The best science podcasts for your summer listening
July 03, 2026
Whether you’re spending the summer road tripping, hanging out at the beach, chasing your kids around or floating on your paddleboard, outdoor activities can pair perfectly with a good science podcast. To ensure that your podcast feed is never empty, we’ve put together a list of podcasts recommended by our students and new alumni. End your summer more knowledgeable and more plugged in!
Ologies
When we asked students for their podcast recommendations, Ologies was far and away the number one response we received. In Ologies, humourist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and you, as the listener, leave full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists’ obsession. Each episode interviews an expert from a distinct scientific field. Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Ologies has it all! Explore Ologies
Episode rec: Allergology (ALLERGIES)
"As someone who has done research about allergies, I really loved how the Allergology episode of Ologies explained how allergies work in such an approachable and engaging way. The episode also does a great job of debunking common myths about allergies!" - Saryn Knox, BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry, 2026
Listen to Allergology (ALLERGIES)
Episode rec: Kinetic Salticidology (DANCING SPIDERS)
"This episode came out October 2021 during lockdown and kick-started my love of Ologies. It’s a topic that I would never have sought out, but brought me so much joy at an incredibly stressful time in the world and made me look at spiders overall in a whole new light. Alie Ward and her guest scientists are able to break down nuanced topics into accessible, educational, and humorous episodes. I highly recommend all Ologies episodes, especially the Dancing Spiders episode, for anyone looking for a fun way to expand your scientific knowledge outside of classes on topics you might not even know existed." - Sophia Olim, BSc (Honours) in Earth Science and Environmental Studies, 2023
Listen to Kinetic Salticidology (DANCING SPIDERS)
Episode rec: Geology (ROCKS)
"My favorite science podcast is without a doubt Ologies with Alie Ward and I love the two part episode on geology! Alie is a super engaging host and knows how to ask questions that can bring incredibly cool and potentially complicated topics down to a really understandable level for those that know nothing about it. Her excitment in all her episodes, but particularly the geology and earth science related ones, really inspired me to continue in sciences when I was struggling with what direction to take in first year." - Kate Powell, 5th year earth and ocean science major, geology option
Episode rec: Oneirology (DREAMS)
"My favourite Ologies podcast would probably be the Oneirology (the scientific study of dreams) podcast with Dr. G. William Domhoff. This episode answers all the questions you’ve ever had about how (and why) we dream, and why dreaming so important. I’d also highly recommend the Bryology episode with Dr. Robin W. Kimmerer!" - Prielle Laniado, 5th year biology and environmental studies student
General science
Radiolab
Radiolab was the #2 podcast recommendation we received. Radiolab advertises itself as for folks on a “curiosity bender. They ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. Explore Radiolab
Episode rec: The Resistance of a Cow
"This is an example of Radiolab at its absolute finest - weaving together science with journalism, history, and storytelling through gorgeously cinematic audio production. To quote the episode's show notes, "There's something rotten in the cows of Denmark," but you'll have to tune in to find out what's gone so horribly awry…" - Isobel Barlow-Busch, PhD student in biochemistry
Listen to The Resistance of a Cow
Episode rec: Parasites
"Radiolab provides science-based journalism for every science-related interest, while keeping you engaged with immersive storytelling. This episode in particular takes you through medical journeys, economic developments and environmental impacts while pulling you into an intoxicating experience." - Gavin Bain, 4th year chemistry for the medical sciences student
Science Vs
There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. They take a myth-busting approach to controversial topics and current events, and episodes include fact checking, research of the scientific literature and interviews with experts. Explore Science Vs
"I don’t think I can pick a favourite episode, there are so many cool ones! And there’s such a range that there is definitely something for everyone. I really like the episodes where they tackle misinformation and relevant issues like the peptide craze, medication use, climate change, AI, etc." - Ellie Sousa, biology student with a concentration in neurobiology
