58

1:21:58

Today we’re digging into the 1992 family comedy, Beethoven. Bet you never realized it was written by John Hughes, did ya? We’ll talk about the oddly dark plot(?) and its surprising box office success to unpack why this messy movie somehow became a staple of early ’90s kid culture. My guest today will sound very familiar if you listen to the Rocky s…

1
Free Speech Under Fire? From Campus Protests to Deportations 1:17:54

14d ago1:17:54

1:17:54

Jacob Mchangama, author of Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media, joins Michael to examine the evolving landscape of free expression amid rising political and cultural tensions. They discuss how far governments, universities, and tech platforms should go in regulating speech, and what’s at stake when they do. In this episode: Should …

1
I Sympathize with Trans People, but... | Richard Dawkins in Conversation with Colin Wright 1:33:30

18d ago1:33:30

1:33:30

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard Dawkins joins Colin Wright for an insightful conversation touching on evolution, gender, science, and culture - They explore Richard's latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead along with a wide array of topics including the nature of truth, the reliability of science, evolution, and the controversi…

1
Is It Possible to Change Your Entire Personality? 1:19:12

18d ago1:19:12

1:19:12

Is it really possible to change your entire personality in a year? An award-winning journalist experiments with her own personality to find out—and reveals the science behind lasting change. Research shows that you can alter your personality traits by behaving in ways that align with the kind of person you’d like to be—a process that can make you h…

1
Guest: MartyUpNorth 1:43:08

17d ago1:43:08

1:43:08

As Mark Carney and Donald Trump settle into their bromance, the truth about a dirty political campaign is seeping out. Carney voters who hate Trump were duped while the country was whipped into a mass hysteria event for nothing — except an assured Liberal victory. The social fabric is in tatters, and the Elbows Up crowd are exposed as gullible, low…

1
A Conversation with Nick Gillespie in Milwaukee | Richard Dawkins' Final Tour 1:33:00

23d ago1:33:00

1:33:00

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard Dawkins joins Nick Gillespie, for an insightful conversation touching on evolution, genetics, science, and culture. They explore Richard's latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead, along with his previous works such as The Selfish Gene. The discussion expands into science’s ongoing tensions with id…

1
The Trouble with Economic Data: Flawed Metrics, Flawed Decisions 54:13

24d ago54:13

54:13

The ways that statisticians and governments measure the economy were developed in the 1940s, when the urgent economic problems were entirely different from those of today. Diane Coyle argues that the framework underpinning today’s economic statistics is so outdated that it functions as a distorting lens, or even a set of blinkers. When policymakers…

1
Did Shutting Down Schools Help or Hurt? A COVID-19 Postmortem 55:45

25d ago55:45

55:45

David Zweig’s new book An Abundance of Caution (MIT Press) is an account of the decision-making process behind the extended closures of public schools during the pandemic. In fascinating and meticulously reported detail, Zweig shows how some of the most trusted members of society—from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists to eminent health officials—r…

1
Indy Journos Gone Wild 1:36:33

24d ago1:36:33

1:36:33

From the campaign trail, three indies who've seen it all and are winding down after disrupting legacy media’s stranglehold on the democratic process. Alternatively frightening and hilarious, compelling stories you won’t hear on your TV. Video version with photos is available on Substack. Follow Trish on X @woodreporting Website: www.trishwoodpodcas…

1
Dennis the Menace | S2E6 1:24:00

26d ago1:24:00

1:24:00

Today, we go back to 1993 to revisit Dennis the Menace, the classic comic strip troublemaker who comes to life with nonstop chaos. I’m thrilled to introduce you to new guest, Amy Lewis of the Pop Culture Retrospective podcast, which she started 5 years ago as a way of dealing with the grief that came from tragically losing her sister. She lives in …

1
What’s Holding You Back? Scott Barry Kaufman on Resilience in the Age of Fragility 1:42:17

27d ago1:42:17

1:42:17

It’s tempting to see ourselves as damaged or powerless—defined by past traumas, overwhelming emotions, and daily struggles. But is that really the most helpful way to understand ourselves? Does seeing ourselves as victims lead to growth? Psychologist and author Scott Barry Kaufman joins us to examine how popular narratives around sensitivity, self-…

1
Why We Follow Orders: The Neuroscience of Compliance and Control 1:31:49

1M ago1:31:49

1:31:49

Why do ordinary people carry out extraordinary harm when simply told to do so? From the Holocaust to the genocides in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Cambodia, history shows how obedience to authority can lead to unimaginable acts. But what’s happening in the brain when we follow orders—even ones that conflict with our morals? In this episode, we speak with ne…

1
COMING CIVIL WAR? Guest David Betz/ King's College UK 2:10:25

1M ago2:10:25

2:10:25

Are Western countries headed for civil wars? David Bates from King's College in London thinks they are inevitable. And hysterical legacy media meltdown at the election debate, with secret audio from Alex Zoltan. CBC fibs again, and scrums are cancelled. Also, big news for biological women out of Scotland. Follow Trish on X @woodreporting Website: w…

1
Am I responsible for WOKE Nonsense? | A Conversation with Alex O'' Connor in Oxford 1:22:45

1M ago1:22:45

1:22:45

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard Dawkins joins Alex O’Connor for a breakdown of his latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead. They also reflect on new atheism and the meaning vacuum, Richard’s debate with Jordan Peterson, and the concept of God followed by audience questions.This episode was filmed at New Theatre, Oxford, on the 2…

1
Amanda Knox: Life After the Crime That Wasn’t Hers 1:14:20

1M ago1:14:20

1:14:20

Amanda Knox spent nearly four years in prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit—and became a notorious tabloid story in the process. Though she was exonerated, it’s taken more than a decade for her to reclaim her identity and truly feel free. Amanda’s new book, Free recounts how she survived prison, the mistakes she made and m…

1
Episode 9.4B: "INVASION: UFO" (part 4), feat. philosopher Matthew Newland and Physicist Rémi Poirier. 2:07:19

1M ago2:07:19

2:07:19

The one in which we assemble another panel of armchair experts aboard the starship USS Swampgass to explore, assess, quarantine, and if necessary obliterate, the 2023 National Geographic series UFOs: Investigating the Unknown, featuring Leslie Kean, Luis Elizondo, Allen Hynek, and Avi Loeb, with a little help from our friends Matthew Newland and Ré…

1
A THREAT FROM WITHIN 2:04:06

1M ago2:04:06

2:04:06

Trish and Julius unpack their fears of a Liberal election win, Canada as a failed state, and how to navigate it all. More from Mark Carney’s book, which seems to celebrate citizen control by government. Plus, a soothing movie recommendation for the weekend. Follow Trish on X @woodreporting Website: www.trishwoodpodcast.com Shop: https://www.trishwo…

1
Why Darwin Stopped Believing in GOD | Richard Dawkins with Patrick House 1:24:27

1M ago1:24:27

1:24:27

By Richard Dawkins

1
Ferris Bueller's Day Off | S2E5 1:31:08

1M ago1:31:08

1:31:08

Today, we go back to 1986 to celebrate Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the ultimate teen fantasy of skipping school in style. So buckle up, because as Ferris says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Joining me today are Kevin and Eric from the Six Degrees of Schwarzenegger podcast, where they t…

1
What Einstein Meant by God: Science, Spirituality, and the Search for Meaning 1:46:52

2M ago1:46:52

1:46:52

Albert Einstein remains renowned around the world for revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos, but very few realize that the celebrated scientist had a deep spiritual side. Einstein believed that one wondrous force was woven through all things everywhere—and this sense of the pervasive sacred influenced every aspect of his existence, from h…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Michael Shermer Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen