HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Point of Inquiry'' is the radio show and flagship
podcast A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosin ...
of the Center for Inquiry (CFI), "a think tank promoting science, reason, and secular values in public policy and at the grass roots". Started in 2005, ''Point of Inquiry'' has consistently been ranked among the best science podcasts available in
iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mu ...
. It has been celebrated for its guests and for the quality of its interviews. Former guests include leading scientists, writers and public intellectuals such as
Neil DeGrasse Tyson Neil deGrasse Tyson ( or ; born October 5, 1958) is an American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. Tyson studied at Harvard University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Columbia University. From 1991 to 1994, he was a ...
, Paul Krugman, Lisa Randall,
Brian Greene Brian Randolph Greene (born February 9, 1963) is a American theoretical physicist, mathematician, and string theorist. Greene was a physics professor at Cornell University from 19901995, and has been a professor at Columbia University sinc ...
, Oliver Sacks,
Susan Jacoby Susan Jacoby (; born June 4, 1945) is an American author. Her 2008 book about American anti-intellectualism, ''The Age of American Unreason'', was a ''New York Times'' best seller. She is an atheist and a secularist. Jacoby graduated from Michiga ...
, David Brin and
Temple Grandin Mary Temple Grandin (born August 29, 1947) is an American academic and animal behaviorist. She is a prominent proponent for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter and the author of more than 60 scientific papers on animal behavior. Gra ...
.


Format

''Point of Inquiry'' is recorded at the
Center for Inquiry The Center for Inquiry (CFI) is a US nonprofit organization that works to mitigate belief in pseudoscience and the paranormal, as well as to fight the influence of religion in government. History The Center for Inquiry was established in 199 ...
headquarters in
Amherst, New York Amherst () is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Erie County, New York, Erie County, New York (state), New York, United States. Amherst is an inner ring suburb of Buffalo. As of 2020, the town had a total population of 129,595. Th ...
.
iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mu ...
features over 200 free episodes of ''Point of Inquiry'', averaging 30 to 35 minutes in length, with each consisting of a long form interview with a high-profile guest from the worlds of scientific skepticism, science,
academia An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy ...
, and philosophy. The show focuses on traditional topics in scientific skepticism, such as psychic investigations,
alternative medicine Alternative medicine is any practice that aims to achieve the healing effects of medicine despite lacking biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or evidence from clinical trials. Complementary medicine (CM), complementary and alt ...
, alleged extraterrestrial visitations, ghosts, and
cryptozoology Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience and subculture that searches for and studies unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated, particularly those popular in folklore, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness ...
. It also covers current events and public policy. The inaugural episode in December 2005 featured an interview with CFI founder
Paul Kurtz Paul Kurtz (December 21, 1925 – October 20, 2012) was an American scientific skeptic and secular humanist. He has been called "the father of secular humanism". He was Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buff ...
, who spoke about the incompatibility of science and religion. In July 2012, ''Point of Inquiry'' produced their first video episode featuring Michael De Dora, Ed Brayton,
Jessica Ahlquist Jessica Ahlquist (born June 21, 1995) is an American activist and public speaker who filed a lawsuit in 2012 against Cranston High School West, where she was a student, to remove a religious prayer from its auditorium. The suit, '' Ahlquist v. ...
, and
Jamie Kilstein Jamie Alexander Kilstein (born May 17, 1982) is an American writer, radio host, and stand-up comic. He grew up in Pennington, New Jersey, and is the oldest of five children. He lives in Austin, TX. Career Writing Kilstein's writing has appeared ...
. Previously, Chris Mooney hosted half of the shows with the balance split between the other hosts. In October 2013, CFI announced the "new team who will take ''Point of Inquiry'' into its next exciting phase", Lindsay Beyerstein, Josh Zepps and producer Joshua Billingsley. On June 2, 2017, ''Point of Inquiry'' released its first episode with new host Paul Fidalgo. New hosts Kavin Senapathy and James Underdown were announced on October 15, 2018. The show is produced by CFI digital marketing strategist, Michael Powell.


Staff


Timeline


Popular Science Idol

''Point of inquiry'' co-sponsored the "Popular Science Idol" contest along with the National Science Foundation Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, Discover Magazine, and Popular Science as a science spoof of the reality television series ''
American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
''. The event was hosted as a workshop to discover the next great science communicator. The event was hosted by Chris Mooney and Indre Viskontas served as one of the expert judges. The first event was won by Tom Di Loberto for a 3-minute presentation on the difficulties involved in predicting the weather.


Select episodes

A full episode list is available on iTunes.


Recognition

In May 2012, ''Point of Inquiry'' was named one of the "Top 10 Podcasts to Feed Your Brain" by Business Insider. Featured podcast suggestion by the ''Telegraph'' February 9, 2013.


Awards


References


External links

* {{Skeptical podcasts Philosophy podcasts Scientific skepticism mass media Science podcasts Alternative radio programs American talk radio programs Audio podcasts 2005 podcast debuts 2005 radio programme debuts