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.
#1 - The Martian
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/2016
Host Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews best-selling author Andy Weir.
#2 - 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.
#3 - 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.
#4 - 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.
#5 - 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.
#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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
#9 - 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.
#10 - Search for Aliens
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/9/2017
Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with astronomer Jill Tarter.
#11 - William Shatner
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/19/2016
Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with iconic actor William Shatner.
#12 - Jay Leno
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/12/2016
Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with comedian and car enthusiast Jay Leno.
#13 - Whoopi Goldberg
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/2016
Academy Award-winner and comic Whoopi Goldberg joins Neil deGrasse Tyson.
#14 - 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.
#15 - 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.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#16 - 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.
#18 - Dan Savage
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/4/2015
Activist, author and journalist Dan Savage joins Dr. Tyson to discuss what love means in today’s society. Anthropologist Helen Fisher and comedian Chuck Nice add their insight to the conversation.
#19 - Biz Stone
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/8/2015
Dr. Tyson explores The Impact of Twitter on Society as he sits down with Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter and co-founder/CEO of Super.me. The two discuss how the social media phenomenon has affected the way we communicate in today’s world. Sharing their experience and opinions are Dr. Alondra Nelson, professor of sociology at Columbia University; Clive Thompson, journalist; and Eugene Mirman, comedian.
#20 - Norman Lear
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/22/2015
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Norman Lear, television writer and producer, discuss TV and the Evolution of American Culture. From “All in the Family” to “The Big Bang Theory,” the diverse television landscape and evolving American culture are explored. Author Saul Austerlitz and comedian Chuck Nice add their insight.
#21 - Science of Game of Thrones
Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/23/2017
Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with "Game of Thrones" actor Isaac Wright.
#22 - Penn & Teller
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/15/2015
Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews magicians Penn and Teller and discusses the science of illusion with co-host Chuck Nice and guest Susana Martinez-Conde.
#23 - Susan Sarandon
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/29/2015
Neil deGrasse Tyson expands his cosmic perspective with actress and activist Susan Sarandon. The two discuss gender, race, perspective, marijuana and Carl Sagan.
#24 - Larry Wilmore
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/1/2015
Emmy® award-winning producer, actor, comedian and writer Larry Wilmore joins Tyson in the hot seat as the two delve into the intersection of science and comedy. At the Cullman Hall of the Universe, Tyson is joined by his co-hosts: comedian Chuck Nice and Scott Weems, author of “Ha! The Science of When We Laugh and Why.” The three discuss the physiology of laughter, the mathematics of crafting jokes and the link between humor and creativity. Adding to the discussion, author Andy Weir patches into the studio to discuss the comedy in his book “The Martian” and Bill Nye presents an improv performance to demonstrate that science can, in fact, be funny.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#25 - Time Travel
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/2016
Host Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews “Back to the Future” actor Christopher Lloyd and “Dr. Who” actress Michelle Gomez.