Blue Dot

Series produced by North State Public Radio

Series image

Conversations exploring where science and pop culture collide. Hosted by Dave Schlom with audio production by Matt Fidler.

Blue Dot, named after Carl Sagan's famous speech about our place in the universe, features interviews with guests from all over the regional, national and worldwide scientific communities. Host Dave Schlom leads discussions about the issues science is helping us address with experts who shed light on climate change, space exploration, astronomy, technology and much more. Dave asks us to remember: from deep space, we all live on a pale, blue dot.


160 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Blue Dot: LUNAR OUTFITTERS: a conversation with space suit historian Bill Ayrey
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Dave once again delves into the Apollo Program 50 years ago with this in depth look at the iconic space suits that Neil Armstrong and his 11 fellow...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Dec 10, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF THE MOON: Planetary Geologist Clive Neal
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Clive R Neal
Dave is joined by planetary geologist Clive Neal from the University of Notre Dame for a spirited conversation on the past, present and future expl...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Nov 19, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: UNFOLD: A Conversation with Science Podcaster Amy Quinton
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Dave visits with fellow science communicator Amy Quinton. Amy and co-host Kat Kerlin are the creators of Unfold a science podcast featuring researc...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Nov 13, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: WEATHER IN THE WEST: Climate Scientist Daniel Swain
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Dave is joined by climate and weather expert Daniel Swain from UCLA's School of the Environment and Sustainability. His weather blog, Weather West ...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Nov 05, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: Mr. Wizard for Generation Z: A Conversation with Jeff Vinokur
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Dave talks to the founder and CEO of Generation Genius, Jeff Vinokur. "Dr. Jeff" aka "The Dancing Scientist" has been wowing audiences for the past...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Oct 29, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: THE WILDFIRE PARADIGM: Interviews with UC Davis Experts
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Fires at Stebbins Cold Canyon Entry, Near Quail Ridge
The west's epic wildfire season shows now signs of letting up as one Red Flag Warning follows another and millions of acres burn. Dave talks to thr...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Oct 22, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: Where the Stars Are the Stars: Griffith Observatory with Director Ed Krupp
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Griffith Observatory overlooking Los Angeles
Dave takes a virtual field trip to one of his childhood haunts -- the Griffith Observatory perched above the Los Angeles Basin in Griffith Park. Ou...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Oct 15, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: Possible Worlds -- An Interview with Ann Druyan
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Dave talks to one of his favorite people on the planet, Ann Druyan. As the wife of the late Carl Sagan, Ann has worked tirelessly since his passing...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Sep 17, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: Astronomer and Artist Tyler Nordgren
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Tyler Nordgren
Dave talks to longtime friend and fellow astronomer and artist Tyler Nordgren. In 2017 Tyler invited Dave to join his viewing of the Great American...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Sep 10, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: MELTING ICE AND RISING SEAS
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Dave talks to two NASA climate scientists on the topic of global sea level rise. First, longtime friend of Blue Dot Josh Willis joins us to talk ab...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Sep 03, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: Jim Hartz
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Dave talks to legendary NBC anchor and correspondent Jim Hartz. While perhaps best known for co-hosting the Today Show for two years from 1974-1976...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Aug 21, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot at the Beach: A Look at Surf Culture PART 2
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Be sure to tune in next week when BD returns to the beach with Airrion Copeland, a black surfer who produced the documentary WhiteWash about chall...

Bought by KAZU Seaside, Calif. and KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Aug 14, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 2
Blue Dot at The Beach: The Cultural and Environmental Impacts of Surfing Part 1
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
The CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, Chad Nelsen joins us for a look at their work on protecting beach access and keeping the surf zone safe from c...

Bought by KAZU Seaside, Calif. and KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Jul 30, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 2
Blue Dot: The REAL "Dr. Jones": Seismologist Lucy Jones on Getting Through Disasters
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Dr. Lucy Jones on KTLA in Los Angeles
Unlike the fictional Indiana, there is a real life Dr. Jones and her name is Lucy. Dave talks to seismologist and disaster preparedness expert Lucy...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Jul 16, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: Manifesto for A Moral Revolution by Jacqueline Novogratz
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Jacqueline Novogratz
Dave has been thinking a lot lately, like many of us, about the role that market driven economic policies have on the environment, social justice i...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Jun 18, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: Surf's Up!
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Frank Quiarte at Maverick's
Big Wave Dave talks surfing! Featuring a conversation between San Francisco Chronicle sportswriter Bruce Jenkins and retired NASA Oceanographer Bil...

Bought by KAZU Seaside, Calif. and KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: Jun 03, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 2
Blue Dot: America Returns to Space
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Doug Hurley (foreground) and Bob Behnken aboard Dragon Demo 2, Credit: SpaceX via NASA
After spending the last two years looking back at the Apollo Program, Dave looks ahead to the Commercial Crew flight program and Project Artemis. W...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: May 28, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: A BLAST FROM THE PAST: Mt St. Helens 40 Years Ago with Donald Swanson
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
Dave visits with legendary United States Geological Survey volcanologist Donald Swanson in this look back at the eruption of Mt. St. Helens on May ...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: May 14, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: Living in Isolation with Your "Family": A Conversation with Astronaut Peggy Whitson
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Caption: Peggy Whitson and her home planet
Dave talks to retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. She holds records for the most time in space for any American, any woman and commanded the Inte...

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach


  • Added: May 01, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Blue Dot: THE EPIC STORY OF APOLLO 13 Pt. 2
From: North State Public Radio
Series: Blue Dot
Piece image
In the conclusion of our look back at the Apollo 13 mission 50 years ago, Dave is joined by Barbara Lovell Harrison, John Aaron and Andrew Chaikin....

Bought by KSPB Pebble Beach and KCNP


  • Added: Apr 09, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 2

Playlists That Feature This Series: