The Naked Scientists Podcast

Started by Dr. Chris Smith at the University of Cambridge back in 1999, The Naked Scientists has been stripping science down to its essentials for over two decades. The name is cheeky on purpose — the whole idea is making science accessible without the jargon and pretension that often surrounds it. Originally a BBC radio show, the podcast version has racked up over 1,200 episodes, making it one of the longest-running science programs anywhere. The format is a lively mix. Each episode packs in topical science news, interviews with researchers, listener questions answered live, and a segment called Kitchen Science where you can actually try experiments at home during the show. Episodes come out twice a week and run about 30 minutes each, so they're easy to fit into a commute or lunch break. What makes this show stand out in the biology space is its breadth combined with genuine expertise. The team doesn't just skim headlines — they pull in working scientists from Cambridge and beyond to explain their latest findings. The tone is enthusiastic and British in the best sense: dry humor mixed with real intellectual curiosity. With 558 Apple ratings and a 4.6 star average, the audience appreciates both the consistency and the quality. It's the kind of podcast where you'll learn something genuinely new in almost every episode, and the short format means you can listen to two or three in a row without fatigue.