TheSkepticsGuide
A weekly roundtable of science communicators who dissect news, pseudoscience, and controversies from a skeptical perspective.
A panel show where a group of dedicated skeptics, led by neurologist Steven Novella, break down the week's science news. The conversation ranges from deep space to medical fraud, with the hosts applying principles of critical thinking to every topic. It's an educational show that uses an informal, conversational format to make complex scientific topics and logical reasoning accessible.
“Its longevity and consistency are remarkable; running since 2005, the core group of hosts has created a deep rapport that makes the show feel like a conversation among knowledgeable friends. Unlike interview shows, the SGU's strength is its roundtable format, where a consistent panel applies a shared skeptical framework to a wide array of current events.”
Who hosts this show
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe (SGU) is a long-running weekly podcast that has been promoting science literacy and critical thinking since 2005. Hosted by Dr. Steven Novella, a clinical neurologist at Yale University School of Medicine, the show features a panel of co-hosts who discuss science news, debunk myths and conspiracy theories, and engage with listeners. The podcast is the official show of the New England Skeptical Society, which Novella co-founded and presides over.
Credentials & credits
- Steven Novella, MD: Clinical Neurologist and Associate Professor at Yale University School of Medicine.
- President, New England Skeptical Society.
- Executive Editor, Science-Based Medicine.
- Fellow, Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI).
- Author, "The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe" and "The Skeptics' Guide to the Future".
Other ventures
- New England Skeptical Society
- Science-Based Medicine (blog)
- NeuroLogicaBlog
- Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism (NECSS)
- Alpha Quadrant 6 (sci-fi review show).
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Skeptics Guide #1094Jun 27, 2026 · 1h 51m
- 02Skeptics Guide #1093Jun 20, 2026 · 2h 15m
- 03Skeptics Guide #1092Jun 13, 2026 · 1h 41m
- 04On The Road AGAIN! To BuffaloJun 11, 2026 · 4h 09m
- 05Skeptics Guide #1091Jun 6, 2026 · 2h 15m
- 06
- 07well that's randomJun 4, 2026 · 1h 19m
- 08Skeptics Guide To MadisonMay 31, 2026 · 1h 07m
Notable episodes
- 01Skeptics Guide #1094
The hosts address the sudden resignation of longtime co-host Evan Bernstein after his controversial and 'unskeptical' online activity came to light.
- 02Skeptics Guide #1093
A representative episode featuring guest panelists, a follow-up debunking a fraudulent technology claim (Donut Lab Battery), and extensive, pun-filled host banter.
- 03Skeptics Guide #1092
Showcases the typical blend of diverse science topics, from historical anti-counterfeiting techniques used by Ben Franklin to the end of the MAVEN Mars orbiter mission.
What you'll be asked on this show
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a co-hosted roundtable discussion, not a guest-interview-based show. When guests do appear, they are integrated into the existing panel format as conversational participants. The hosts do not employ a structured set of interview questions; instead, the conversation flows organically from the news topics being discussed.
The show is a conversational roundtable discussion among a regular panel of hosts (Steven Novella, Bob Novella, Jay Novella, Cara Santa Maria). Episodes typically cover several science news items, followed by recurring segments like "Who's That Noisy" or the game "Science or Fiction". The tone is educational but highly informal, characterized by frequent puns, inside jokes, and personal anecdotes.
Signature segments
- · Tagline: 'Your escape to reality.'
- · Science or Fiction
- · Who's That Noisy
- · Skeptical Quote of the Week
- · Forgotten Superheroes of Science
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are infrequent but are typically fellow science communicators, authors, or experts in a specific field. They are treated as temporary co-hosts, joining the free-flowing roundtable discussion rather than undergoing a formal, structured interview.
- George Hrabon Skeptics Guide #1093
- Andrea Jones-Rooyon Skeptics Guide #1093
- Christian Hubickion Skeptics Guide #1091
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is primarily supported by its audience through Patreon and sales of its books, "The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe" and "The Skeptics' Guide to the Future". The hosts also promote live tours and conferences.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
n•••@•••.orgFree: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
You’re only charged when we return a verified hit.
People also ask
- Who is the main host?
- The primary host and producer is Dr. Steven Novella, a clinical neurologist at Yale University School of Medicine.
- What is the show's format?
- It's a weekly roundtable discussion where a panel of hosts analyzes science news and controversies from a skeptical viewpoint. It is not a guest-interview show.
- Is The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe still running?
- Yes, it is an active weekly podcast that began in May 2005.
- What happened to host Evan Bernstein?
- Evan Bernstein resigned from the podcast in June 2026 after it was discovered he had been making 'unskeptical, dehumanizing, and completely unacceptable' comments on social media.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on its official website, theskepticsguide.org, and on all major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
- Do they have a book?
- Yes, the hosts have co-authored two books: "The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake" (2018) and "The Skeptics' Guide to the Future" (2022).
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About | The Skeptics Guide to the Universetheskepticsguide.org
- [02]Steven Novella - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [03]Dr. Steven Novella, Neurologist, Scientific Skepticism Communicator, Hoststevennovella.com
- [04]The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe (book) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [05]Steven P. Novella, MD – Founder and Executive Editor | Science-Based Medicinesciencebasedmedicine.org
- [06]The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [07]Evan Bernstein has resigned from the SGU - Redditreddit.com
Podcasts like TheSkepticsGuide
The Wolf Of All Streets
Scott Melker
A daily show from trader Scott Melker breaking down crypto, macro, and trading news with market experts and industry builders.
We In Miami Podcast
A Miami-based interview show where host Stunt Lifestyle gets hip-hop and reality TV stars to talk about their careers, feuds, and personal lives.
Simple Hai!
Vivek Law
A veteran Indian financial journalist demystifies money and markets by interviewing the C-suite executives running India's top financial institutions.
Cultaholic Wrestling
Cultaholic Wrestling
A daily news and discussion show from a team of British wrestling journalists known for its blend of candid reporting, community in-jokes, and humor.
RealTalk Clips
A clips channel for India's long-running tri-host interview podcast, covering everything from national controversies to survival skills.
Always Irish
Always Irish
A passionate, fan-driven YouTube show covering Notre Dame football recruiting and news with a raw, unfiltered perspective from host John Kennedy.
Dostcast
An Indian long-form interview show tackling everything from geopolitics and religion to sexuality and content creation with unfiltered depth.
Vishal Kalra Official
Vishal Kalra
A veteran Indian TV journalist interviews astrologers, numerologists, and prophecy interpreters about future events and personal fortunes.