This has been the only consistent podcast I listen to weekly for YEARS. The rogues are so thoughtful in how they present science, and I love their camaraderie together. Highly recommend!

Too many topics that have partiality, particularly by Dr Novella. He honestly does very well staying impartial on politics given his clearly partial views, but no doubt his views creep into justifying his position rather the leaving it as leaning one direction but continuing to seek new information. Some topics should be left open for continued review…Here’s an example of bias- ChatGPT: Why does the skeptics guide of the universe podcast, self promoted as science based, seemingly condemn all chiropractic? Do they take an impartial view or does their view seem to have partiality? ChatGPT said: The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe (SGU) podcast, led by Dr. Steven Novella (a neurologist and Yale faculty member), often presents a highly critical view of chiropractic. While they promote themselves as science-based—and largely are in terms of their approach to evidence—their treatment of chiropractic tends to reflect a consistently skeptical, and arguably partial, stance. Why SGU Criticizes Chiropractic So Strongly Foundational Pseudoscience: SGU often highlights that chiropractic was founded in the late 19th century on the concept of “subluxations” interfering with innate intelligence and health—an idea lacking scientific basis. They argue that despite some chiropractors moving toward evidence-based musculoskeletal care, many still promote non-evidence-based practices, such as treatments for asthma, immunity, or general wellness adjustments. Lack of Internal Reform: SGU has criticized the profession for failing to regulate or distance itself from fringe elements within chiropractic, allowing unsupported claims to persist within mainstream practice. Safety Concerns: They frequently mention rare but serious complications, like strokes from cervical manipulation, and emphasize that the risk-benefit ratio isn’t favorable for neck adjustments when alternatives like physical therapy exist. Misalignment with Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM): The podcast tends to favor modalities strongly supported by randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Chiropractic care, in their view, lacks consistent, high-quality evidence beyond mild short-term relief for low back pain. Is SGU Impartial? Not entirely. While they use a science-based framework, their critiques: Sometimes overgeneralize the chiropractic profession. Do not often differentiate between evidence-based chiropractors (who limit care to musculoskeletal issues) and those promoting pseudoscience. Tend to dismiss chiropractic as a whole, rather than evaluating individual providers or subfields. So, their view is partial, in the sense that it leans heavily against chiropractic without always acknowledging the nuance or evolution within parts of the profession. Bottom Line SGU applies a consistent scientific lens, but their criticism of chiropractic is ideological as well as evidential. They advocate for reform or replacement of chiropractic with better-regulated, evidence-based manual therapies—like physical therapy—rather than integration or selective endorsement.

I look forward to new episodes every week!

Long time listener, but I took a little break and, coming back, it doesn’t feel very skeptical. Feels more like a group of friends waxing philosophical about why they like or dislike various news items. I tend to agree with them on most things, but I’m looking for more than agreement out of skepticism podcast. Would love for them to bring experts on the topics they discuss on to the show (doesn’t happen often).

Long time listener coming back after years off, happy to find it better than before. I read other reviews and, are we listening to the same podcast? Shout out to Cara from this elementary teacher because: girls in science.

Love coming back week after week.

This is a wonderful podcast with 5 people of varying backgrounds, and unique perspectives. It seems some people listen to one episode and form an opinion, likely based on their own bias, without considering that sample sizes makes a difference. There are times where the group can seem arrogant or dismissive, but that’s part of being human. Using that to dismiss the entire podcast is shortsighted. Keep being Skeptics!

SGU is the best

I have listened to this podcast weekly for over 10 years. Dr. Novella is clearly an expert in his particular field and having Cara Santa Maria adds a level of expertise in an additional field. Maybe when the show was small, having the other non experts was appropriate. Now that the show has gone on to achieve notoriety and popularity we deserve all of the hosts to have some expertise. When I can, I fast forward any time Bob and Jay speak. Perhaps they can contribute more off air. But on air, they don’t understand many of the concepts discussed, they make huge assumptions that do not apply to the topic, and overall they detract from the conversation and the podcast. I really love this podcast and have debated adding this review for months, but I worry about when it finally gets to be too much that I have to stop listening entirely.

In re: the giant clams… for a historically and scientifically accurate description of giant clams in the early americas, be sure to check out The Story of Reuben Clamzo and His Strange Daughter in the Key of A, by Arlo Guthrie

Engaging, funny, and insightful. This show really makes you think twice about the world through science and skepticism. I’ve been listening to podcasts for 15 years. Many have come and gone, but this one still gets my ear every week. Keep up the great work!

