Skeptic
The founding publisher of Skeptic magazine interviews authors, scientists, and thinkers on topics ranging from philosophy to pseudoscience.
A long-form interview podcast where a central figure of the modern skeptical movement engages with authors, academics, and public intellectuals. The conversations use a guest's new book or area of expertise as a launchpad to discuss broader issues in science, philosophy, history, and current events. The show occasionally features solo episodes where the host, Michael Shermer, offers his own analysis on a topic.
“The podcast is a direct extension of the Skeptics Society and Skeptic magazine, giving it a deep-rooted history and a clear mission. The host, Michael Shermer, is not just an interviewer but a prominent author and public intellectual in his own right, often framing conversations from his decades of experience in the skeptical movement.”
Who hosts this show
Dr. Michael Shermer is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine and the host of The Michael Shermer Show. For 18 years, he was a monthly columnist for Scientific American and has taught critical thinking at the university level for three decades. He is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, including "Why People Believe Weird Things," and is a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University.
Credentials & credits
- Founding Publisher, Skeptic magazine
- Host, The Michael Shermer Show
- Ph.D. in the history of science, Claremont Graduate University
- Former monthly columnist, Scientific American
- Presidential Fellow, Chapman University
- Author of multiple New York Times bestsellers
Other ventures
- Skeptics Society (Founder, Executive Director)
- Skeptic magazine (Publisher & Editor-in-Chief)
- Author of numerous books on science and skepticism
- Science Salon Podcast
- Skeptics Distinguished Science Lecture Series at Caltech
- Exploring the Unknown (TV Series Co-host/Co-producer)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01When History Goes on Trial: Demjanjuk, Eichmann, and Justice After AtrocityJun 27, 2026 · 1h 32m
- 02Why I Joined the Government UAP Science Advisory CouncilJun 23, 2026 · 29 min
- 03Massimo Pigliucci on Doubt, Moral Courage, and Living Without IllusionsJun 20, 2026 · 1h 34m
- 04Cathy Young: Why Free Societies Need Free SpeechJun 16, 2026 · 1h 30m
- 05The Zodiac Killer Wasn’t RealJun 13, 2026 · 1h 39m
- 06How Algorithms Use Your Data to Control YouJun 9, 2026 · 1h 34m
- 07Batya Ungar-Sargon: Why the Left Sees Jews Differently NowJun 6, 2026 · 54 min
- 08From Equality to Equity: How Social Justice Becomes IdeologyJun 3, 2026 · 59 min
Notable episodes
- 01Why I Joined the Government UAP Science Advisory Council
A rare solo episode where Shermer explains his core mission: demanding verifiable data over anecdotes, perfectly encapsulating the show's skeptical ethos.
- 02Massimo Pigliucci on Doubt, Moral Courage, and Living Without Illusions
A quintessential episode on philosophy, showcasing Shermer's ability to use a guest's book to explore deep topics like ethics, Stoicism, and the legacy of New Atheism.
- 03When History Goes on Trial: Demjanjuk, Eichmann, and Justice After Atrocity
Demonstrates the host's interview technique of applying a guest's thesis (what defines a 'criminal state') to concrete historical examples to test its validity.
What you'll be asked on this show
Shermer often opens an interview by asking for the guest's personal "origin story"—what led them to their field or the topic of their book. [tVN9lliCuW0] He structures the conversation around the guest's work, using its core concepts as a foundation for the discussion. To probe these ideas, he frequently introduces historical examples (like Napoleon or the Scopes Trial) or classic thought experiments (like the trolley problem) to test their application. [tVN9lliCuW0, 7Fl0oVhe7HI] He builds rapport by sharing personal anecdotes or referencing his long history within the skeptical and academic communities, creating a collegial rather than confrontational atmosphere. [7Fl0oVhe7HI]
The show primarily consists of one-on-one interviews, often running for 90 minutes or more, though some episodes are solo commentaries by the host. [6z-VuyAv_W8] Shermer's style is conversational and inquisitive, using the guest's work as a roadmap for the discussion. He frequently connects topics to his own experiences or previous conversations to build a broader intellectual narrative.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
7 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“What's your origin story? How did you get into this field?”
Shermer almost always asks this at the beginning to establish the guest's personal and intellectual background. [tVN9lliCuW0]
process
1- Q.01
“How do you define the core concept of your book?”
He often starts the main discussion by asking for a foundational definition, a classic skeptical approach. [tVN9lliCuW0]
industry
1- Q.01
“How does your framework apply to a historical example like [Napoleon's France]?”
He tests the guest's abstract concepts against specific, real-world historical cases. [tVN9lliCuW0]
backstory
1- Q.01
“Reflecting on a movement like [New Atheism], where is it now?”
Asks guests to provide historical context and perspective on major intellectual or social movements. [7Fl0oVhe7HI]
mindset
1- Q.01
“How would your philosophy deal with a classic thought experiment like the trolley problem?”
Uses well-known philosophical dilemmas to probe the practical application and limits of a guest's ideas. [7Fl0oVhe7HI]
controversy
1- Q.01
“What do you make of a controversial figure or event like [David Irving's Holocaust denial]?”
Directly addresses contentious topics and figures relevant to the guest's expertise. [tVN9lliCuW0]
craft
1- Q.01
“What was the process of writing this book?”
He inquires about the practical steps, like taking a sabbatical, that led to the book's creation. [7Fl0oVhe7HI]
Signature segments
- · The Michael Shermer Show
- · Shermer Says
- · Skeptic Magazine
- · The Skeptics Society
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically authors, academics, journalists, and scientists with a new book or a specific, deep expertise. The roster includes philosophers, historians, physicists, and social critics who are prepared for a substantive, evidence-based conversation.
- Lawrence Douglason When History Goes on Trial: Demjanjuk, Eichmann, and Justice After Atrocity
- Massimo Pigliuccion Massimo Pigliucci on Doubt, Moral Courage, and Living Without Illusions
- Cathy Youngon Why Free Societies Need Free Speech
- Eddie McNamaraon The Zodiac Killer Wasn’t Real
- Carissa Vélizon How Algorithms Use Your Data to Control You
- Batya Ungar-Sargonon Why the Left Sees Jews Differently Now
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is an extension of the Skeptics Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific and educational organization. Support is likely driven by donations, memberships to the society, and sales of books and other materials rather than traditional advertising.
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.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of the podcast?
- The host is Dr. Michael Shermer, the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine and a well-known author and science writer.
- Is this podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes on a weekly basis.
- What is the format of the show?
- The show primarily features long-form, one-on-one interviews with authors and experts, but also includes occasional solo commentary episodes from the host. [4, 6z-VuyAv_W8]
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and other major podcast platforms.
- What is the Skeptics Society?
- The Skeptics Society is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded by Michael Shermer that promotes scientific skepticism and critical thinking. The podcast is an extension of its mission.
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]Michael Shermer - Official Biomichaelshermer.com
- [02]The Skeptics Societyskeptic.com
- [03]Michael Shermer - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [04]Skeptic (American magazine) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [05]The Michael Shermer Show - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [06]Skeptic - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [07]Michael Shermer - Edge.orgedge.org
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