Best Michael Shermer Podcasts (2025)

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The Myth of Human Exceptionalism: Why Humans Aren’t as Special as We Think 1:03:27

Play Pause

4d ago1:03:27

1:03:27

In this episode, Harvard primatologist Christine Webb challenges one of our deepest beliefs: that humans stand apart from the rest of nature. She traces the roots of human exceptionalism from Aristotle and Descartes to modern science, and explains why we still cling to hierarchies of intelligence. While most critiques of human exceptionalism focus …

1
Shermer Says: Why Secularists Are Turning to Religion, The Substitution Hypothesis, Sleep Paralysis 42:54

7d ago42:54

42:54

Are we entering a Fifth Great Awakening—a cultural swing back toward religion? An increasing number of books and articles are calling for a religious revival. “We need religion to keep our society functioning.” “People need meaning.” Michael Shermer responds to and revisits the historical waves of religious fervor that shaped American life. He also…

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Tom Bibby 1:27:20

8d ago1:27:20

1:27:20

Why is new tech like AI embraced without a thought of how it might negatively impact the citizenry? Experts have exploded with warnings about the currently unchecked power of artificial intelligence. Trish welcomes Tom Bibby, from a UK citizen's group trying to do something about it. Pause AI has a Montreal chapter, too. Plus, Chris and Tamara toge…

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If God designed it, why is it so badly built? 13:09

9d ago13:09

13:09

In this episode, Richard Dawkins revisits a 2012 conversation from the Great Minds program, produced by the Educational Broadcasting System in South Korea. He examines why life looks designed yet is full of flaws, showing how imperfections in nature reveal the true workings of evolution and expose the limits of intelligent design. Hosted by Simplec…

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The Serial Killer Era of the 70s/80s: Lore, Patterns, and Plausible Explanations 1:35:46

10d ago1:35:46

1:35:46

Pulitzer-winner Caroline Fraser maps the lives and crimes of Ted Bundy and his infamous peers—the Green River Killer, the I-5 Killer, the Night Stalker, the Hillside Strangler, and even Charles Manson—and explores an intriguing hypothesis: might environmental factors have played a role in the rise of serial killers in the 1970s and ’80s? Caroline F…

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Shermer Says: Debate Skills, 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, Autism, Vaccines, ANTIFA, Bari Weiss & CBS News 29:28

12d ago29:28

29:28

First installment of our new series Shermer Says. Topics covered: Debate Skills Nobel Peace Prize 2025 Autism & Tylenol COVID Vaccines & Myocarditis ANTIFA Bari Weiss & CBS News New Skeptic Research Center StudyBy Michael Shermer

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When Rationality Becomes Irrational 1:27:46

14d ago1:27:46

1:27:46

For many decision scientists, their starting point—drawn from economics—is a quantitative formula called Rational Choice Theory, allowing people to calculate and choose the best options. The problem is that this framework assumes an overly simplistic picture of the world, in which different types of values can be quantified and compared, leading to…

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Chad Bishop, with Guest Host Jeffrey Tucker 1:27:37

15d ago1:27:37

1:27:37

There are enduring mysteries surrounding the COVID experience, including the role that exposure and natural immunity had in protecting people BEFORE the shot arrived. To put it in scientific terms: what precisely was the seroprevalence level of the population and when? At what point did we leave pandemic conditions and enter into endemicity? Jeffre…

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The Science of Revenge: Why Getting Even Feels So Good 1:29:06

18d ago1:29:06

1:29:06

Why do we crave revenge? And why can’t we stop? In this episode, James Kimmel explains the neuroscience behind one of our most destructive urges. Drawing from his new book, The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World’s Deadliest Addiction, Kimmel reveals how revenge activates the same brain circuits as drugs like cocaine—and why even imagining …

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Why No One Thinks They’re in a Cult 1:13:42

20d ago1:13:42

1:13:42

What really defines a cult—and why do smart, well-intentioned people get caught up in them? In this episode, Michael Shermer sits down with cult intervention specialist Ashlen Hilliard to explore the psychology of high-control groups and the people drawn into them. Her work has been featured in prominent media outlets like Hulu, NewsNation, HuffPos…

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Mollie Engelhart, with Guest Host Jeffrey Tucker 1:43:35

22d ago1:43:35

1:43:35

Mollie Englehart is a new type of philosopher/farmer; a genuine expert whose knowledge comes from real experience. She understands the vast world of regenerative farming, and how it relates to human health. Her new book is not only a challenge to veganism, but also a direct hit on every type of conventional wisdom over food, family, and freedom – a…

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Was Benjamin Franklin America’s First Scientist? 1:29:22

25d ago1:29:22

1:29:22

Michael Shermer sits down with economist and Franklin descendant Dr. Mark Skousen to explore the wit, wisdom, and modern relevance of Benjamin Franklin, the man who bridged science, politics, and philosophy like no other. Shermer and Skousen discuss Franklin’s contributions to science, moral philosophy, economics, and religious thought, while askin…

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Why Ants Tear Off Their Own Wings 14:00

25d ago14:00

14:00

In this episode, Richard Dawkins revisits a 2012 conversation from the Great Minds program, produced by the Educational Broadcasting System in South Korea. Drawing on themes from his book Flights of Fancy, Dawkins explores humanity’s ancient dream of flight, the physics that govern it, and the evolutionary paths that enabled some creatures to soar …

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COVID-19: What We Learned (and Didn’t) About Masks, Lockdowns, and Vaccines 1:05:20

