The Supermassive Podcast

173

The UK's #1 space podcast.

Science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst whizz through the universe to explore the latest research with leading experts, dive to history from the society’s archives and take on your weird and wonderful questions about all things space. Can we gravitationally hitch-hike out of the solar system? Do we live in a multiverse? What is time? Plus Dr Robert Massey is on hand with his top star-gazing tips.

Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fm

And keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Time Real?
May 28, 2025 – 57:02
BONUS - Mole People on Mars
May 13, 2025 – 16:06
What is Gravity?
Apr 24, 2025 – 53:54
BONUS - Can we gravitationally "hitch hike" out of the Solar System?
Apr 11, 2025 – 15:01
Returning to the Moon - with ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer
Mar 31, 2025 – 52:08
BONUS - Can A Star Orbit Another Star?
Mar 12, 2025 – 12:03
Sample Return Missions - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Feb 28, 2025 – 46:40
EMERGENCY BONUS - Asteroid 2024 YR4
Feb 19, 2025 – 13:09
BONUS - Could we capture a primordial black hole?
Feb 12, 2025 – 16:34
The Search for Space Aliens
Jan 29, 2025 – 55:21
Q&A - Space Potatoes and Christmas Stars
Dec 21, 2024 – 53:30
BONUS - Why can't anything go faster than the speed of light?
Dec 13, 2024 – 14:11
The Mystery of Fast Radio Bursts
Dec 5, 2024 – 40:41
BONUS - Nuclear Pasta & G-Astronomy
Nov 19, 2024 – 17:42
Strange Stars and Bizarre Binaries
Nov 6, 2024 – 48:10
BONUS - A Bumper Edition
Oct 19, 2024 – 31:38
Untangling the Cosmic Web
Oct 2, 2024 – 43:57
BONUS - What distorts time?
Sep 26, 2024 – 15:53
We Made It To Mercury!
Sep 4, 2024 – 35:26
BONUS - Galaxy Spin and Saving Herstmonceux Observatory
Aug 21, 2024 – 13:41
Venus aka "Earth's Evil Twin"
Aug 1, 2024 – 42:49
BONUS - Overmassive Galaxies
Jul 20, 2024 – 22:39
Q&A - Black Hole Special
Jul 3, 2024 – 50:18
BONUS - Lumpy Space Potatoes
Jun 21, 2024 – 14:04
The Major Lunar Standstill
Jun 4, 2024 – 47:52
BONUS - Why does the Aurora Borealis look better on my phone?
May 23, 2024 – 19:50
Voyager: Where no-one has gone before...
Apr 29, 2024 – 47:58
BONUS - Wobbly Planets and Baby Names
Apr 10, 2024 – 13:50
Into The Interstellar
Mar 26, 2024 – 45:45
BONUS - Dust, stars and alien streetlights
Mar 13, 2024 – 12:17
Quakes in Space
Feb 28, 2024 – 53:40
BONUS - Double Yolker Galaxies
Feb 12, 2024 – 13:19
The End of the World
Jan 30, 2024 – 47:52
Do We Live In A Multiverse?
Dec 22, 2023 – 48:04
BONUS - Could Space Junk Block JWST's View?
Dec 21, 2023 – 13:40
Neptune... At Last!
Nov 28, 2023 – 49:46
BONUS - Space News Bulletin
Nov 14, 2023 – 28:39
46: Q&A - Spice Girls, Black Holes, and Ice-Cream in Space
Oct 27, 2023 – 40:10
45: BONUS - Have you heard of "Ploonets"?
Oct 13, 2023 – 18:45
45: Uranus the Oddball
Sep 29, 2023 – 52:42
44: BONUS - Team Enceladus or Team Europa?
Sep 18, 2023 – 13:10
44: Here Comes the Sun...with NASA's Head of Science
Aug 28, 2023 – 50:21
43: BONUS - Aimless telescopes & beyond the Milky Way
Aug 11, 2023 – 11:10
43: Most of the Universe is missing...
Jul 28, 2023 – 46:09
42: BONUS – White holes, astrology and why is Venus so hot?
Jul 6, 2023 – 17:34
42: A (brief) History of Astronomy
Jun 22, 2023 – 48:41
41: BONUS - Why do Gas Giants exist?
Jun 13, 2023 – 14:50
41: BIG Observatories
May 27, 2023 – 45:47
40: BONUS - Are Lunar Poles Arbitrary?
May 13, 2023 – 15:32
40: Becky Loves Saturn
Apr 29, 2023 – 50:19

Recent Reviews

MaxWoodstock

Absolutely wonderful podcast

Fun to listen to
Jason18224

Chased me away

I was liking and enjoying this podcast. Until they started supporting the mentally ill. There are only 2 genders nothing else. And bashing Trump and Elon. Your podcast is now done. One star
MarkChicagoIL

Dumb

Why do they giggle and takeover each other.
Paige 1033

Love, love, love...

Thank you for this wonderful dive into a field that fascinates me. If I could go back in life, I would become an astrophysist! You the invited this flame.
SkienceGuy

Amazing and Intriguing for all Levels

As a physics and astronomy major in college who has to drive a lot, I have been looking for a good podcast to listen to on my daily commute. Even with all the other ways I engage with astronomy at my university, this podcast never ceases to surprise me with something new. Each new episode makes me evermore fascinated with space, and that is all without mentioning just how much fun Becky, Izzie, and Robert are to listen to. Would recommend this podcast to anyone remotely interested in astronomy or space in general.
@Dharma0ne

So enjoyable!

