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PODCAST · sports

Playing with Science

by StarTalk Playing with Science & Gary O’Reilly, Chuck Nice, Neil deGrasse Tyson

The weekly podcast where geeks & jocks collide. Hosts Gary O’Reilly & Chuck Nice welcome athletes, experts & resident astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Remember: Playing with fire gets you burned, “Playing with Science” gets you learned.

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Episodes

  1. Building an MVP Machine

    Move over Moneyball, something new is coming. Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the world of data-driven player development that’s re-shaping baseball today. Featuring Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik, authors of The MVP Machine, and astrophysicist and baseball sleuth Meredith Wills, PhD.…

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  2. A Conversation with Mario Andretti and Neil deGrasse Tyson

    “If everything seems under control then you’re just not going fast enough.” Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice hit the fast lane with legendary driver Mario Andretti and our resident astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to explore Mario’s extraordinary career. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons and All-Access...

  3. The Science of SailGP

    Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice investigate the science-filled, data-driven world of SailGP yacht racing alongside Team USA member Hans Henken and Team USA performance analyst Phil Crain. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our channels on: Apple Podcasts:...

  4. Plant-Powered Athletes and Plant-Based Diets

    Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice explore the world of plant-powered athletes and plant-based diets with former German strongman competitor Patrik Baboumian, heavyweight boxer Cam F. Awesome, and vegan nutrition and fitness coach Karina Inkster. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science....

  5. Sneakerheads and Sneaker Design

    Sneakerheads Unite – Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the world of sneakerheads and the science of sneaker design with legendary designer D’Wayne Edwards, designer/creator Federico Maccapani aka @Mbroidered, and sneaker fashionista Ezra Wine. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science....

  6. Inside Sports Betting

    Place your bets! Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice explore the ins, outs, ups, and downs of sports betting with sports writer Brett Smiley, statistics expert David Beaudoin, and Todd Fuhrman, FS1 contributor and host of the Bet the Board podcast. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science....

  7. Gender Inequality in Sports, with Heather O’Reilly

    Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice investigate the systemic gender bias and discrimination happening in professional sports with World Cup winner and former USWNT soccer star Heather O’Reilly, and economist Andrew Zimbalist, PhD. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to...

  8. Golf Tech and Astrophotography, with Jimmy Walker and Neil Tyson

    Golf technology and astrophotography – these worlds collide as hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice sit down with professional golfer and astrophotographer Jimmy Walker, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Matt Plumb, former Global Product Line Manager for Nike Golf Clubs. Don’t miss an episode of Playing…

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  9. The Science of Thoroughbred Racing

    What does it take to win the Kentucky Derby? Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice explore thoroughbred genetics and the ins and outs of horse racing with Dr. Stephen Harrison from Thoroughbred Genetics and former champion steeplechase jockey Sean Clancy. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with…

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  10. Women’s Boxing, with World Champion Alicia Ashley

    What does it take to be World Champion? How can women’s boxing gain more popularity? Can you be a fighter and a trainer? Hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly step into the ring with World Champion Alicia Ashley, astrophysicist and boxer Federica Bianco, and former Olympic-style boxer Cary Williams....

  11. Breaking Down Baseball Barriers, with Meredith Wills and Justine Siegal

    Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice investigate “HomerGate” with baseball data scientist and astrophysicist Meredith Wills, and find out what it takes to be a groundbreaker in sports from Justine Siegal, the first female coach in the MLB. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please...

  12. NASCAR vs Formula 1

    NASCAR or Formula 1? Which one do you choose? Our hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly sit down with science communicator Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, PhD, to try and determine who takes the checkered flag. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our channels on: Apple…

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  13. Wrestling with Physics, with Neil deGrasse Tyson

    What’s the best wrestling move? Can you wrestle in zero gravity? Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice hit the mats as we sit down with astrophysicist and wrestling expert Neil deGrasse Tyson to answer fan-submitted questions about the science of wrestling. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with...