28d ago1:05:20

1:05:20

The COVID-19 pandemic was a devastating global event, killing more than seven million people, straining the fabric of societies, and shaking the foundations of the world economy. And yet, as horrifying as the experience was, COVID-19 was not “The Big One” — the dreaded pandemic that haunts the nightmares of epidemiologists and public health officia…

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Dr. Francis Christian and Katie Pasitney 2:03:06

29d ago2:03:06

2:03:06

A trauma surgeon and COVID-19 hero talks about Charlie Kirk's last minutes, how God can keep us sane, and fighting through darkness. Plus, Trump derangement leads to a Tylenol overdose. And Trish takes on the bureaucracy with new reporting. In closing, a few minutes for the ostriches with Katie Pasitney. Watch and Read Trish on Substack Follow Tris…

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Episode 9.5C “INVASION: UFO!” (Part 5), feat. The Paranoid Planet Film Review Panel 1:54:04

29d ago1:54:04

1:54:04

The one where we get visited, prodded, and probed in the middle of night by a gaggle of alien creatures as we review the autobiographical film (and book) Communion, based on the alleged abductions of horror novelist and armchair metaphysician Whitley Strieber. Brought to you by RectalAid Pro, a revolutionary new line of niche colostomy bags and acc…

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The Power of Common Knowledge: Steven Pinker on Language, Norms, and Punishment 1:35:30

1M ago1:35:30

1:35:30

Common knowledge is necessary for coordination, for making arbitrary but complementary choices like driving on the right, using paper currency, and coalescing behind a political leader or movement. It’s also necessary for social coordination. Humans have a sixth sense for common knowledge, and we create it with signals like laughter, tears, blushin…

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Jim Lampley on Hosting the Super Bowl, Calling Tyson’s Fights, and His Friendship with O.J. 1:22:05

1M ago1:22:05

1:22:05

Jim Lampley’s story is a 50-year travelog of an unlikely career that catalogs the evolution of sports television—from his emergence as the first sideline reporter, through hosting and covering 14 Olympics, to working with all major sports networks. In this episode, Lampley reflects on his experiences in boxing, the evolution of the sport, and the g…

1
Why Ideas Spread Like Viruses 1:13:53

1M ago1:13:53

1:13:53

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard joins a live audience in Edinburgh to discuss his latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead. In this wide-ranging conversation, he reflects on how DNA preserves the story of evolution, describing organisms as “living books” that record the environments of their ancestors. He explores camouflage, wha…

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David Cayley 1:26:43

1M ago1:26:43

1:26:43

Is the Charlie Kirk investigation one of the most inept in history? It sure is heading that way. Also, David Cayley on his blockbuster book about the end of the CBC, how it botched its Convoy coverage, and how to rebuild it. Watch and Read Trish on Substack Follow Trish on X @woodreporting Website: www.trishwoodpodcast.com…

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The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: Shermer Reflects on Political Violence 27:50

1M ago27:50

27:50

In this solo commentary, Michael Shermer reflects on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and places it in the larger context of political violence, the psychology of radicalization, the dangers of false beliefs, and the role of free speech in intellectual discourse.By Michael Shermer

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Can We Still Be Optimistic About the Future? | A Conversation with Steven Pinker 1:37:12

1M ago1:37:12

1:37:12

In this episode of The Poetry of Reality, Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker explore the frontiers of science, language, morality, artificial intelligence, evolution, and the future of human civilization. Steven Pinker is a Canadian-American cognitive psychologist, psycholinguist, popular science author, and public intellectual. He is an advocate of…

Michael Shermer Podcasts

1
The Michael Shermer Show

Michael Shermer

1
Trish Wood is Critical

Trish Wood

1
The Poetry of Reality with Richard Dawkins

Richard Dawkins

1
Paranoid Planet

Burden Of Proof Media

1
World's Greatest Con

Dog And Pony Show Audio

1
IFC's Conversations for Open Minds

St. Olaf College

1
The Myth of Human Exceptionalism: Why Humans Aren’t as Special as We Think 1:03:27

1
Shermer Says: Why Secularists Are Turning to Religion, The Substitution Hypothesis, Sleep Paralysis 42:54

1
Tom Bibby 1:27:20

1
If God designed it, why is it so badly built? 13:09

1
The Serial Killer Era of the 70s/80s: Lore, Patterns, and Plausible Explanations 1:35:46

1
Shermer Says: Debate Skills, 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, Autism, Vaccines, ANTIFA, Bari Weiss & CBS News 29:28

1
When Rationality Becomes Irrational 1:27:46

1
Chad Bishop, with Guest Host Jeffrey Tucker 1:27:37

1
The Science of Revenge: Why Getting Even Feels So Good 1:29:06

1
Why No One Thinks They’re in a Cult 1:13:42

1
Mollie Engelhart, with Guest Host Jeffrey Tucker 1:43:35

1
Was Benjamin Franklin America’s First Scientist? 1:29:22

1
Why Ants Tear Off Their Own Wings 14:00

1
COVID-19: What We Learned (and Didn’t) About Masks, Lockdowns, and Vaccines 1:05:20

1
Dr. Francis Christian and Katie Pasitney 2:03:06

1
Episode 9.5C “INVASION: UFO!” (Part 5), feat. The Paranoid Planet Film Review Panel 1:54:04

1
The Power of Common Knowledge: Steven Pinker on Language, Norms, and Punishment 1:35:30

1
Jim Lampley on Hosting the Super Bowl, Calling Tyson’s Fights, and His Friendship with O.J. 1:22:05

1
Why Ideas Spread Like Viruses 1:13:53

1
David Cayley 1:26:43

1
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: Shermer Reflects on Political Violence 27:50

1
Can We Still Be Optimistic About the Future? | A Conversation with Steven Pinker 1:37:12