Facts Machine

Facts Machine is a podcast by and for people who are curious about everything — but especially the things that make them laugh. Scientists by day and pub trivia hosts by night, Emily, Noah, and Rob leverage their scientific curiosity and delight in obscure minutiae to bring you a podcast that explores life’s silliest, most unexpected, and outright awe-inspiring stories. And puns. So many puns.

Episode 72: Ballot Cleanser (ft. Dr. Lindsey Cormack PhD, Dr. Justin Williams PhD & Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy PhD)

In this Political Science-themed episode, we were joined political scientist and author Dr. Lindsey Cormack PhD, historian and comedian Dr. Justin Williams PhD, and political scientist, comedian, and circus performer (!!) Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy PhD for deep dives on democracy, laughs about gaffes, and trivia that’ll have you polling in the aisles! Lindsey: @howtoraiseacitizen Justin: @justin_williams_comedy Andrea: @jonesrooy

10-22
58:54

Episode 71: The Feeding Is Mutual (ft. Dr. Kate Bredbenner, PhD & Hampton Humber)

Come see our show THIS THURSDAY (9/19 7pm Eastern) in person in NYC or livestream from wherever you are! In this Symbiosis-themed episode, we were joined by Dr. Kate Bredbenner and Hampton Humber for stories about synergistic species, comedy about critters coexisting, and trivia that mite live on your head rent-free! Kate: @simplebiologist Hampton: @Hampdman

09-17
51:33

Episode 70: Our Wetter Nature (ft. Joshua Barber & Dr. Diana Li, PhD)

In this marine biology themed episode, we were joined by fish expert Joshua Barber and squid expert Dr. Diana Li, PhD for deep dives on the deep sea, the laugh aquatic, and trivia that will show you the error of your waves. Josh: @joshbarbershop @gettingfishypod Diana: @dianateuthis.bsky.social

07-09
56:54

Episode 69: Burrows of NYC (ft. Dr. Casey Lardner, PhD, Dr. Valentina Alaasam, PhD, & Sam Corbin)

For this show about urban animals, we were joined by guest scientists Dr. Casey Lardner, PhD & Dr. Valentina Alaasam, PhD (plus guest game-master Sam Corbin!) for deep dives on our nest-door neighbors, a habitat for hilarity, and trivia about why we can’t have niche things!

06-11
47:12

Episode 68: Know Your Earth (ft. Kristina Gustovich & Kasha Patel)

Come see our show THIS THURSDAY (5/16) 7pm Eastern at Caveat in NYC or via livestream from wherever you are! For this Earth-themed show, we were joined by stand-up comedian & science writer Kasha Patel as well as Earth scientist, performer & educator Kristina Gustovich for deep dives on the deep interior of our planet, comedy about the climate, and trivia that’ll was into this world! Kristina Gustovich: @mucho_gustovich Kasha Patel: @Kashablanca

05-15
46:29

Episode 67: Piece of Mind (ft. Dr. Chloe Lopez-Lee, PhD & Dr. Devon Collins, PhD)

We were joined by neuroscientists Dr. Chloe Lopez-Lee, PhD and Dr. Devon Collins, PhD for deep dives on the deepest recesses of our brains, comedy about consciousness, and trivia that blew our minds!

04-16
48:51

Episode 66: Hearts & Sciences (ft. Adam Rosenzweig & Dr. Paula Croxson, PhD)

In this love-themed episode, we were joined by two beloved science communicators, chemist Adam Rosenzweig & neuroscientist Dr. Paula Croxson for a show full of deep dives on the deepest recesses of our hearts, comedy about commitment, and trivia you'll love at first sight! Dr. Paula Croxson Insta/TikTok/Twitter: @PaulaCroxson Adam Rosenzweig Twitter: @AdamTheChemist Insta: @Adam_The_Chemist TikTok: @AtomsAndBonds

03-13
50:25

Episode 65: Spacing Out (ft. Dr. Mark Popinchalk, PhD & Dr. Moiya McTier, PhD)

In this episode, we were joined by two out-of-this-world science communicators, astrophysicist and folklorist Dr. Moiya McTier, PhD & astronomer Dr. Mark Popinchalk, PhD for a show full of deep dives on deep space, comet-y about astronomy, and trivia that made us see stars! Moiya's socials: Twitter/TikTok/Instagram: @GoAstroMo Mark's socials: Twitter/TikTok - @MarkPopinchalk Instagram - @Mark.Popinchalk

02-13
57:08

Episode 64: Holi-daze (ft. Dr. Moiya McTier, PhD)

Come to our live show THURSDAY 1/25 7PM at Caveat in NYC or via livestream from wherever you are! Tickets & show info: ⁠https://www.caveat.nyc/events/facts-machine-1-25-2024⁠ Moiya's book The Milky Way Moiya's new podcast Pale Blue Pod Moiya's PBS show Fate & Fabeled Moiya's first podcast ExoLore

01-17
01:16:20

Episode 62: Seas Get Degrees (ft. Jaida Elcock, Kyle Marian, & Dr. Diana Li, PhD)

Tickets for our Friday, 3/17 show "Taking A Brain Check" Welcome to Facts Marine! Noah was joined live at Caveat in NYC by guest marine biologists and science communicators Jaida Elcock and Dr. Diana Li, PhD, as well as scientist and comedian Kyle Marian! Listen as they make waves, do deep dives on the deep sea, and have a “littoral” whale of a time!