Nature podcast
Produced by the well-known journal, the Nature Podcast brings you the best stories from the world of science each week, highlighting the most exciting research from each issue of the Nature journal. We meet the scientists behind the results and provide in-depth analysis from Nature's journalists and editors. Explore the Nature podcast
Episode rec: The Briefing chats
“The briefing chats are good to start with. They give a great overview of the main headlines of the week across disciplines. It’s a great way to learn more about fields other than your own.” - Sarah Nielsen, 4th year biology student
Lost Women of Science
For every Marie Curie or Rosalind Franklin whose story has been told, hundreds of female scientists remain unknown to the public at large. Lost Women of Science illuminates the lives and work of a diverse array of groundbreaking female scientists who, because of time, place and gender, have gone largely unrecognized. Explore Lost Women of Science
Episode rec: Sharla Boehm—The Programmer Whose Code Underpins the Internet
"I’d recommend the episode on Sharla Boehm! I like it because it’s very interesting to hear about the foundations of the internet, especially from a time period well before the internet existed. I also just like the podcast because Katie Hafner is a wonderful host." - Lauren, 3rd year economics student
Listen to Sharla Boehm: The Programmer Whose Code Underpins the Internet
Biology
Future Ecologies
Made for nature lovers and audiophiles alike, Future Ecologies explores our eco-social relationships through stories, science, music, and soundscapes. Every episode is an invitation to see the world in a new light — weaving together narrative and interviews with expert knowledge holders. As a bonus, Future Ecologies is co-created by UVic alum Adam Huggins! Explore Future Ecologies
Episode rec: Spiders Song
"I recommend Future Ecologies to all my friends! It’s a fantastic podcast that explores all kinds of ecological and social relationships (all with killer sound-design). My favourite episode is “Spiders Song” featuring evolutionary biologist Wayne Maddison. If you’ve ever wanted to listen to what the evolutionary history of jumping spiders SOUNDS like, give it a listen!" - Lawsen Augustowich, 4th year forest biology student
There are also a few episodes of Future Ecologies featuring UVic researchers, including Mountain Legacies which showcases UVic’s own Mountain Legacy Project.
In Defense of Plants
If you’re a plant enthusiast, this might be the podcast for you! Plants are a critical part of the world we live in, and also incredibly interesting. 580+ episodes in, they’ve covered all sorts of topics, including forest disturbance, invasive species, aquatic plants, pollen and seed storage, pesticides in your garden, bryophytes (moss), the rookie gardener, soil microbes and heat stress. Explore In Defense of Plants
Episode rec: Digitizing an extinct tree
"During my first summer research with the Ehlting Lab, I nearly listened to the whole catalogue of In Defense of Plants available at the time while I worked on part of the Swiss needle cast research. Overall it's a great podcast and it was hard just to pick one episode, but this one stuck out to me as really exceptional for cross-disciplinary. I also love how much their episodes get me thinking about career paths, different options, and different things to study." - Randi Church, BSc in Biology with a concentration in forest biology, 2026
Completely Arbortrary
We’re always a fan of a title with a pun. Completely Arbortrary takes a scientific look at trees and how they affect and are affected by everything. Each episode features a tree from around the world and a discussion about its unique position in culture, ecology, and history. The hard science is framed in plenty of silliness, with a casual tone, games and parody songs, and the titular arbitrary numerical rating of the tree at the end of each episode. Explore Completely Arbortrary
Episode rec: The Tree Before Time
"I would recommend the episode “The Tree Before Time” all about the Ginkgo tree! The hosts Alex and Casey go into the evolutionary history and science of the tree but make it so entertaining that you wouldn’t even have to love trees to enjoy it. It’s a great introductory episode as it’s an incredibly unique tree that you may have seen in Victoria and you’re guaranteed to get hooked!" - Eva Ramsay, 3rd year biology student
Nerdy About Nature
Nerdy About Nature is a passion project that creates fun, educational content with the aim of inspiring folks to engage with the outdoor world, to fall in love with it, and to advocate on its behalf so that we can create a more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and just future for us all. Their ‘Podchat’ series interviews experts in their field. Explore Nerdy About Nature