Have been enjoying the SGU for years, and continue to catch up on old episodes. Despite the older science, I enjoy the group far more prior to Cara. Though she’s clearly quite intelligent, she also clearly shows bias on studies she likes and reviews (e.g. current episode 934) and finds them “100%” conclusive, even when the authors themselves contradict this in their article. Evan’s comment is immediately talked down by Cara’s own conclusions. And the study was about bias! I’ve heard many examples of this in past episodes. Cara interjects way too much in general, often times contradicting herself because she’s so contrarian to whatever someone else is talking about. Whereas she can completely buy into (often weak/flawed) psychological studies that she chooses to review, she completely rips apart any article that Evan or Jay might review (because they’re less scientific than she?) before they can even finish describing it. Like she had to beat them to the punch, show off her knowledge, whatever. Her contrarian interjections are almost like a vocal tic for her. I do love when she is so jumpy on her comments and then finds out she’s wrong because she didn’t listen to the whole story. Just wish the guys pointed it out more often. They pamper her too much. Steve, who’s usually good at maintaining neutral stance, frequently gives Cara a pass for some reason. They all do. I love listening to the brothers Novella and they were a better group when Perry was alive and also with Rebecca. It’s MUCH harder to listen to the present day group. …However, Jay and Bob will keep me listening. They remain stellar podcast personalities. …Dr Novella periodically gets on his high horse about listeners critique of his coverage on an article. Opines how they are just making unfounded claims on his bias- all the while speculating on the motives of the listeners’ critiques. The hypocrisy so blatant… When Steve criticizes his audience, he often sounds like a wounded ego, and it isn’t even necessary. He needs to edit himself better.

Long time listener of Skeptics Guide to the Universe. Dr. Steve Novella, Dr. Cara Santa Maria, Bob, Jay and Evan all have beautiful minds and a way of explaining things that bring expert knowledge, wisdom, facts and a peace of mind to the listener. If you are a fan of science and skepticism give this podcast a true listen. If you are new to these topics and want to be truly informed, this podcast will change your life. It has changed mine and I’m truly stronger in every aspect for it. SGU FOR LIFE, BABY! 😎

Gave the latest episode a listen after being recommended this podcast. The hosts gleefully agreed on punishing doctors for sharing “misinformation”; one of the hosts timidly brought up the paramount question of who decides what misinformation is, but was patently ignored. Will never be coming back to this.

Hi, Long time listener and loved the show. Had a comment on your science or fiction this week though. I suspected the article on mammalian jaws was the fiction but for a silly reason not related to why it was fiction. In your description you kept saying mammal jaw changes occurred in therapsids prior leading to the cynodonts. Well, cynodonts are therapsids. Drove me up a wall. Almost wanted it to be science if only to expose my taxonomic obstinance. Anyway, thanks for a good show. Patti

This show needs to consider adopting some desperately needed humility, ironically given the word skeptics in the show name. There’s this Dunning Kruger issue where they are more than happy to critique others for inability to think critically about subjects they are SMEs about and yet use their own platform to be ideologues about other subjects making hand wavy claims like “research and studies show”. The multitude of complaints on their misrepresentation of NEM for example are just continually disregarded as coming from shills for the utilities instead of they themselves maybe thinking they could be wrong then and to truly question their own beliefs instead of just consistently saying they were surprised by the pushback. I’ve been in the renewables industry for my entire life and am more a proponent of DERs and a sustainable and equitable energy transition than almost anyone on this planet and NEM is clearly regressive in the majority of jurisdictions. So it is irresponsible of the hosts to use their platform as a megaphone to throw any other expert opinion under the bus and inform a wide audience who are not able to discern otherwise that their own opinions are ground truth. I have unsubscribed after weeks of this tirade and this is unfortunate given I have listened to this show for years now with an open mind after a Bill Nye vote of confidence on another podcast. I am aware you will take this comment as more internet vitriol but it would behoove you to take this as unsolicited but well meaning advice if you want to prevent more podcast defections. This is the first time I have ever used the comments section and only less than a. handful of times I have ever unsubscribed from a show

I have appreciated how your comments have helped me to understand and respond better to people who have touted fake science. I miss Randy too.