  14. Ironman Triathlon, with Mark Allen

    Swim… Bike… Run… Science! Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice enter the world of endurance as we explore Ironman Triathlons alongside Mark Allen, voted ESPN’s Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time, and exercise scientist Samuele Marcora. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please...

  15. Esports, with NicoThePico

    We dive into the expanding world of Esports as hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly get the science behind the screen from Nicholas "NicoThePico" Korsgård, head coach of “League of Legends” pro team PostFinance Helix, and neuroscientist Heather Berlin. PhD. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with...

  16. SEASON PREMIERE: 2019 Big Game Special, with Neil deGrasse Tyson

    Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly kick off Season 4 of Playing with Science covering the science and spectacle of the Big Game. Featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson, sports physicist John Eric Goff, sports economist Victor Matheson, and former NY Giants WR and Super Bowl XLII ring holder Brandon London.…

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  17. Sports Injuries and Recovery

    Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice investigate the world of sports injuries and the future of recovery science alongside New York Mets and New York Rangers physician Dr. Joshua Dines and sports psychologist Dr. Jim Taylor. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our...

  18. Moneyball 2.0 – Soccer Edition

    Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice enter the world of big-data analytics and its rising influence on the game of soccer on the world stage alongside Dan Altman from North Yard Analytics and Howard Hamilton from Soccermetrics. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our...

  19. Ultra-Running, with Ann Trason & Dr. Ultra

    Do you have what it takes to run 50,100, or 200 miles? Hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore ultra-running and ultramarathons with runner Ann Trason and Shawn Bearden, a.k.a. Dr. Ultra. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our channels on: Apple Podcasts:...

  20. Tiger vs Phil – 18 Holes, $9 Mil

    Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson. 18 Holes. 9 million dollars. Hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly sit down with neuroscientist Heather Berlin and sports physicist John Eric Goff to breakdown the science, both physical and mental, behind this epic match-up of two golfing titans. Don’t miss an episode…

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  21. Extreme Flying – Red Bull Air Race, with Kirby Chambliss

    Hop in, buckle up, and earn your wings alongside hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice as they explore Red Bull Air Racing with Technical Director Jim “Jimbo” Reed, and pilot and 2-time World Champion Kirby Chambliss. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our channels…

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  22. The Sweet Science of Boxing, with Sugar Ray Leonard

    Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice enter the ring with legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and neurologist and ringside physician Dr. Anthony Alessi as we investigate the sweet, sweet science of boxing. Ding, Ding! Don’t miss an episode of Playing with...

  23. Mental Health in Sports, with Royce White

    Hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the state of mental health in sports, with former NBA player and mental health advocate Royce White, neuroscientist Heather Berlin, and the co-founder of Canada’s first Centre for Mental Health and Sport, Krista Van Slingerland. Don’t miss an episode of...

  24. Ask a Sports Engineer, with David James

    Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice answer your questions and investigate the collision of sports, technology, and engineering alongside David James, sports engineer and Director of The Center for Sports Engineering Research at Sheffield Hallam University. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science....

  25. Juiced Balls, Broken Bats & Record Breakers, with Shawn Green

    With the MLB Playoffs in full swing and the World Series next week – Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the science of baseball with physicist Alan Nathan, James Sherwood, Director at the Baseball Research Center, and baseball great Shawn Green. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science....

  26. Gender in Sports, with Joanna Harper

    Hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly sit down with neuroscientist Heather Berlin and Joanna Harper, medical physicist and transgender endurance athlete, to investigate the complexities of gender and its role in sports. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our channels...

  27. Conquering Mountains, with Vanessa O’Brien

    Explore the world of mountaineering as hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly take a mental expedition to the world’s highest peaks alongside world-record breaking mountain climber Vanessa O’Brien and mountain guide and physician Alan Oram, D.O. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please...

