Point of Inquiry
{{Short description|Science, news, and religion podcast}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox Podcast
|title = Point of Inquiry
|image = Point of Inquiry logo.png
|caption =
|host = {{ubl|Leighann Lord|James Underdown}}
|url = {{URL|http://www.pointofinquiry.org/}}
|status = Weekly
|began = {{Start date|2005}}
|ended =
|genre = {{Hlist|Science|news|religion}}
|ratings = Non-explicit
}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.podcastalley.com/top_podcasts.php?num=50&genre=15&year=2010&month=6|title=Top 50 Rated Podcasts 6/2010 – Society & Culture | Podcast Alley|access-date=June 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223235306/http://www.podcastalley.com/top_podcasts.php?num=50&genre=15&year=2010&month=6|archive-date=February 23, 2012|url-status=dead}} It has been celebrated for its guests and for the quality of its interviews.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/17/hot-needle-of-inquiry/ | title=Hot Needle of Inquiry |publisher=Bad Astronomy at discovermagazine.com |access-date=April 16, 2009 }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.pointofinquiry.org/about|title=About the Program | Center for Inquiry|access-date=June 3, 2010}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.pointofinquiry.org/paul_kurtz_science_and_religion_are_they_compatible/ | title=Paul Kurtz – Science and Religion – Are They Compatible? | publisher=Center for Inquiry | work=Point of Inquiry Podcast | date=December 11, 2005 | access-date=January 17, 2014 | last=Grothe | first=DJ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201105906/http://www.pointofinquiry.org/paul_kurtz_science_and_religion_are_they_compatible/ | archive-date=February 1, 2014 | url-status=dead }}
In July 2012, Point of Inquiry produced their first video episode featuring Michael De Dora, Ed Brayton, Jessica Ahlquist, and Jamie Kilstein.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgXJT8v4HhY&list=UUp7LPFmh6pyFpWQY6htER3A| title= Point of Inquiry In Studio: Chris Mooney Talks to Jamie Kilstein, Ed Brayton, and More.| Center for Inquiry| website= YouTube| date= July 4, 2012|access-date=February 10, 2013}}
Previously, Chris Mooney hosted half of the shows with the balance split between the other hosts.{{cite web|url=http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/center_for_inquiry_announces_three_new_hosts_for_its_popular_podcast_point_/|title= Center for Inquiry Announces Three New Hosts for its Popular Podcast, 'Point of Inquiry' | Center for Inquiry|date= February 2010|access-date=February 14, 2010}}
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.{{cite web|title=The Wait is Over: CFI Unveils New 'Point of Inquiry' Team!|date=October 17, 2013|url=http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/the_wait_is_over_cfi_unveils_new_point_of_inquiry_team/|publisher=Center for Inquiry|access-date=October 17, 2013}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://centerforinquiry.org/news/point-of-inquiry-announces-new-hosts/|title=Point Of Inquiry podcast announces new co-hosts Kavin Senapathy and James Underdown|date=2018-10-15|website=CFI|publisher=Center for Inquiry|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427211303/https://centerforinquiry.org/news/point-of-inquiry-announces-new-hosts/|archive-date=2019-04-27}}
Staff
| class="wikitable" |
| Host
! Information |
|---|
| D. 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 Bible |
| Karen Stollznow
| March 2010 to December 2011 | Australian writer, linguist and skeptic |
| Chris Mooney
| March 2010 to September 2013 | U.S. journalist and academic |
| Indre Viskontas
| February 2012 to August 2013 |Neuroscientist and opera singer |
| Lindsay Beyerstein
|November 2013 to April 2017 |Investigative journalist |
| Josh Zepps
| November 2013 to April 2017 |Journalist |
| Paul Fidalgo
| May 2017 to May 2018 March 2022 to Present |CFI Communications Director |
| Kavin Senapathy
|January 2019 – October 2019 |Author, Journalist, Activist |
| James Underdown
|Executive Director of CFI-West |
| Leighann Lord
|Comedian, writer, actor |
| class="wikitable" |
| Producer
! Tenure |
|---|
| Thomas Donnelly
| 2005 to 2009 |
| Adam Isaak
|2010 to 2013 |
| Joshua Billingsley
|2013 to 2014 |
| Nora Hurley
|2014 to 2017 |
| Mike Powell |
=Timeline=
{{#tag:timeline|
