Best Silky Science Podcasts (2025)

1
Contraceptive Rapture Yoga 53:36

Play Pause

9d ago53:36

53:36

Quick, you only have a few days left before the Antichrist turns up for the end of the world - make sure your room’s tidy, and say goodbye to any Christians in your life before they’re whisked away. In this week’s episode, Mark talks about an Official Information Act request warning the government that the Rapture is happening on Wednesday the 24th…

1
'Of Flowing Stone, of Liquid Gold, of Justice, Ash, and Battle' by Malda Marlys read by Emmie Christie 27:32

21d ago27:32

27:32

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Malda Marlys' 'Of Flowing Stone, of Liquid Gold, of Justice, Ash, and Battle' read by Emmie Christie. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Malda Marlys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotif…

1
Numerous Silky Updates 1:06:28

23d ago1:06:28

1:06:28

This week in the Yeah… Nah! podcast, there’s a smorgasbord of skeptical topics for you to gorge yourself on. Bronwyn has updates to her previous articles on Cryonics, the Warrens, the Campbells and ISTA, while Katrina has concerns about how poor numeracy can have detrimental health outcomes. And Mark has been patiently waiting for a new game, Silks…

1
Critical Friends Episode 15: On Time-Pass 54:59

29d ago54:59

54:59

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dan Hartland is joined by the literary reviewer Sneha Pathak and the host of the Going Rogue podcast, Tansy Gardam. They discuss the kinds of text which many don’t find worthy of criticism at all: books or movies or TikTok reels that might be termed popular, populist, …

1
Janyce Boynton Interview 1:20:33

1M ago1:20:33

1:20:33

In this episode of the Yeah… Nah! podcast there’s just one topic on all of our minds - The Telepathy Tapes. Bronwyn, Mark and Katrina talk to Janyce Boynton from the US about the world of Facilitated Communication (FC). Janyce is not only hugely knowledgeable about the world of FC, but was also once a practitioner herself. The conversation ranges f…

1
Telepathic Quantum Activist Brother 1:02:21

2M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Despite the fact that all our podcast hosts wrote about the same topic for our newsletter this week, we’ve still ended up with a variety of discussions for the podcast. Bronwyn and Mark not only talk about The Telepathy Tapes, but also about their visit to see a talk given by Brother Guy Consolmagno, the head Vatican Astronomer. Katrina thoroughly …

1
Critical Friends Episode 14: Hard Times 59:29

2M ago59:29

59:29

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dan Hartland speaks with writers and critics Octavia Cade and M. L. Clark about writing in hard times. How and why is speculative friction written in contexts of defeat, despair, or decay? They discuss climate change and artificial intelligence, systems political, biol…

1
On Artistic Honesty with Debbie Urbanski (SH@25 Episode 15) 38:22

2M ago38:22

38:22

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti chats to author Debbie Urbanski about her 2018 Strange Horizons publication and the 13 years of submissions it took to get accepted, writing in the gray areas between genres, and what it means to be artistically honest in your work. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday me…

1
Possessed Neuroplastic Waning Pioneer 1:04:50

2M ago1:04:50

1:04:50

Katrina’s back from her holiday, so we’re back to full strength for this episode of the Yeah… Nah! podcast. Mark and Bronwyn visited a faith healing night, and they recount their experiences and their thoughts on whether God was present on the night. Katrina’s been trying to figure out whether a mixture of nootropics and neuroplasticity can rewire …

1
'Time is an Ocean' by Angela Liu read by Emmie Christie 26:27

2M ago26:27

26:27

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Angela Liu's 'Time is an Ocean' read by Emmie Christie. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Angela Liu ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

1
An Interview with Mary Robinette Kowal - SH@25 Ep13 43:16

2M ago43:16

43:16

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Mary Robinette Kowal about the fractal nature of story structure, , and writing to please the teenaged version of you. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episod…

1
Ringing Diet Immortality 1:06:24

3M ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Katrina’s been away on holiday, so we’ve replaced her in this episode with Aaron, an ex Jehovah’s Witness who’s spent some time on the NZ Skeptics committee. Mark and Aaron talk about Aaron’s attempt to prove Mark wrong about Diet Coke, and the lessons learned from this test about blind testing. Bronwyn completes her series on cryonics with a grab-…

1
Critical Friends Episode 13: SF In Translation 55:27

3M ago55:27

55:27

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dan Hartland speaks with reviewers and critics Rachel Cordasco and Will McMahon about science fiction in translation (SFT), and specifically about those books appearing from small presses based in the US. They discuss recent news on NEA grants to these publishers, the …

1
An Interview with Donyae Coles - Writing While Disabled S2E3 1:16:28

3M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

In the third episode of Writing While Disabled, Kristy Anne Cox and Kate Johnston sit down with author Donyae Coles for a frank and candid discussion around adjusting one's life and writing processes around one's disability, finding support to help with the tasks that become difficult, and how genre can lend itself to telling disabled stories authe…

