This Week in Space
Two veteran space journalists unpack the week's cosmic news and interview the scientists, engineers, and visionaries shaping the new space age.
This is a topical news and interview show where two deeply sourced space journalists use the week's events as a jumping-off point for deeper conversations. They bring on guests who are directly involved in the news, from former NASA administrators like Jim Bridenstine discussing the Artemis program to legendary Apollo flight directors like Gerry Griffin recounting historic missions. The format blends current affairs with historical context and future-facing speculation.
“The hosts' combined credentials and industry access are the show's key differentiator. As the editors of two major space publications, they bring a level of journalistic rigor and a network of high-caliber guests—from Apollo legends to leading physicists—that few other podcasts can match.”
Who hosts this show
Every Friday, This Week in Space brings together two senior space journalists, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik, to discuss the biggest stories from beyond Earth. Pyle, the Editor-in-Chief of the National Space Society's Ad Astra magazine, and Malik, the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com, use their deep industry knowledge to contextualize headlines and conduct long-form interviews with high-profile guests. The show is part of the TWiT.tv podcast network.
Credentials & credits
- Rod Pyle: Editor-in-Chief, Ad Astra Magazine
- Tariq Malik: Editor-in-Chief, Space.com
- Rod Pyle: Author of over 20 books on space history and exploration
- Rod Pyle: MA from Stanford University
- Tariq Malik: Journalism degrees from USC and NYU
- Tariq Malik: Harry Kolcum Award for excellence in space reporting
Other ventures
- Rod Pyle: Author and historian (pylebooks.com)
- Rod Pyle: Work on TV series like 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'
- Tariq Malik: Journalism at The Los Angeles Times
- TWiT.tv (Podcast Network)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Dark Matter Intelligence - With Physicist Dr. Daniel WhitesonJun 26, 2026 · 1h 11m
- 02Disclosure Day - With Dr. David BrinJun 19, 2026 · 1h 06m
- 03Moon Man - With Former NASA Administrator Jim BridenstineJun 12, 2026 · 1h 09m
- 04
- 05
- 06Oysters in Space - With Jacob Scoccimerra of Monolith SpaceMay 22, 2026 · 1h 09m
- 07ESCAPADES at Mars - Dr. Robert Lillis of the Mars ESCAPADE MissionMay 15, 2026 · 57 min
- 08Astronauts for America - The Best of the Best Speak OutMay 8, 2026 · 1h 10m
Notable episodes
- 01Live From ISDC with Gerry Griffin
A live recording from a conference featuring an interview with legendary Apollo Flight Director Gerry Griffin, offering firsthand accounts of the golden age of spaceflight.
- 02Moon Man - With Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
Features a candid conversation with the recent head of NASA about the political maneuvering behind the Artemis moon program and his new private-sector role.
- 03Dark Matter Intelligence - With Physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson
A deep dive into speculative physics, exploring concepts like dark matter life forms and the fundamental challenges of communicating with non-human intelligence.
What you'll be asked on this show
Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik operate as a journalistic tag team. They often open an interview by asking about the guest's origin story—their path into the space industry. From there, they use recent news headlines as a hook to draw out the guest's expert perspective, connecting current events to the guest's past and present work. They are not afraid to address controversy, asking about political pushback, historical inaccuracies in media, or the military implications of new technology. The hosts trade questions naturally, building on each other's points and allowing guests ample time for detailed, expansive answers. A common closing move is to ask for advice for the next generation or to give the guest a chance to direct listeners to their work.
The show opens with a recurring "Space Joke" segment before the hosts dive into the week's headlines. The main segment is a long-form, two-on-one interview that is conversational and collegial. The hosts are skilled at using analogies, often from science fiction, to make complex scientific and political topics accessible.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
12 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 was your path to getting into space and your specific field?”
This is a frequent opening question used to establish the guest's background and personal connection to their work.
industry
1- Q.01
“What are your thoughts on [a recent news event, e.g., a government disclosure or mission update]?”
The hosts use this to anchor the conversation in current events and elicit the guest's expert opinion on a timely topic.
controversy
4- Q.01
“In the movie [e.g., Apollo 13], there was an inaccuracy. Can you talk about the reality of that situation?”
When interviewing historical figures, the hosts often ask them to fact-check popular media portrayals of events they were part of.
- Q.02
“Can you talk about the political pushback you faced or the challenges in getting the program funded?”
Asked of guests with government experience to reveal the behind-the-scenes political and bureaucratic hurdles.
- Q.03
“Why hasn't the evidence for UFOs improved with high-quality cameras everywhere?”
This question introduces a skeptical, evidence-based viewpoint into discussions about UFOs and UAPs.
- Q.04
“Do you see [new technology] becoming part of the drone warfare of orbit?”
This question explores the potential dual-use or weaponization of new space technologies.
future
1- Q.01
“What is [guest's new company/project] and what are you trying to achieve with it?”
This question pivots from the guest's past accomplishments to their current and future work.
craft
1- Q.01
“Looking back at a historic mission like Apollo, are you astonished it all worked?”
This prompts guests with historical experience to reflect on the risks and triumphs of past eras.
process
1- Q.01
“How do you communicate with a completely alien culture?”
When discussing SETI, this question moves the conversation from detection to the fundamental challenges of xenolinguistics.
personal
2- Q.01
“Can you narrate what it was like during [a specific historical moment, e.g., the Gemini 4 spacewalk]?”
This invites guests who were present for history to provide a personal, first-hand account of a key event.
- Q.02
“Where is the best place for people to find your work online?”
A standard closing question that allows the guest to promote their own books, websites, or projects.
advice
1- Q.01
“What words of advice do you have for the people running Mission Control today?”
A common closing question for legendary figures, asking them to pass on wisdom to their modern counterparts.
Signature segments
- · Space Joke of the Week
- · Headline News Discussion
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically high-caliber experts with direct, hands-on experience in space exploration, policy, and science. The roster includes former NASA administrators, legendary Apollo-era figures, leading research physicists, and prominent science fiction authors who are also scientists.
- Daniel Whitesonon Dark Matter Intelligence - With Physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson
- Dr. David Brinon Disclosure Day - With Dr. David Brin
- Jim Bridenstineon Moon Man - With Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
- Gerry Griffinon Live From ISDC with Gerry Griffin - NASA Flight Director Breaks Down the Realities of Spaceflight
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Sponsors include a mix of direct listener support (Club TWiT) and brands like Helix Sleep and ThreatLocker. The audience is likely educated, tech-savvy, and engaged, making them a good fit for direct-to-consumer brands and B2B services in the technology and security sectors.
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 are the hosts of This Week in Space?
- The hosts are Rod Pyle, Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra Magazine, and Tariq Malik, Editor-in-Chief of Space.com.
- What is the show's format?
- It's a weekly podcast that begins with a discussion of recent space news, followed by a long-form interview with an expert guest.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, new episodes are released every Friday.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- You can listen on the TWiT.tv website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, and other podcast platforms.
- How can I listen ad-free?
- You can join Club TWiT for a monthly fee to get ad-free versions of all TWiT shows, including This Week in Space.
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
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