StarTalk Podcast: Neil deGrasse Tyson Has a Conversation with Jordan Klepper

On this episode of StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with comedian, political satirist, and host Jordan Klepper. Jordan got his start on The Daily Show and is the current host of his new show Klepper. Klepper is a docuseries that takes you to the front lines of activism, whether that puts Jordan in a capsized boat with environmental protesters in a Louisiana bayou or waiting to post bail at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia.

You’ll learn about Jordan’s upbringing in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the “shadow” of Derek Jeter. Jordan tells us about his roots in mathematics and how he went to school at the “nerd farm,” and he explains how having a math background allowed him to be an analytical thinker in the comedy world.

Discover more about Jordan’s new show. He takes us inside the process of how he and his team try to come up with a formula to make disturbing topics educational and funny – while also shining a light on people taking action. Jordan shares how he got arrested while filming and how that led to the perfect poster for the show.

Next, we dive into space exploration and the episode of Klepper that investigated the future of the American space program. Find out about Jordan’s space geekiness. He tells us how he got super into The Right Stuff and wouldn’t shut up about it for months. You’ll also hear what is was like for him to get drinks with Scott Kelly at an astronaut bar.

We ponder if the audacity of our current administration is exactly what we need in order to ignite another Moon shot or Mars shot. Get details on Jordan’s visit to HI-SEAS, the Martian simulation station in Hawaii, as well as his time spent at Space Camp. Lastly, Neil and Jordan debate whether monetization, or even a lottery system, will play a key role in future space exploration. All that, plus, Jordan explains why training to be an astronaut is similar to being in an improv troupe.

This episode originally aired June 21, 2019.

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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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