Was Benjamin Franklin America's First Scientist?
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 phil...
30 Sep 20251h 29min
COVID-19: What We Learned (and Didn't) About Masks, Lockdowns, and Vaccines
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 horrifyin...
27 Sep 20251h 5min
The Power of Common Knowledge: Steven Pinker on Language, Norms, and Punishment
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...
23 Sep 20251h 35min
Jim Lampley on Hosting the Super Bowl, Calling Tyson's Fights, and His Friendship with O.J.
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 Olym...
20 Sep 20251h 22min
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: Shermer Reflects on Political Violence
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...
17 Sep 202527min
The Fate of Nations: Why Ignoring Human Nature Dooms Politics
Science writer Nicholas Wade explains how human nature continues to shape—and sometimes destabilize—modern civilization, and argues that ignoring the effects of human nature on politics is one of soci...
13 Sep 20251h 37min
How to Protect Children from Social Media and AI
Parenting today often feels like an uphill battle, with technology invading every corner of our kids' lives. From the rise of social media addiction to the growing mental health crisis among children ...
9 Sep 202530min
The Future of Space Exploration Amid NASA Mission Shutdowns
In this episode of The Michael Shermer Show, Michael Shermer interviews Alan Stern, a prominent planetary scientist and astronaut. Stern discusses his recent suborbital flight, the differences between...
6 Sep 20251h 5min