Thank you all for such a great podcast! You always have interesting topics, fun guests and the dynamic and style between the host is really enjoyable to listen to!
riggity34

Awesome podcast

Very interesting and breaks down hard concepts for simple minds. Love this.
nerghoul

Giggling Credulous Shills

If you want a podcast that discusses space exploration with the storytelling veracity of giggling 3 year old children talking about Santa Claus, you found it. Enjoy the scientism.
Jenny Jerry Jerry

Despise all the banter

I like the topics but the hosts can’t get over themselves and are clearly uncomfortable…..laughing because they all are looking to Eachother for something super boring I hate everybody
JB East Bay

Greatest podcast in the universe

Intelligent, fun, funny, energetic: Becky and Izzie are amazing hosts. I love all the science, which they take seriously, and I love even more being part of the great time they seem to have together. This is by far my favorite podcast of all, and there do seem to be more podcasts than stars these days ;)
Astrophysics kid

Hi Dr. Becky

I don’t know if you guys even read the reviews, but I’m the kid (Luke from Minnesota) who interviewed you for a school project. I just want to let you know that I’m still going to be an astrophysicist when I’m out of high school!
Sjp0889

Super massive awesomeness!!!

Love it!!
inn ar the seventh court

The best

This is one of the greatest extant podcasts. Massive.
a mixt mover

Love it

Love hearing women in science!
PoetFarmer

Huntsville, Alabama

Love the new bonus shorties! Would also love to see y’all record an episode under the Saturn V at the NASA center if you’re ever on this side of the pond! Thanks for all the knowledge and smiles.
babyvanjou

My thoughts :)

I think this podcast is excellent for anyone who loves or is interested astronomy + space, even though I only listened to one episode I love this podcast already! Love this :) ❤️
blaumax777

Absolutely smashing

While I listen to a few science (and sci-fi) podcasts, this one is by far my favorite. Super Massive is friendly, trustworthy, and I live for the honest rapport of Izzie, Dr. Becky and Dr. Robert. I’m always excited when a new episode drops because it’s like meeting up with my good friends and basking in the glow of their brilliance. Even people whom they interview seem to open up and enjoy themselves, sharing their enthusiasm along with fascinating information. The only “bad” thing is that I have to wait a whole month for the next one - though “hunger is the best seasoning” I suppose. All in all, 100% recommend to anyone with even a slight interest in our universe.
MSUcatz1

For the podcast algorithm gods

To future podcast lister. If you read this, and listen, after enjoyed the show you must comment and 5 stars. Give ‘em a reward for the hard work they put into the episode.
Bethanabee

I love this podcast!

The only thing I don’t like is that the episodes are monthly instead of weekly!
moryory

Excellent Podcast

Very informative without trying to be a comedy.
Shelby's iTunes 1996

Awesome!

This is a really great podcast and it is amazing to listen to women in science! Love it!
CAMarathonRunner

Too much giggling

Interesting topics ruined by the hosts’ giggling and goofiness. Even the guests are drawn into their poor behavior. There are ways to convey joy and enthusiasm in a discussion without acting like small children. Not recommended.
Mark Reznor

Ignore the misogynists

sexist trolls writing reviews on here. They just resent females in science. It’s a great podcast. Super informative, educational and fun.
MKULTRA83

Nothing new

Same old science news
18Steve11

Don’t bother

50% woke discussions, 30% Brits bashing US, 10% silliness, 10% actual science
Supermassive Fan

Best Podcast Ever

Totally obsessed with the format, knowledge sharing and production of these podcasts. Every time I listen in, I walk away with a deeper wonder and awe, not just of our universe, but of the humans who have dedicated their lives to exploration. Please keep up the work, Dr Becky and Izzie Clarke!
Davey A USA

Super Massive Praise

I simply cannot say enough good things about this podcast, Dr. Becky and Izzie are wonderfully conversational, enthusiastic, smart and adorable at the same time. I love the varied topics, I look forward to new episodes and I appreciate all the top notch guests and contributors. Thank You for increasing my knowledge of the Solar System, Universe, and Space Exploration and making it fun at the same time. Love and respect to all who make this one of the best podcasts available anywhere.
postfauvist

great pod

this podcast is amazingly accessible and easy to listen to. Dr. Smethurst and Ms. Clark and great together and i love how well rounded they are. it’s also refreshing to hear women in science spaces flexing their skills.
Fyodor8

Hi

Super hi
ouu si dghjkfvhite

Can’t listen to it

Fake laughing is one of the female habits that grates on my nerves as a woman. It is a way for women to give up all their power and act subservient. Too bad. I bet there is some good information here.
T.K. Arispe

Good, but I wish it was all about the science

It’s great to see another quality British astronomy podcast. The topics are interesting and thoughtful, and the hosts do a great job presenting in a friendly, knowledgable, and slightly nerdy manner. I do wish the podcast didn’t deal with social issues at times, even when they are relevant. I follow astronomy as an escape from more stressful and contentious subjects, so being reminded of them in what I would like to be my safe zone is somewhat unwelcome.