Planetary Radio

Series produced by Mat Kaplan

Series image

The Planetary Society's travel show that takes you to the final frontier, featuring commentary by Society CEO Bill Nye the Science Guy.

For over 20 years, we've been proud to bring Planetary Radio to our dedicated listeners. However, after careful consideration, we discontinued our traditional broadcast distribution on Aug. 2, 2023. We invite Radio stations to continue airing the extended podcast version of the show, along with any of our previous episodes. You can find the extensive archive of our broadcasts and our new podcast MP3s here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/radio-episodes-files For more information about Planetary Radio, visit our website at https://www.planetary.org/radio. For inquiries or support, contact Sarah Al-Ahmed, the host and producer of Planetary Radio, at planetaryradio@planetary.org. Thank you again for being an integral part of the Planetary Radio family. We look forward to continuing our cosmic journey together through the wonders of our podcast and beyond. Hide full description

For over 20 years, we've been proud to bring Planetary Radio to our dedicated listeners. However, after careful consideration, we discontinued our traditional broadcast distribution on Aug. 2, 2023. We invite Radio stations to continue airing the extended podcast version of the show, along with any of our previous episodes. You can find the extensive archive of our broadcasts and our new podcast MP3s here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/radio-episodes-files For more information about Planetary Radio, visit our website at https://www.planetary.org/radio. For inquiries or support, contact Sarah Al-Ahmed, the host and producer of Planetary Radio, at planetaryradio@planetary.org. Thank you again for being an integral part of the Planetary Radio family. We look forward to... Show full description


519 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Mat Kaplan, Jill Tarter and Tyler Nordgren, Credit: Mat Kaplan
Beautiful Death Valley National Park was the setting for a fascinating conversation with famed SETI researcher Jill Tarter and celebrated astronome...

Bought by KMUD, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KWMR, WMUU-LP, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash. and more


  • Added: Apr 26, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: A 2016 Space Symposium panel featuring the leaders of many national space agencies., Credit: Mat Kaplan
The annual Space Symposium in Colorado is a must-attend event for space leaders from around the world. Our coverage begins with ESA Director Genera...

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  • Added: May 03, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Artist's rendering of SNC's Dream Chaser berthed with the International Space Station, Credit: Sierra Nevada Corporation
We’re back at Space Symposium for a conversation with SNC’s Mark Sirangelo, leader of that company’s effort to build the Dream Chaser. We’ll also ...

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  • Added: May 09, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: NASA Associate Administrator John Grunsfeld and Mat Kaplan show off their space ties., Credit: Mat Kaplan
Astronaut and NASA Associate Administrator John Grunsfeld closes our coverage of the Space Foundation’s 32nd annual Space Symposium in Colorado Spr...

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  • Added: May 16, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: LightSail 2 successfully deployed its sails in the May 23rd Day In The Life Test, Credit: Jason Davis
The Planetary Society’s solar sail spacecraft was in the middle of a critical test as we spoke with the Society’s Bruce Betts and Jason Davis. Mat...

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  • Added: May 23, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: NASA
Three NASA leaders talk with host Mat Kaplan about the progress we're making toward leaving footprints on the Red Planet. Emily Lakdawalla showcase...

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  • Added: May 31, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Fact and fiction Contact Conference all-stars.  Left to right: Carol Stoker, Michael Sims, Kim Stanley Robinson, Andy Weir, Penny Boston, Chris McKay and Larry Niven., Credit: Mat Kaplan
Space art and science fiction joined science fact at the 2016 Contact Conference in Sunnyvale, California. We talk with three well-known visionarie...

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  • Added: Jun 07, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Jupiter's Great Red and Great White Spots, Credit: NASA
The Juno spacecraft will enter orbit at Jupiter on July 4th. It carries a camera that will send back spectacular images from just above the swirlin...

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  • Added: Jun 14, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: OSIRIS REx spacecraft at Bennu in artist's conception., Credit: NASA/University of Arizona
OSIRIS-REx will launch toward Near Earth Asteroid Bennu soon. In an early celebration of Asteroid Day, mission leader Dante Lauretta tells us how l...

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  • Added: Jun 21, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Artist’s concept of Juno spacecraft orbiting Jupiter., Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Juno will enter Jupiter orbit on July 4th. Mat Kaplan talks with the mission’s Principal Investigator, Scott Bolton at the Jet Propulsion Laborato...

Bought by KZMU Moab Community Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KWMR, KMUD, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Jun 28, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Lori Garver shares with young people at Politicon., Credit: Mat Kaplan
She has spent most of her life working toward a bright future for humanity in space, and Lori Garver has lost none of her passion. She visited the...

Bought by KWMR, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WMUU-LP, KFCF FM, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash. and more


  • Added: Jul 05, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Juno Mission PI Scott Bolton, Credit: Mat Kaplan
Return with us to the evening of July 4, 2016 and the exciting arrival at Jupiter of the Juno orbiter. You’ll hear the moment of successful orbita...

Bought by KMUD, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, KWMR, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jul 12, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Neil Armstrong's official NASA portrait, Credit: NASA
We celebrate the 47th anniversary of the first moon landing with the reprise of a conversation with author and NBC space reporter Jay Barbree about...

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  • Added: Jul 19, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 11
Caption: DJ Byrne, Don Heyer, Raul Perez with a TDS electronics "slice", Credit: Mat Kaplan
It takes a lot of terrific components to create a successful spacecraft like Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory. We’ll visit JPL to learn about...

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  • Added: Jul 26, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Breakthrough Starshot, Credit: BreakthroughInitiatives.org
Philip Lubin and his former student Travis Brashears have had quite a year. Their bold plan to send tiny probes to nearby stars is now supported b...

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  • Added: Aug 02, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Bob Hoffman and Bill Galary of Nye Lubricants, Credit: Mat Kaplan
You may never hear their names, but there are thousands of small to medium-sized companies without which space exploration and development wouldn’t...

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  • Added: Aug 08, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Cassini radar image of flooded canyons on Titan, Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI/Cornell
Steep canyons on Saturn's moon Titan are filled with liquid methane. That's the discovery just announced by an international team of Cassini scient...

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  • Added: Aug 15, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Scale rendering of the Soviet LK moon lander next to the US Lunar Module., Credit: Eberhard Marx
Space historian and policy expert John Logsdon joins Mat Kaplan for a fascinating conversation about how the US could have lost the race to the moo...

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  • Added: Aug 23, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Artist’s impression of planet Proxima b., Credit: European Southern Observatory
The announcement was made just days ago. Co-discoverer Michael Endl tells us about the discovery of a roughly Earth-mass planet orbiting in the hab...

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  • Added: Aug 30, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: NASA Spinoff 2016 Book, Credit: NASA
In its nearly five decades, NASA has created or improved thousands of technologies, processes and innovations. Dan Lockney is in charge of making ...

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  • Added: Sep 05, 2016
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 9