  28. Cosmic Queries: Sports Physics Trivia, with Charles Liu

    Football on Mars, tricky cricket physics, curving curling rocks, and more – Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice sit down with astrophysicist Charles Liu to answer fan-submitted Cosmic Queries that span across the sporting world. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to…

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  29. Golf’s 2018 Ryder Cup: Physics & Psychology at the Albatros

    Are you ready for the 2018 Ryder Cup? Hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly prepare for golf’s most exciting, and most intense, tournament alongside sports physicist John Eric Goff and performance psychologist Gregg Steinberg. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our...

  30. Protecting Your Dome: Concussions & Helmet Technology

    Discover more about the latest in concussion research and helmet technology with hosts Gary O’Reilly, Chuck Nice, Dr. Samuel Browd, Co-Founder of VICIS, Richard Brandt, PhD, CEO of Sports Science, and Dr. Roger Härtl, neurosurgeon for the New York Giants. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with...

  31. The Tennis Brain: Strategy, Analytics, Mental Game

    Hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly investigate tennis brain and the strategy, analytics, and neuroscience that make it work alongside tennis strategy analyst Craig O’Shannessy, sport psychologist Leslie Sherlin, and professional tennis coach Sarah Stone. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with...

  32. The Psychology of Extreme Sports (Repeat)

    Go to the extremes with hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly as they investigate the psychology of the extreme sports athlete with adventure journalist Jim Clash, neuroscientist Heather Berlin, and extreme sport psychologist Eric Brymer. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please…

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  33. Planet NASCAR, with Neil deGrasse Tyson (Repeat)

    Is Planet NASCAR governed by the same laws of physics as the rest of Planet Earth? Get ready to roar down the track - left turns only - as hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice re-visit Planet NASCAR alongside our resident astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with...

  34. Physics on Wheels, with Dr. Skateboard & Othello Clark (Repeat)

    Ollies, half-pipes, and Chuck’s skateboarding youth – Rediscover the physics of skateboarding with Gary O’Reilly, Chuck Nice, 2x US Master’s Champion Bill Robertson, PhD, aka Dr. Skateboard, and former pro skateboarder and snowboarder Othello Clark. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science....

  35. Surf’s Up – The Big Waves (Repeat)

    Grab your board, apply your sunscreen, and get ready to find the perfect wave – re-visit the science of big wave surfing featuring Chuck Nice, Gary O’Reilly, NASA oceanographer Bill Patzert and pro surfer and the first female Big Wave World Champion, Paige Alms. Don’t miss an episode of Playing...

  36. The Electrifying World of Formula E

    Race down the track with hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice as they explore the electrifying world of Formula E alongside DS Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird, adventure journalist Jim Clash, and Williams Advanced Engineering Technical Director Paul McNamara. Batteries Included. Don’t miss an episode...

  37. The Physics of the Tour de France (Repeat)

    Aerodynamics, Newton’s Laws, drafting, power to weight ratio, nutrition, technology and more! Get smarter about the Tour de France with hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly and their guests Lance Armstrong, Neil deGrasse Tyson and sports physicist John Eric Goff. Don’t miss an episode of Playing…

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  38. Swimming Science and USRPT

    Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice dive into the deep end as we explore swimming science and Ultra Short Race Pace Training alongside some of the sport’s insiders – Dr. John Mullen, Dr. Brent Rushall, and coach Peter Andrew. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our...

  39. Rugby – Physics and Grit, with Todd Clever

    Scrums, lineouts, and spin passes – Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice take to the turf as we explore the science and grit of rugby alongside Todd Clever, former USA Rugby captain, and Trevor Lipscombe, author of “The Physics of Rugby.” Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please...

  40. MLB Greatness and Trout 5 Design, with Mike Trout

    Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice find out more about the new Trout 5 baseball cleats, data-driven baseball, and how to be baseball’s best player from MLB superstar Mike Trout and Mike Ekstrom, former MLB player and Nike Product Line Manager for Cleated Footwear. Don’t miss an episode of Playing...