1
Radical Human Immortality 1:21:33

3M ago1:21:33

1:21:33

We figured there was a lot more life in the idea of people trying to live forever, so all three of our podcast hosts this week - Bronwyn, Katrina and Mark - have picked a topic related to human lifespans. Katrina lets us know how long we can expect people to live, and how both the average life expectancy and upper age limit of living people have ch…

1
'Sister, Silkie, Siren, Shark' by Ariel Marken Jack read by Emmie Christie 25:09

3M ago25:09

25:09

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Ariel Marken Jack's 'Sister, Silkie, Siren, Shark' read by Emmie Christie. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Ariel Marken Jack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Content Warnings…

1
The Buff Tailed Bumblebee 5:06

4M ago5:06

5:06

Bumblebees are at their peak right now and this Buff Tailed is fairly easy to spot. Keep a look out. This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan, called Voices from the Lost Gardens. Jimmy Docherty really makes me laugh and he knows his stuff too - farmer, entomologist, television presenter and I would add comedian. Vi…

1
Golden Cryonics 58:02

4M ago58:02

58:02

Having been a week late with the last episode, we’re following up with an on-time episode, meaning you can listen to Yeah… Nah! two weeks in a row. This week Katrina wonders whether Trump’s Golden Dome idea of a missile defence shield around the US has any merit, and Bronwyn talks about the history of cryonics (not cryogenics). We also chat about o…

1
The Leatherback Turtle 5:26

4M ago5:26

5:26

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
The Silky Shark 5:36

4M ago5:36

5:36

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
The White Spotted Wedgefish 5:06

4M ago5:06

5:06

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
The Staghorn Coral 5:35

4M ago5:35

5:35

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
The Sperm Whale 5:45

4M ago5:45

5:45

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
The Phytoplankton 5:33

4M ago5:33

5:33

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
The Goliath Grouper 5:14

4M ago5:14

5:14

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
The Copepod 5:42

4M ago5:42

5:42

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
The Coelacanth 5:34

4M ago5:34

5:34

It’s World Ocean Week, an important yearly event for the future of all marine life. Ocean animals need our attention. They need to be heard. Please spread their messages far and wide. This series, Voices from the Ocean, was commissioned by Gallifrey Foundation in collaboration with Mission Blue, with special thanks to Antoinette Vermilye for her un…

1
Two Geese Under Mansplaining 1:01:23

4M ago1:01:23

1:01:23

As Bronwyn’s been on holiday overseas and come back suffering from food poisoning, we’ve recorded this episode a little late - but we’re sure it’s worth the wait! Mark gives his thoughts on John Campbell’s recent documentary series Under His Command, about the controversial Destiny Church and its leader, “Apostle” Brian Tamaki. Katrina looks into t…

1
'A City on It's Tentacles' by R.B. Lemberg read by Jenna Hanchey 33:59

4M ago33:59

33:59

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents R.B. Lemberg's A City on It's Tentacles' read by Jenna Hanchey. You can read the full text of the story, and more about R.B. Lemberg ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Disregard for pers…

1
SH@25 Episode 13: A Conversation with Nghi Vo 37:23

4M ago37:23

37:23

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Nghi Vo about how Strange Horizons kickstarted her publishing journey, her weird and interesting life before writing took off, and the fearlessness it takes to make a writing career happen. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an au…

1
'Half Sick of Shadows' by Elle Engel read by Emmie Christie 1:05:43

4M ago1:05:43

1:05:43

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Elle Engel's 'Half Sick of Shadows' read by Emmie Christie You can read the full text of the story, and more about Elle Engel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Disregard for personal autonomy B…

1
Radioactive CCC Octopus 1:12:37

4M ago1:12:37

1:12:37

We’re all over the show with our new episode of Yeah… Nah!, starting with Mark talking about his recent visit to another Creationist talk - and this one was as inspiring as it was factual. Katrina’s been concerning herself with the question of whether octopuses are going to take over the world, and Bronwyn’s managed to dig up some archive material …

1
SH@25 Episode 12: A Conversation with Naomi Kritzer 54:58

5M ago54:58

54:58

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Naomi Kritzer about her non-linear writing journey, imagining positive futures, and how to deal with the world catching up to your near-future specfic. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Jo…

1
The Bittern 6:50

5M ago6:50

6:50

The Bittern is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB. With many thanks to Jarrod Sneyd, RSPB Leighton Moss, for embodying this Bittern. "For me, they just bring joy, particularly when the atmospherics are right. You can be in Leighton Moss, or nearby in Silverdale, for…

1
The European Eel 5:49

5M ago5:49

5:49

The European Eel is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB. With many thanks to Kath Smith, RSPB Leighton Moss, for embodying this European Eel. "Eels are just fantastic. They've been around for hundreds of years but, we still don't really know much about them. It's onl…

1
The Reed Warbler 5:07

5M ago5:07

5:07

The Reed Warbler is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB. With many thanks to Beth Fox, RSPB Leighton Moss, for embodying this Reed Warbler. "For these little birds, the reed bed can be a challenging place to raise chicks, there are quite a lot of predators. But they'…

