Professor Blastoff
with Tig Notaro , Kyle Dunnigan & David Huntsberger
January 10, 2012
How much longer can this last? Not the podcast…well, I guess the podcast couldn’t continue if the earth ceased to exist…is that something we should be worried about? Listen, don’t worry about it, we have Green Circle Award winner Steven Yates who will help us understand fossil fuel and energy sources and swamp rock. Just relax, buy Humanitis on iTunes or Amazon, and enjoy!
January 3, 2012
Would it be cheating if I just copy-and-pasted a dictionary definition of “cheating” as the episode description, embellishing it with specifics about this show? No? In that case: Act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, esp. in a game (like bicycling, which our guest Michael Creed knows all about) or examination. That’s nuts!
December 27, 2011
Just because it’s wintertime doesn’t mean we can’t break for a BEACH PARTY! And by “beach party” I mean a scientific discussion of the nature and existence of water with oceanographer Taylor Semingson. This episode is nuts, from shark attacks to methane farts to whale brains to Saturn’s rings. Enjoy!
December 20, 2011
What do you want for Christmas? OH MY GOSH I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU ANSWERED THAT HYPOTHETICAL YOU GREEDY LITTLE JERK! Here is what you’re getting: You’re getting an episode of Professor Blastoff all about greed and you’re not going to try to pawn it for cash! Now, as long as you behave and don’t try to steal any of our money we’ll reward you with a rousing rendition of Away In The Hatch by Nathan Rivera.
December 13, 2011
So, it’s not a contest or anything but if there was an award for the best comedy podcast featuring Chad Daniels discussing the topic of competition, sportsmanship, and social Darwinism, we would totally win it! And we’d totally rub it in all of your faces! This episode is sponsored by audible. Support Professor Blastoff and get a free audiobook at http://www.audiblepodcast.com/blastoff
December 6, 2011
EP. 32 — Power
Guest Aurora Nibley
Kanye West warned us about it, Snap! has got it, and Iggy Pop has it in raw form. Power, my friends. What is it and how do you get it? Find out as we bring Dictator of the Week’s Aurora Nibley into the hatch to tell us about the abuse and corruption of power.
November 29, 2011
Halloween was a month ago, but there is still plenty to be scared of. Scary movies. Plane crashes. The state of our country. Monsters. However, if you’re afraid of missing a great episode of Professor Blastoff than your worries are completely unfounded! Buck up, listen in, and enjoy! This episode is sponsored by audible. Support Professor Blastoff and get a free audiobook at http://www.audiblepodcast.com/blastoff
November 22, 2011
We all know which holiday we’re celebrating on Thursday, but do we know WHY we’re supposed to celebrate it and HOW to give thanks? This week on Professor Blastoff we give you the ultimate pre-Turkey appetizer of historical knowledge and thoughtful discourse on the neurological behavior involved in gratitude. Pass the gravy!
November 15, 2011
EP. 29 — Atheism
Guest Marty Yu
Whether or not you believe in God, you’d better believe that we have a brand new Professor Blastoff for you! And even if you don’t think Jesus was the son of God, you can know for sure that Marty Yu is our guest this week! Learn the difference between agnosticism and atheism, why critical thinking matters, and how morality impacts our society regardless of your own theological state.
November 8, 2011
Paul F. Tompkins is remarkably dapper, hilarious, and creative. If you’d like to be more like him you can buy a nice suit and write some good jokes, but can you teach yourself how to be creative? Today on Professor Blastoff we discuss the neurological phenomenon of creativity and how it controls us (as well as how we can control it). I’m sorry this description wasn’t more creative. I really dropped the thematic ball this time.
November 1, 2011
We’ll probably never know how this crazy world came to be, but it’s still fun to theorize. Big Bang Theory, Multiverse Theory, Bubble Theory, it all sounds confusing and complicated to us so we’ve brought previous guest Robert Ike back to simplify it (as much as possible). It’s a real baryon of a show!
October 25, 2011
What is there to say about love that hasn’t already been said? It lifts us up where we belong? Nope, been covered. It will lead you back? Nah, I think Taylor Dayne already told us that. Michael Jackson can’t stop doing it, Meat Loaf would do anything for it, and The Beatles think it’s all we need. Where do Tig, Kyle, and David fall on the issue? Find out this week on Professor Blastoff!
October 18, 2011
What is a podcast? Do podcasts even exist? If you put a podcast in a box with poison and you aren’t looking, is the podcast alive or dead? Are these questions getting annoying? Would you rather me just tell you what the episode is about? Can you tell yet that it is about existentialism? Are you excited to have “cartoon book” author Owen Wiseman back on the show? Will you listen to this episode? Have I figured out how I’m going to end this chain of questions?
October 11, 2011
Hey guys, let’s make a deal: Every Tuesday, indefinitely, we will get together via the magic of podcasting and discuss different philosophic and metaphysical topics. There! We did it! We made a tradition! Or did we? Find out as Tig, Kyle, and David explore the history of traditions, discover the traditions of the animal kingdom, and teach you listeners about the best tradition of all – Knockout Ball!
October 4, 2011
One of the coolest things about science is that you can use it to blow things up! Our guest, physicist Robert Ike III, knows all about harnessing atoms and can explain just how particle accelerators, Uranium, and lasers work. Mostly lasers. This episode is primarily about lasers. And gerbils, surprisingly. It’s a real blunderbuss of an episode! Am I using that term correctly?