03-15
01:13:58

Episode 61: All You Need Is Lobe (ft. Leslie Sibener & Dr. Devon Collins, PhD)

Tickets for our Friday, 3/17 show "Taking A Brain Check" During NYC's Brain Awareness Week, Em and Noah (and Rob in spirit!) were joined live at Caveat by guest neuroscientists and science communicators Leslie Sibener and Dr. Devon Collins, PhD, as they endeavored to get tangled up in neural nets, celebrate Dendritic Arbor Day, and fight for neurite to party! Piano accompaniment: Rose McCathran & Ryan Brechmacher

05-25
01:10:06

Episode 60: The Whole Tooth & Nothing But The Tooth (ft. Jaida Elcock)

Tickets for our Friday, 3/17 show "Taking A Brain Check" Joined by special guest Jaida Elcock, shark scientist and grad student at MIT-WHOI, co-founder of Minorities in Shark Science (MISS), organizer of #BlackinMarineScienceWeek, and TikTok-er extraordinaire, we take a bite out of TEETH facts! Open (your ears) wide for aquatic melon ballers, the under appreciated craft of dentist office blogging, and a Michael Phelps race that never was, but totally should have been. And for the love of enamel, make sure to floss!!

04-27
01:32:11

Episode 59: Dark Matters (ft. Dr. Moiya McTier, PhD) – Live at Caveat

Tickets for our Friday, 3/17 show "Taking A Brain Check" Live at Caveat in NYC, just days before Halloween, we were joined by folklorist to the stars, and astrophysicist to the folks, Dr. Moiya McTier, PhD! Listen in to learn about a threatening arrangement of triangles, the ballad of the Space Bat, and an Ohio pig farmer who dreamed of two things: 1) seeing the stars and 2) smashing Confederates...AND HE WAS ALL OUT OF STARS... Listen to Moiya over at her science-based world-building podcast, ExoLore! Watch Moiya over at her show on PBS Digital Services Fate & Fabled! Read Moiya over at her new book The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy!

03-08
01:04:56

Episode 58: Food for Thought (ft. Kyle Marian) – Live At Caveat

Science Friday engagement producer, comedian, and inclusive science communicator extraordinaire Kyle Marian joins us for a gastronomical live show at Caveat all about FOOD. In a variety show of storytelling, audience challenges, and unrepentant culinary goofiness, we chew the fat, spill the beans, go bananas, and satisfy even the most voracious of trivia appetites. Tune in, and eat your heart out 😋

10-19
01:05:54

Episode 57: Pigments of Our Imagination (ft. Dr. Latasha Wright, PhD)

Accompanied by special guest Dr. Latasha Wright, chief scientific officer at BioBus and Rob’s bio-boss, we finally share all the facts we’ve been dyeing to tell you! Tune in to learn all about the art, science, and history behind pigments and dyes—we hope it all soaks in! 

10-05
01:21:21

Episode 56: The Nerds & The Bees (ft. Dr. Carly York, PhD)

 Our guest today is biology professor, science communicator, and co-owner of an animal sanctuary (!) Dr. Carly York, who joins us for a (lightly NSFW) episode about romantic relationships in the animal world. Tune in and keep an eye out for Carly’s upcoming book on romance in the wild!

07-20
01:10:04

Episode 55: The Extremo-Files (ft. Dr. André Pineda, PhD)

 Science comedian, neuroscience PhD, and “guardian of knowledge” Dr. André Pineda makes his second Facts Machine appearance on an episode in homage to organisms that live on the edge, thrive in the unsurvivable, and take that “grow where you are planted” proverb that gets embroidered on pillows as a personal challenge: extremophiles.

06-22
01:34:36

Episode 54: Now You're Speaking Our Language (ft. Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy, PhD)

This week we’re joined by data science professor, standup comedian, and circus performer, Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy to articulate, communicate, enunciate, extrapolate, debate, formulate…where was I going with this? OH RIGHT we’re talking about language. Word. 

05-25
01:25:25

Episode 53: Museum To Our Ears (ft. Dustin Growick)

Dino 101 host, science communicator, and dinosaur whisperer Dustin Growick is our guest for an episode NOT about dinosaurs (but don’t tell them, we’re sworn to secrecy). Instead, we put favorite museums on display and exhibit our finest trivia that has nothing to do with dinosaurs. Who needs ‘em, anyway?* *jk, dinosaurs. We love you, dinosaurs.

04-27
01:21:15

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