1
The Caddis Fly 4:54

5M ago4:54

4:54

The Caddis Fly is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB. With many thanks to Kath Smith, RSPB Leighton Moss for embodying this Caddis Fly. "I've spent years river dipping and pond dipping, and you come across these creatures that still get me so excited, and because th…

1
The Marsh Harrier 5:17

5M ago5:17

5:17

The Marsh Harrier is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB. With many thanks to Joseph Klein, RSPB Leighton Moss, for embodying this Marsh Harrier. "I really enjoy just watching them over the nature reserve. I think Marsh Harriers have a kind of slow pace to them. They…

1
Catholic EMF Fairy Judge 1:14:02

5M ago1:14:02

1:14:02

In this episode of the Yeah… Nah! podcast, the team ponder an email sent in by Barry Lennox, who knows a little more about EMF than the people selling EMF Rocks. Katrina finishes off her series on Sovereign Citizens, looking at how the courts have dealt with the madness, and Bronwyn and Mark both have some weird and wonderful stories about the Cath…

1
'By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars' by Premee Mohamed read by Kat Kourbeti 59:47

5M ago59:47

59:47

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Kat Kourbeti reads Premee Mohamed's Hugo Finalist Novelette 'By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars'. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Premee Mohamed ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Blood Child abu…

1
SMS Rock Justice 1:04:01

5M ago1:04:01

1:04:01

Scams, scams, scams in this episode of the Yeah… Nah! Podcast, with Mark talking about his activism dealing with an NZ Post text-based scam, Bronwyn looking into vastly-overpriced bags of rocks that are supposed to protect you from harmful Electromagnetic radiation, and Katrina documenting how some Sovereign Citizens in New Zealand have been trying…

1
SH@25 Episode 11: A Conversation with Charlie Jane Anders 36:15

6M ago36:15

36:15

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Charlie Jane Anders about her Strange Horizons publications dating all the way back to 2002, charting her journey as a writer and her experience with the magazine over 20 years, as well as her love for community events and bringing people together. Links and things: Want to lea…

1
'BRIDE / BUTCHER / DOE' by Lowry Poletti read by Emmie Christie 50:57

6M ago50:57

50:57

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Lowry Poletti's 'BRIDE / BUTCHER / DOE' read by Emmie Christie You can read the full text of the story, and more about Lowry Poletti ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Abortion/miscarriage Animal c…

1
SEO Sovereign White House 1:03:23

6M ago1:03:23

1:03:23

In this episode of the only official podcast of the NZ Skeptics ever to have existed, Bronwyn is concerned that skeptical slapdowns aren’t enough to keep a good bullshit peddler down, Mark is dismayed at people contacting the NZ Skeptics who want us to try to trick search engines into increasing our ranking, and Katrina starts a very long journey i…

1
Writing While Disabled S2E2: Farah Mendlesohn 58:52

6M ago58:52

58:52

In the second audio episode of Writing While Disabled, hosts Kristy Anne Cox and Kate Johnston welcome Farah Mendlesohn, acclaimed SFF scholar and con-runner, to talk all things hearing, dyslexia, and more ADHD adjustments, as well as what fandom could and should be doing better for accessibility at conventions, for both volunteers and attendees. S…

1
'Reprise' by Samantha Lane Murphy read by Emmie Christie 26:21

6M ago26:21

26:21

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Samantha Lane Murphy's 'Reprise' read by Emmie Christie You can read the full text of the story, and more about Samantha Lane Murphy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Blood Death/dying Drug use Menta…

1
Telekinetic Cyclone IQ 1:03:04

6M ago1:03:04

1:03:04

In this episode of the Yeah... Nah! podcast, hosts Bronwyn Rideout, Mark Honeychurch and Katrina Borthwick explore the ethical implications of using AI tools when making content for the NZ Skeptics. They discuss recent weather-related scams surrounding Cyclone Alfred, the latest strange trend on TikTok involving telekinesis, and the dubious intelle…

1
SH@25 Episode 10: An interview with Jordan Kurella, and a reading of his poem, 'this tree is a eulogy' 49:04

7M ago49:04

49:04

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, we present a soundscaped reading of Jordan Kurella's poem, 'this tree is a eulogy', and afterward Kat Kourbeti chats to Jordan about his writing process, the wonders of New Weird fiction, and the magic of writer friendships. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record…

1
'Tomorrow is Waiting' by Holli Mintzer read by Emmie Christie 26:28

7M ago26:28

26:28

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Holli Mintzers 'Tomorrow is Waiting' read by Emmie Christie You can read the full text of the story, and more about Holli Mintzer, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠

1
ISTA QAnon News 1:05:05

7M ago1:05:05

1:05:05

In this episode of the Yeah… Nah! podcast, extra special guest James Kerr joins the crew for a conversation about how a fundamental misunderstanding of how government works can lead people to believe in grand conspiracies. Bronwyn gives an update on ISTA, who are currently in a little hot water. And Katrina has found a handy online game called Bad …