Curiosity Theory
A podcast about sharpening your curiosity through science, stories, and bold questions. With Astrophysicist Dr. Dakotah Tyler & STEM Educator Justin Shaifer.
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Episodes
24 episodes
Don't Trust the Experts: The War on Science
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) unpack the rise of anti-intellectualism and the cultural war on science. From misinformation to AI ethics, they explore why...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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59:34
Immune to the Nonsense w/ Nick the Immunologist
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Nick Jackson (@nick.immunologist), an immunologist and PhD candidate, to explore the incredible complexity of the immune system and what it reveal...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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1:33:40
Hardcore, Raging Space Nerds
NASA is planning to land a nuclear reactor on the Moon — but what does that mean for humanity’s future in space? Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer break down nuclear fusion, stellar explosions, the origins of gold, pulsar planets, black hole...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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58:58
First Day Out
In this episode, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer dig into a wide range of topics and break in the new studio that Justin built from the ground up for Curiosity Theory!Support Curiosity Theory by:Joining our Patreon: https://w...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:20:25
Let's Talk Life As We *Don't* Know It: Is Our Definition of Life Too Narrow?
In this episode, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer take on the timeless question: what is life? They explore infinite systems, humans as part of larger structures, the debate over artificial life, and why adaptation may be the clear...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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54:33
Dead Universes & Wet Stardust
Audience Q&A: Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer go deep on cosmic questions. They explore theories about whether the universe already died, cycles of cosmic birth and death, the future of life, astrobiology and evolution, the search for ...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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1:10:48
Finding the Signal in the Noise: Career Transitions and Life Alignment
In this episode, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer unpack the tricky process of career transitions. They talk about how to recognize misalignment, the importance of transferable skills, the power dynamics that hold people back, and how to fi...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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50:52
Alien Comets & the Hunt for Earthlike Atmospheres
This episode of Curiosity Theory with Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@dr.starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) first covers the science of finding life: alien communication strategies, the idea of a galactic Goldilocks zone where intelligent life may...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:18:04
Finding the Curiosity to Endure
This week on Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer open up about pressure, family, and resilience. Dakotah talks about his own mental health journey and how curiosity became a lifeline From personal stories to practical tools, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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52:37
Techno-Feudalism, Awkward Oligarchs, and... Talking Dolphins?
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer ask what happens when AI meets Dr. Doolittle. Could we actually talk to dolphins and other animals with machine learning? From animal communication to OpenAI’s for-profit...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:04:12
Strange Exoplanets, Believable Sci-Fi, and Humanity 10,000 Years in the Future
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer take on your questions. From exoplanets to the far future of humanity, to which sci-fi ideas are actually realistic, this conversation bounces across science, imagination...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:12:11
Fascinating Frontiers (with minor setbacks): Justin's Sci-Fi Anthology
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@Dr.Starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@Mr.Fascinate) put Justin’s original sci-fi ideas under the microscope. They walk through first contact, gaseous life, hive minds, solar system sized parti...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:00:11
Being 'Tough' Isn't Enough: A Men's Mental Health Toolkit
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer talk openly about the challenges men face when it comes to mental health. A lot of conversations about men’s mental health swing between two extremes...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:00:03
Flipping the Script on "Toxic" Traits w/ Maynard
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with Maynard Okereke (aka @hiphopmd) to talk about what it means to lead with curiosity in a world full of noise and how to leverage ambition and drive ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:02:16
Astrology & Astronomy Were Married - Then Astronomy Filed For That D-I-V-O-R-C-E
Why does astrology still hold so much power in the age of science?In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@Dr.Starkid) and Justin Shaifer (@Mr.Fascinate) break down the surprising psychological and cultural force...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:06:52
Never Giving up Can Change Your Life: The Bounce Back Blueprint
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer open up about what happens when your curiosity fades — and how to get it back.They reflect on burnout, rediscovery, and why staying curious is more than a...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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58:30
Exoplanets, Alien Life & Cosmic Odds
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer go deep into the science (and speculation) of alien life.They break down how we search for exoplanets, what biosignatures NASA is actually looking for, an...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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52:00
People Trust TikTok over PhDs: The Misinformation Nation
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer break down the science of thinking clearly — especially in an online world full of misinformation, pseudoscience, and expert denialism.They talk about how...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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47:07
Is Understanding AI the New Literacy?
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer break down the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence.From the tension between hype and reality to expert disagreements and a little solar physi...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:22:52
The Smartest People in the Room Might Be Telling Jokes w/ Manny
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with comedian Manny (@delamomanny) to talk about identity, creativity, and how much (or how little) people really change over time.They dig into ambi...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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56:31
What Will Humans Become? Emergence & the Next 1000 Years w/ Ashley Christine
In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer are joined by Ashley Christine — better known online as @modernday_eratosthenes — to unpack the challenge of staying true in a world made for noise.We ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:10:46
Curious Enough to Never Fail!? Comedy, Confidence & Big Questions w/ Comedian Jazmyn W
n this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@starkidphd) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) are joined by comedian and content creator Jazmyn W (@jazmynw) to explore how comedy, creativity, and chaos intersect in the digital...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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54:29
Curiosity As A North Star
Welcome to the very first episode of Curiosity Theory — where we explore the questions that drive us and the stories that shape us.In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Dakotah Tyler (astrophysicist & former D1 football player) and Justin S...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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50:58
Trailer - Welcome to Curiosity Theory
Curiosity Theory is built on the belief that curiosity isn’t just a personality trait. It’s a vital human force. In ancient times, it helped us survive. Today, it helps us stay engaged, connected, and sane in a world that often numbs us out.
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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0:18