76 episodes

Science and comedy collide as physicist Dr. Kevin Peter Hickerson is joined by comedians Jimmy O Yang, Mitch Burrow, Owen Benjamin, Griff Pippin and Matthew Broussard, discuss the absurdities of the universe with intriguing and inspiring guests from the best of the academic and entertainment world.

Surely You're Joking Surely You're Joking

    • Science
    • 4.5 • 42 Ratings

Science and comedy collide as physicist Dr. Kevin Peter Hickerson is joined by comedians Jimmy O Yang, Mitch Burrow, Owen Benjamin, Griff Pippin and Matthew Broussard, discuss the absurdities of the universe with intriguing and inspiring guests from the best of the academic and entertainment world.

    Robert Zubrin and the astronauts' direct advice.

    Robert Zubrin and the astronauts' direct advice.

    Dr. Robert Zubrin of the Mars Society returns to discuss Mars Direct, carbon credits, plans for the moon, and his shout out from Micheal Collins on the 50th Anniversary of the moon landing.

    • 48 min
    Avery Broderick and the first black hole selfie.

    Avery Broderick and the first black hole selfie.

    Meeting up at the April Meeting of the American Physical Society, Dr. Avery Broderick tells Kevin about the Breakthrough Prize winning first photo of a super massive black hole in Virgo, Kevin's birth sign.

    • 21 min
    Robert Picardo, Konstantin Batygin and the factor of two hypothesis.

    Robert Picardo, Konstantin Batygin and the factor of two hypothesis.

    Robert Picardo, best known as the holographic doctor on Star Trek Voyager and host of the Planetary Post, meets up with Kevin and returning Surely You're Joking guest star and Planet Nine hypotheses and hunter, Konstantin Batygin, to revel brand new secrets about Planet Nine! From the headquarters of the Planetary Society in Pasadena, Konstantin announces fresh of the presses details about the size, shape, and location of the still as-of-yet photographed Planet Nine!

    • 46 min
    Mark Mammone and the alternate universe.

    Mark Mammone and the alternate universe.

    Mark Mamonne is a actor, comedian, and production assistant on Seth McFarland's "The Orville." Mark comes on Surly You're Joking to talk about leaving stand up for acting and to tell us about his upcoming first appearance on the show!

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Sumner Norman and the mind-reading robots.

    Sumner Norman and the mind-reading robots.

    Dr. Sumner Norman can do a lot of things, but one of the most amazing is that he can read your thoughts, sometimes even before you realized you thought it. Sumner explains how his work will help disabled people regain control their lives, almost straight out of the movie Upgrade.

    • 1 hr 18 min
    James Tuttle Keane and the sketch of the farthest snowman.

    James Tuttle Keane and the sketch of the farthest snowman.

    Dr. James Tuttle Keane brings some of his sketches of the most distant (and possibly the oldest) probed object in our solar system named Ultima Thule. In addition to studying planet, James makes brilliant drawings to help explain what we are learning about this strange, city-sized snowman-like object that was visited on New Year's Eve 2019 by the New Horizons space probe. James works along side Brian May from Queen and together they help both discover our distant celestial past and share those exciting discoveries with the public.

    • 49 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
42 Ratings

42 Ratings

Labbox ,

Entersplaing

When KP Hickerson isn't "mansplaning" (or he's an effing physicist speaking to comedians, or laypeople, condescendingly) and when Griff Pippen is there to "bro" it down for everyone. This is the smartest, dumb/ funniest podcast on the planet. If you want to science but you can't think real good... this podcast will make you the smartest of your dumb friends. If you're actually a scientist and want to keep up on pop-sci (like pop culture only smarter) and like to laugh; this podcast is for both and everyone in between... Honestly why are you reading this? Do you not have a life? Just listen!!! You'll laugh and learn something.

TricShi ,

Please let the guests talk

I’m writing this review because I really hope that the host can read this: the topics and contents are awesome, the scientist guests are impressive and the comedian guests are funny. However, I full-heartedly agree with the top review that KP Hickersen needs to “mansplain” less — or simply pay attention and stop interrupting the other scientist guests. This is not only missing the point of interviewing (and make me so sad when those respectable elder scientists struggled to catch up in talking), but also just blatantly rude no matter which context you are in. It’s been 2 years since the review and nothing seems having changed. I can see how this is a common problem among really smart people and get unnoticed, but please be a better person and we need you to keep making these contents.

Kdbasey ,

So great!

So funny and informative, I needed a podcast like this in my life❤️

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