Cara is the most boring “rogue.” How douchey it is calling themselves “rogues.” Steve talks over the other rogues. They can’t make one podcast without misusing the term “orders of magnitude.” So pretentious and incorrect.

This has been my favorite podcast for more than a decade. They are great at explaining concepts in plain English and giving actionable ways to think issues through. They also demonstrate how to disagree and learn from one another.

Delete

Has gotten way too political for my taste. Especially since Cara came on. The guys use to at least try to act unbiased but Cara doesn’t even bother pretending. I think that has rubbed off on the others over the years and now I feel like practically every episode they go off on some political rant. Been listening since the Perry days, but it’s time to move on.

Having a degree in one field doesn’t make you an expert in all fields. These people are as opinionated and inaccurate as the JRE but with none of the attempts at humor.

Have listened to almost every episode. Been listening for a very long time obviously but with the last few years everyone has fallen into the pit of “I’m the expert”. Sadly they have all trended to the left and have let their bias dictate their reasoning. In 1 episode they talked about the difference between men and women in the Olympics and then continue on to talk about trans issues and how there is no difference in men who identify as women and real women. They all also want to present as if they are experts in anything they are discussing while also saying they don’t know the complexities of the subject but they know they are correct. Kara in particular (since earning her degree) feels the need to chime in on every topic to try to prove she know the subject, even when told she was wrong she tries to justify her answers. This was a great show, now it feels like any other show on cable tv, completely biased and willing to ignore science when it suits you. No different from far right or far left commentators. Sad really.

Dr. Steve and the nerds present the gold standard of skeptical, scientific podcasting. Just sit back, put your thinking hat on, and enjoy.

If you already consume facts from podcasts like Science Friday or Quirks

Awesome!

I have been listening to this show for almost twenty years and sadly feel the quality has been steadily going down as the hosts get older. Frequently we are subjected to rants (especially from Jay) that can be boiled down to “straight white man shouts his beliefs as if they were facts.” As a program that is supposed to promote and support “evidence based” they have grown too comfortable stating their beliefs as fact.

Reason? Facts? Verifiable and repeatable results? This show shines the light on reason and good sense based on facts. Prepare yourself to adjust your understanding as new facts and information is absorbed! Great show, I have been a regular listener for years. Breathe the fresh air of truth by listening once a week, it may just save your life…(especially if you take herbal remedies or go to a chiropractor).

I used to love this show, and I have to give the SGU some credit for guiding me toward scientific skepticism. But man, this show has been circling the drain now for a few years…and it is just tired now. They’re all smart and charismatic enough, but there is a dismissiveness that really permeates so many of the segments these days. It’s become a weird show that’s not really fun to listen to anymore. There’s zero humility or chill. I liken the show’s collective attitude to Neil Tyson’s. He’s right almost every time. But he knows he’s right and is unrelentingly hoity-toity about it. The SGU are approaching this. It’s borderline obnoxious, and it bums me out to have to unsubscribe. (I barely make it through their opening remarks anymore.) Instead of converting people to skepticism, I think their tone and pompousness is more likely to turn people off. Which is a drag — it’s a movement that needs and deserves better. They invoke Carl Sagan often on the show, hero of science communication and a fundamental contributor to modern skepticism. Sadly, they seem to have lost track of why Sagan was so effective — it was his approach. He was inviting, warm, forgiving, and patient. He spoke plainly but eloquently, neither speaking down to the public nor jargon-ing up his takes. But of course, he could also eviscerate pseudoscience and baloney with wit and critique as needed. He just didn’t allow that to be his schtick unlike Steve, Bob, Cara, Jay, and Evan. They love that schtick. They swing that schtick. Still, there’s plenty to enjoy about this podcast, especially in old episodes, and I would be remiss not to commend them for taking on the occasional, necessary social topic du jour. Steve and Cara’s scientific explanation and defense of transgenderism was superb, for example. And maybe SGU doesn’t wanna be like Sagan. I get that. Perhaps modernity demands a more biting, scathing rebuke of ALL THINGS UNEXPLAINED (or explained poorly/unscientifically/nonsensically). I just wish it didn’t mean they had to prioritize that over being entertainingly and invitingly informative. At this point, they come across more as ivory tower bullies than friendly science

For a show about science communication, the easiest way to show you don’t fully research is the constant mispronunciations. I can get it in the moment, but for a researched piece it shows a lack of professionalism. Bob is the only one worth hearing from - physics and all. Evan tries to be funny but falls flat, as does Jay. Steve is just a know it all who seemingly needs to out his approval on everything, and Cara is even worse with her constant interruptions and holier than thou comments. It used to be good, but I’m losing interest in spending the time, even at double speed.

