Point of Inquiry is the radio show and flagship podcast of the Center for Inquiry (CFI), "a think tank promoting science, reason, and secular values in public policy and at the grass roots".This description appears at the beginning of most episodes. Started in 2005, Point of Inquiry has consistently been ranked among the best science podcasts available in iTunes. 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, Paul Krugman, Lisa Randall, Brian Greene, Oliver Sacks, Susan Jacoby, David Brin and Temple Grandin.
Format
Point of Inquiry is recorded at the Center for Inquiry headquarters in Amherst, New York. iTunes 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, and philosophy. The show focuses on traditional topics in scientific skepticism, such as psychic investigations, alternative medicine, alleged extraterrestrial visitations, ghosts, and cryptozoology. It also covers current events and public policy. The inaugural episode in December 2005 featured an interview with CFI founder Paul Kurtz, 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, and Jamie Kilstein.
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 Host Tenure InformationD. J. Grothe December 2005 to March 2010 American author and public speaker Robert M. Price March 2010 to November 2011 Former host of CFI podcast The Human BibleKaren Stollznow March 2010 to December 2011 Australian writer, linguist and skepticChris Mooney March 2010 to September 2013 U.S. journalist and academicIndre Viskontas February 2012 to August 2013Neuroscientist and opera singerLindsay BeyersteinNovember 2013 to April 2017Investigative journalistJosh Zepps November 2013 to April 2017JournalistPaul Fidalgo May 2017 to May 2018 March 2022 to January 2024CFI Communications DirectorKavin SenapathyJanuary 2019 – October 2019Author, Journalist, ActivistJames UnderdownOctober 2018 – PresentExecutive Director of CFI-WestLeighann LordApril 2020 – March 2021Comedian, writer, actor
Producer TenureThomas Donnelly 2005 to 2009Adam Isaak2010 to 2013Joshua Billingsley2013 to 2014Nora Hurley2014 to 2017Mike Powell2017 to present
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. 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 Guest Topic Air Date Steven Pinker The Decline in Violence February 18, 2013 Paul Krugman Science and Pseudoscience in Economics January 28, 2013 David Brin Uplifting Existence December 17, 2012 Oliver Sacks Hallucinations November 5, 2012 Lisa Randall Knocking on Heaven's DoorOctober 8, 2012 Temple Grandin The Science of Livestock Animal Welfare August 27, 2012 Cara Santa Maria Talk Nerdy to Us June 11, 2012 Lawrence M. Krauss A Universe from Nothing February 6, 2012 Brian Greene The Fabric of the Cosmos January 2, 2012 Daniel Dennett The Scientific Study of Religion December 12, 2011 Austin Dacey Rock the Theocrats September 26, 2011 Neil deGrasse Tyson Communicating Science February 28, 2011 John Shook The God Debates October 15, 2010 S. Jay Olshansky Can Science Extend Human Life? September 10, 2010 Adam Savage Skeptic July 9, 2010 S.T. Joshi Fright and Free thought May 28, 2010 Scott Lilienfeld Real Self-Help March 19, 2010 Andrew Revkin The Death of Science Writing, and the Future of Catastrophe March 12, 2010Chris Hedges I Don't Believe in Atheists May 2, 2008 Lawrence M. Krauss Seducing for ScienceDecember 28, 2007 Paul Kurtz Ethics for the Nonreligious December 21, 2007 Richard Dawkins Science and the New Atheism December 7, 2007 Neil deGrasse Tyson Communicating Science to the Public November 16, 2007 Michael Behe The Edge of Evolution November 9, 2007 Steven Pinker The Stuff of Thought October 26, 2007 Alan Dershowitz Blasphemy October 5, 2007 Francis Collins The Language of God August 31, 2007 Carol Tavris Mistakes Were Made August 3, 2007 Ophelia Benson Why Truth Matters July 20, 2007 Philip Kitcher Living with Darwin July 13, 2007 Christopher Hitchens God Is Not Great July 6, 2007 Natalie Angier The Canon June 29, 2007 Tom Clark Encountering Naturalism June 22, 2007 Matthew C. Nisbet Selling Science to the Public April 20, 2007 Steven Pinker Evolutionary Psychology and Human Nature February 23, 2007 Barbara Forrest The Wedge of Intelligent Design February 16, 2007 Peter Singer The Way We Eat February 9, 2007 Neil deGrasse Tyson Death by Black Hole January 25, 2007 Ann Druyan Carl Sagan and The Varieties of Scientific Experience January 5, 2007 Susan Blackmore In Search of the Light December 15, 2006 Richard Dawkins The God Delusion October 16, 2006 Sam Harris Letter to a Christian Nation October 6, 2006 Ann Druyan Science, Wonder, and Spirituality September 15, 2006 Neil deGrasse Tyson The Sky Is Not the Limit August 17, 2006 Thomas Kida Don't Believe Everything You Think July 14, 2006 James Randi Science, Magic, and Future of Skepticism June 30, 2006 Tom Flynn The Rise of the Non-Religious June 23, 2006 Eugenie Scott Evolution vs. Religious Belief? April 28, 2006 Sam Harris The Mortal Dangers of Religion April 14, 2006 Sam Harris The End of Faith April 7, 2006 Jamy Ian Swiss Psychics, Science, and Magic March 24, 2006 Daniel Dennett Breaking the Spell March 3, 2006 Richard Dawkins The Root of All Evil? February 10, 2006 Eugenie Scott The Dover Trial: Evolution vs. Intelligent Design January 20, 2006 Max Maven Magic and Skepticism January 13, 2006
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 AwardYearCategoryResultRef.Academy of Podcasters2015Spirituality & Religion
References
External links