Episode rec: Podchat 21: Everyday Microbes & Life on Life on Life
"This episode has some great dialogue on how important the interaction between small organisms and larger systems is on our world. I loved that this episode explains lots of systems/organisms in detail but it’s still very easy to digest." - Avery Sosnowski, 1st year biology and visual arts student
From Our Neurons to Yours
From Our Neurons to Yours is a field manual for anyone who wants to understand their own brain and the new science reshaping how we learn, age, heal, and make sense of ourselves. Each episode, host Nicholas Weiler sits down with leading scientists to unpack big ideas from the frontiers of the field. Explore From Our Neurons to Yours
I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine
"I love this podcast because you hear from different people each episode, although all are passionate about what they are studying. This episode in particular combines intriguing ideas of music research with comprehensible ideas and explanations, allowing you to genuinely enjoy the conversation. A fun listen for anyone who loves music!" - Keelyn Mitchell, 5th year biology and psychology student
Listen to I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine
Math & Physics
The Joy of Why
The Joy of Why is a Quanta Magazine podcast about curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. Mathematician Steven Strogatz and cosmologist Janna Levin take turns interviewing leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. Perfect for our math and physics enthusiasts! Explore the Joy of Why
Episode rec: What is Quantum Field Theory and Why is it Incomplete?
"Alternating co-hosts Steven Strogatz and Janna Levin make for engaging conversationists with the experts they have on, and this episode is no exception with physicist David Tong. This episode was of personal interest to me, for having listened to the episode a few times before taking the undergraduate QFT course provided me with a great overview of the topic and its history." - Kyle Brown, 4th year physics and math student
Listen to What is Quantum Field Theory and Why is it Incomplete?
Math & Physics Podcast
The Math & Physics Podcast, hosted by University of Toronto students Parker and Ray, dives into abstract concepts, foundational science, and higher education experiences. Episodes explore topics ranging from space weather and cosmology to artificial intelligence and the philosophy of physics. New episodes are no longer being produced, but there are 122 episodes to go through! Explore the Math & Physics Podcast
Episode rec: Do YOU even exist?
"It’s very easy to listen to as it’s hosted by two UofT physics graduates. The hosts create a listening environment that feels like you’re just hanging out with friends, but these friends have done their research to ensure the discussion is taken from a scientific lens. You’re learning so much about physics and how things work without it feeling like you’re in class. You’re simply listening to two nerds rambling about things but who are rambling with knowledge and curiosity leading the discussion!" - Jenna Wellborn, BSc in Physics, 2026
UVic podcasts
We couldn’t pull together a list of podcast recommendations and not include podcasts produced by our very own UVic community. Check these out too!
- The Codcast: This four-episode podcast series, produced by the Juanes Lab, explores the discovery of a sound—the grunt of the Arctic cod. Learn from experts around the world about why and how fish produce sound, how we do this research, the impact of noise pollution on fish sound production, and more.
- Beyond the Jargon: UVic is home to hundreds of hardworking graduate students doing trailblazing work in their field. In this podcast, correspondents sit down with these graduate students to learn about the work they do. Not every episode is science, but there are plenty of science episodes to satisfy your curiosity.
- Whimsical Wavelengths: Hosted by UVic alumnus and volcanologist Dr. Jeffrey Zurek, this podcast is dedicated to the “how” and “why” of discovery. The show spans the physical sciences and offers a deep, honest look at how science actually works—messy data, imperfect models, and the human personalities behind the research.
- A Radical Act of Hope: This limited series podcast features the story of Inuk climate and human rights advocate Silla (Sheila) Watt-Cloutier. Produced by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), the podcast explores the life, work and wisdom of one of the world’s leading voices on climate change, human rights and Indigenous ways of knowing and being.