Podcast Episodes
Back to Search18. Dr. Bart Ehrman — How a Forbidden Religion (Christianity) Swept the World
Episode 18
In this remote Science Salon (recorded on February 19, 2018), Dr. Shermer converses with the great bible scholar and historian Dr. Bart D. Ehrman, th…
8 years, 6 months ago
17. Dr. Kip Thorne — Gravitational Waves, Black Holes, Time Travel, and Hollywood
Episode 17
Join us for what promises to be one of the deepest and most profound conversations we've had in our Science Salon series as Dr. Thorne reflects on hi…
8 years, 6 months ago
16. Dr. Robert Trivers — Evolutionary Theory & Human Nature
Episode 16
Dr. Robert Trivers and Dr. Michael Shermer have a lively conversation on everything from evolutionary theory and human nature to how to win a knife f…
8 years, 9 months ago
15. Donald Prothero & Timothy Callahan — UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens: What Science Says
Episode 15
UFOs. Aliens. Strange crop circles. Giant figures scratched in the desert surface along the coast of Peru. The amazing alignment of the pyramids. Str…
8 years, 10 months ago
14. Dr. Nancy Segal — Twin Mythconceptions: False Beliefs, Fables, and Facts about Twins
Episode 14
Dr. Nancy Segal, the world's leading expert on twins, has a new book that sheds light on over 70 commonly held ideas and beliefs about the origins an…
8 years, 11 months ago
13. Dr. Walter Scheidel — The Great Leveler: Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the 21st Century
Episode 13
Are mass violence and catastrophes the only forces that can seriously decrease economic inequality? To judge by thousands of years of history, the an…
9 years, 2 months ago
12. Derren Brown — Magic, Happiness, and Skepticism
Episode 12
In this remote Science Salon, Michael Shermer talks with Derren Brown, a British magician and writer.
His TV show Derren Brown: Mind Control received…
9 years, 3 months ago
11. Dr. Andrew Shtulman — Scienceblind: Why Our Intuitive Theories About the World Are So Often Wrong
Episode 11
Why do we catch colds? What causes seasons to change? And if you fire a bullet from a gun and drop one from your hand, which bullet hits the ground f…
9 years, 4 months ago
10. Dr. Carol Tavris — Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)
Episode 10
Why is it so hard to say "I made a mistake"—and really believe it? Social psychologist Dr. Carol Tavris, one of the most influential thinkers and wri…
9 years, 6 months ago
9. Gary Taubes — The Case Against Sugar
Episode 9
Among Americans, diabetes is more prevalent today than ever; obesity is at epidemic proportions; nearly 10% of children are thought to have nonalcoho…
9 years, 7 months ago