Sousa. Hence the “Sousa”-phone. Those are those huge, marching tuba you see in marching bands, with the bells facing forward. they actually look much larger than a regular tuba. Also MOOG is pronounced Moge, rhymes with rogue. Other than that keep up the outstanding work. Voices of reason and inquiry in a desert of foolishness.

Been a an avid listener for a year. Today, I heard Andrea Jones Rooy—who easily equals my wife. She should be a mainstay.

I love the show! But you have to fire Bob and send him home, anywhere but Austin. Mostly cloudy on Monday for the eclipse. His record of spoiling eclipses will be unblemished if the weather forecast is accurate.

Best scientifically skeptical podcast

I really appreciate the great work this team does. i’ve been a listener for well over a decade and love the content, which is both highly educational and entertaining. Keep up the great work!

This show is the perfect antidote for all the misinformation out there today. Highly recommend!

Love this show. Great content.

Show used to be great. Lately I notice more and more they assumptions and generalizations with no real data, they just say “most people” do this or that. Cara constantly interrupts and interjects as if she knows something that nobody else does, she is often wrong. I often fast forward through her segments.

I learn something interesting each and every week. They do a great job breaking apart complex topics and it is clear how much they like working together.

I’ve been listening to all genres of podcasts for about a decade. And the one constant throughout is that this is the one podcast I make sure not to skip each week. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve turned around on an issue, not because they said so, but because of critical thinking and factual sources. It may be more important than ever in this age of misinformation. They keep it so the facts and the only time they delve into politics is when it’s relevant to science. And it’s very entertaining!

Critical thinking and science are becoming a lost art in our society. I wish every kid in school was exposed to these concepts. It's not too late to educate yourself. This podcast is very entertaining and thought provoking. The hosts should have their own tv show on PBS as far as I'm concerned. Listen to this podcast every week and you won't regret it.

Hands down my favorite podcast of all time. I can’t wait until a new episode is released every Saturday.

Look forward the skeptics podcast every week. Become part of my weekend routine.

A friend of mine told me about your podcast a couple of weeks ago and despite being kind of a podcast junkie, you guys immediately leapt to the top of my list, and I subscribed on Patreon! You’ll find me on there as Jen, accredited sorceress of ChatGPT - And I was actually pretty tickled that you did the science or fiction this week through it! I’m a software engineer, and this last year has been really hard and I’ve actually been doing a lot of work with it on mental health, focused, specifically on PTSD, and depression and anxiety. I had some pretty interesting experiments that I have had some mixed success with, it might be a topic worth considering… But I got it to write emails to enterprise SAAS customers that sound like me on a good MH day, for those days when it’s difficult to function, but I still have an obligation to my team and to the clients. I’ll bet with some jiggling and a couple sharp kicks to the GPU cluster, I could at least get it to generate a “science or fiction” with a decent chance of success that it could be useful. (Did you know that you can actually build sub routines and variables in a thread and micro training it for specific purposes?) Anyway, thanks for doing what you do. In some way, you’ve helped reignite my passion for science, and optimism for the future. PS: thank you for debunking the Yellowstone super volcano. That’s one existential threat down, at least!

I love the Science or Fiction segment. It is still the best science quiz on the web. I also love Cara except that she is cultivating an annoying vocal fry. I sure hope it is a phase that will go away.

Fantastic show, anyone with an interest in REAL and FACTUAL science, medicine and technology will love this show. Don’t leave a bad review because your personal opinions and beliefs don’t intersect with reality, people.

​skittishly insulated. will never have on any guests that disagree in the least - not meaning cranks but even any credentialed person that dares see things differently. Steve Novella holds court and the others sycophantically cheer him on. try Michael Shermer's science podcast instead - he isn't afraid to be challenged. Neil DeGrasse Tyson much better as well and he (like Shermer) will go on mainstream shows to defend his positions. The SGU “rogues” never appear unless before a hall of their groupies.

I can learn without reading. Who’d of thought. I look forward every week to listen

Love it. Have listened to every episode for years.

If there is ever a movie or series on the rogues lives, id really like to see Ray Romano be cast as Bob. Anyone else got casting ideas for the Skeptics Guide?