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bar:RMP text:"Robert M. Price"
bar:KSt text:"Karen Stollznow"
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bar:IV text:"Indre Viskontas"
bar:LB text:"Lindsay Beyerstein"
bar:JZ text:"Josh Zepps"
bar:PF text:"Paul Fidalgo"
bar:KSe text:"Kavin Senapathy"
bar:JU text:"James Underdown"
bar:LL text:"Leighann Lord"
bar:TD text:"Thomas Donnelly"
bar:AI text:"Adam Isaak"
bar:JB text:"Joshua Billingsley"
bar:NH text:"Nora Hurley"
bar:MP text:"Mike Powell"
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bar:LB from:11/11/2013 till:11/04/2017 color:host
bar:JZ from:05/11/2013 till:24/04/2017 color:host
bar:PF from:03/05/2017 till:17/05/2018 color:host
bar:KSe from:10/01/2019 till:31/10/2019 color:host
bar:JU from:24/01/2019 till:end color:host
bar:LL from:09/04/2020 till:30/03/2021 color:host
bar:PF from:24/03/2022 till:31/01/2024 color:host
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bar:NH from:01/07/2014 till:24/04/2017 color:producer
bar:MP from:03/05/2017 till:end color:producer
}}
Popular Science Idol
Point of inquiry co-sponsored the "Popular Science Idol"{{cite web|url=http://nsfmessengers.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-be-americas-next-science-idol/|title=Do You Have What It Takes to Be America's Next Science Idol?|date= March 10, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2013/02/19/30577/meteorologist-wins-first-ever-americas-science-ido/|title=Meteorologist wins first-ever America's Science Idol competition|date= March 10, 2013
}}
Select episodes
| class="wikitable" |
| Guest
! Topic ! Air Date |
|---|
| Steven Pinker
| February 18, 2013{{cite web|url=http://www.pointofinquiry.org/point_of_inquiry_live_steven_pinker_the_decline_of_violence/ |title=Steven Pinker – The Decline of Violence |date= February 18, 2013 }} |
| Paul Krugman
| Science and Pseudoscience in Economics | January 28, 2013 |
| David Brin
| Uplifting Existence | December 17, 2012 |
| Oliver Sacks
| November 5, 2012 |
| Lisa Randall
| Knocking on Heaven's Door |October 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
| February 6, 2012 |
| Brian Greene
| 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? |
| 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, 2010 |
| Chris Hedges
| I Don't Believe in Atheists | May 2, 2008 |
| Lawrence M. Krauss
| Seducing for Science |December 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
| November 9, 2007 |
| Steven Pinker
| 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
| July 6, 2007 |
| Natalie Angier
| 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
| 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
| 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
| April 7, 2006 |
| Jamy Ian Swiss
| Psychics, Science, and Magic | March 24, 2006 |
| Daniel Dennett
| 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.{{cite web|url= https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/point-of-inquiry/id107134018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100826040052/http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/point-of-inquiry/id107134018|url-status= dead|archive-date= August 26, 2010| title=iTunes Archive|publisher=Apple at apple.com |access-date=February 10, 2013 }}
Recognition
In May 2012, Point of Inquiry was named one of the "Top 10 Podcasts to Feed Your Brain" by Business Insider.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/top-10-podcasts-to-feed-your-brain-and-ease-your-commute-2012-5 |title=Top 10 podcasts to feed your brain |publisher=Business Insider at businessinsider.com |last= Smith |first= Kevin |date= May 14, 2012|access-date=May 15, 2012 }}
= Awards =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Award !Year !Category !Result !Ref. |
| Academy of Podcasters
|2015 |Spirituality & Religion |{{CFinalist}} |{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=2015 AofP Winners and Finalists |url=http://academyofpodcasters.com/2015winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014050853/http://academyofpodcasters.com/2015winners/ |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |website=Academy of Podcasters |publisher=Podcast Movement}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.pointofinquiry.org}}
{{Skeptical podcasts}}
Category:Scientific skepticism mass media
Category:Alternative radio programs