  41. Cosmic Queries: FIFA World Cup Edition

    Have you caught the World Cup fever? We’ve got it bad! Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice sit down with physics professor John Eric Goff and answer your fan-submitted Cosmic Queries on the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the football world. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe…

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  42. Hole-istic Golf, with Craig Davies and Sean Foley

    The U.S. Open may be over but we’re still on course. Hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice chat with Dr. Craig Davies and golf coach Sean Foley about taking the hole-istic approach to golf and the secrets that make the best players great. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please…

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  43. Extended Classic: Planet Soccer, with Neil deGrasse Tyson

    Re-visit Planet Soccer as we gear up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Chuck Nice, Gary O’Reilly, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and former NY Cosmos assistant coach and MLS All-Star Alecko Eskandarian. Now extended with physicist John Eric Goff telling us all about the new Telstar 18. (Adult Language)…

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  44. Motorsports – Physics & Technology, with Will Buxton & Mario Andretti

    Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly race down the track, hairpin through the corner, and kick it into high gear as we explore the science-filled spectacle of auto racing with F1 journalist Will Buxton, physics professor Richard Bower, adventure journalist Jim Clash, and legendary driver Mario Andretti....

  45. Motorcycle Racing: Physics on Two Wheels

    We kick it into top gear as hosts Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice explore the physics of motorcycle racing, riding, and assembly alongside adventure journalist Jim Clash and physics professor and motorcycle aficionado Charles Falco. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to...

  46. American Ninja Warrior: Science, Skills, and Strategy

    Enter the wild, high-flying world of American Ninja Warrior with hosts Gary O’Reilly, Chuck Nice, ANW hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, Ninjas Drew Drechsel, Najee Richardson, and Joe Moravsky, and executive producer Anthony Storm. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please...

  47. Baseball Physics Mashup, with Ron Darling, Geoff Blum, and J.P. Arencibia

    Home runs, World Series winners, pitching physics, and more – enjoy our baseball mashup featuring hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly, astrophysicists Neil deGrasse Tyson and Charles Liu, physicist Alan Nathan, Holden Kushner, and former MLB greats Ron Darling Jr., Geoff Blum, and J.P. Arencibia....

  48. Basketball Shoe Technology, with Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Ray Allen, and Rasheed Wallace

    Lace ‘em up! Explore the past, present, and future of basketball shoe technology with hosts Chuck Nice, Gary O’Reilly, NBA legends Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace, and Converse’s Jon Garon. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our channels on…

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  49. NBA – Evolution of the Game, with Julius Erving, Rasheed Wallace, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

    Investigate the evolution of the NBA with Gary O’Reilly and Chuck Nice in the first of our two part mini-series featuring NBA greats Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Rasheed Wallace, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and our own Neil deGrasse Tyson. Don’t miss an episode of Playing with Science. Please subscribe to our...

  50. Playing with Science at BAM, with Sasha Cohen & Neil deGrasse Tyson

    We’re taking to the ice as we explore the physics of figure skating with host Chuck Nice, Olympic medalist Sasha Cohen, neuroscientist Dr. Heather Berlin, and resident astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Record live as a part of “StarTalk at BAM: Science is Everywhere.” (Adult Language). Note…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

The weekly podcast where geeks & jocks collide. Hosts Gary O’Reilly & Chuck Nice welcome athletes, experts & resident astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Remember: Playing with fire gets you burned, “Playing with Science” gets you learned.

HOSTED BY

StarTalk Playing with Science & Gary O’Reilly, Chuck Nice, Neil deGrasse Tyson

Produced by StarTalk Presents "Playing with Science"

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Playing with Science have?

Playing with Science currently has 140 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Playing with Science about?

The weekly podcast where geeks & jocks collide. Hosts Gary O’Reilly & Chuck Nice welcome athletes, experts & resident astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Remember: Playing with fire gets you burned, “Playing with Science” gets you learned.

How often does Playing with Science release new episodes?

Playing with Science publishes regularly with 140 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to Playing with Science?

You can listen to Playing with Science on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Playing with Science?

Playing with Science is created and hosted by StarTalk Playing with Science & Gary O’Reilly, Chuck Nice, Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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