The BEST episodes of StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Every episode of StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson!

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson brings together celebrities, scientists and comedians to explore a variety of cosmic topics and collide pop culture with science in a way that late-night television has never seen before. Weekly topics range from popular science fiction, space travel, extraterrestrial life, the Big Bang, to the future of Earth and the environment. Tyson is an astrophysicist with a gifted ability to connect with everyone, inspiring us all to "keep looking up." The studio audience portion of the series is filmed in the Cullman Hall of the Universe at the American Museum of Natural History’s Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City — where Tyson serves as the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium.

Last Updated: 3/4/2024Network: National GeographicStatus: Ended
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The Martian
star
9.04
56 votes

#1 - The Martian

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/2016

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews best-selling author Andy Weir.

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Charles Bolden/NASA
star
8.67
86 votes

#2 - Charles Bolden/NASA

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/15/2015

This week’s theme is NASA’s Vision on Space. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden, administrator of NASA, examine NASA’s past, present and future. Astrophysicist Dr. Michael Shara and science educator Bill Nye share their thoughts on the space program.

Jimmy Carter
star
8.63
93 votes

#3 - Jimmy Carter

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/25/2015

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and President Jimmy Carter examine the topic of Pulling the Plug on Pestilence. The duo discuss the importance of and progress toward ending fatal epidemic diseases. Mark Siddall, curator of the division of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History, and comedian Chuck Nice share their views on this matter.

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Richard Dawkins
star
8.46
112 votes

#4 - Richard Dawkins

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/18/2015

StarTalk tackles a burning question: Can Science and Religion Coexist? Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and evolutionary biologist and ethologist Richard Dawkins debate whether science and religion can truly coexist in today’s society. Jesuit clergyman James Martin and comedian Eugene Mirman weigh in.

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Mars 1
star
8.27
60 votes

#5 - Mars 1

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/13/2015

Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews Mars One co-founder Bas Lansdorp and discusses the idea of establishing a permanent human settlement on Mars with co-host Eugene Mirman and guest Mike Massimino.

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Christopher Nolan
star
8.05
108 votes

#6 - Christopher Nolan

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/27/2015

Discussing how director Christopher Nolan translates his love of science to his films; with theoretical cosmologist Dr. Janna Levin and comic Eugene Mirman.

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William Shatner
star
8.00
52 votes

#7 - William Shatner

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/19/2016

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with iconic actor William Shatner.

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Seth MacFarlane
star
7.94
69 votes

#8 - Seth MacFarlane

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/8/2015

Neil deGrasse Tyson joins Seth MacFarlane, creator of “Family Guy” and fellow executive producer of “Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey”, to discuss the role science plays in his work and personal life. In a private interview, the two take on myriad topics, including social issues in cartoons, the science of “Family Guy” and the science fiction parodies that abound in the series. Tyson is joined in the Cullman Hall of the Universe by comedian co-host Chuck Nice and astrophysicist and AMNH research associate Charles Liu, and later Bill Nye gives his take on cartoons and animation.

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Whoopi Goldberg
star
7.88
89 votes

#9 - Whoopi Goldberg

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/2016

Academy Award-winner and comic Whoopi Goldberg joins Neil deGrasse Tyson.

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Chris Hadfield
star
7.87
84 votes

#10 - Chris Hadfield

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/1/2015

Social Media-Savvy Astronauts are taking over the cosmos. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space, discuss social media milestones in space, and its usage among today’s astronauts. Former astronaut Dr. Mike Massimo and comedian Eugene Mirman comment on this growing trend.

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Bill Maher
star
7.86
49 votes

#11 - Bill Maher

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/6/2017

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with comedian Bill Maher and discusses satire in society with Maeve Higgins and Dr. Alison Dagnes.

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Search for Aliens
star
7.85
48 votes

#12 - Search for Aliens

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/9/2017

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with astronomer Jill Tarter.

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Brian Greene
star
7.81
27 votes

#13 - Brian Greene

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/17/2016

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews theoretical physicist and bestselling author Brian Greene.

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Interstellar Space Travel
star
7.80
41 votes

#14 - Interstellar Space Travel

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/17/2017

Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with Mae Jemison and discusses the challenges of interstellar travel with Godfrey and Lawrence Krauss.

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US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
star
7.80
15 votes

#15 - US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/26/2016

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.

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Stephen Colbert
star
7.80
44 votes

#16 - Stephen Colbert

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/14/2018

Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with Stephen Colbert and discusses the intersection of science and comedy with Adam Conover and Sophia McClennen.

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George Takei
star
7.76
132 votes

#17 - George Takei

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/20/2015

Discussing how the scenarios in ``Star Trek'' relate to moral and social issues of today with actor George Takei.

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Arianna Huffington
star
7.69
91 votes

#18 - Arianna Huffington

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/11/2015

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, explore Living in the Information Age. The two discuss how technology influences the rate and ways in which we communicate. Journalist Jeff Jarvis and comedian Chuck Nice add their insight.

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Jay Leno
star
7.69
48 votes

#19 - Jay Leno

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/12/2016

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with comedian and car enthusiast Jay Leno.

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Robert Kirkman and The Walking Dead
star
7.68
22 votes

#20 - Robert Kirkman and The Walking Dead

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/24/2016

Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews Robert Kirkman, creator of the comic book turned television series "The Walking Dead".

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David Crosby
star
7.67
21 votes

#21 - David Crosby

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/20/2015

Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews David Crosby and discusses folk music and social justice with co-host Chuck Nice and guest Thomas Sugrue.

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Lance Armstrong
star
7.64
14 votes

#22 - Lance Armstrong

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/2017

Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with Lance Armstrong and discusses the science of cycling with Scott Adsit, Max Glaskin, and Arthur Caplan.

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The Science of Weather
star
7.64
22 votes

#23 - The Science of Weather

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/16/2017

Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with NOAA Administrator Kathryn D. Sullivan.

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James Cameron
star
7.64
11 votes

#24 - James Cameron

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/2017

Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews filmmaker and Nat Geo explorer-in-residence James Cameron.

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Brian Cox
star
7.63
32 votes

#25 - Brian Cox

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/27/2015

Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews physicist Brian Cox and discusses communicating science to the public with co-host Maeve Higgins and guest Jason Silva.

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