June 20, 2019 9:11 pm

Friday, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Jordan Klepper Explore Comedy, Politics, and Space

As a comedian, when your actual mug shot is the poster for your new show, you know you’re doing something right. This week on StarTalk Radio, Neil deGrasse Tyson has a conversation with one of the best comedians and political satirists working today – Jordan Klepper.

Jordan, who first got his start on The Daily Show, was the host of The Opposition, with Jordan Klepper and is currently the host of his new show Klepper. Klepper is a docuseries that follows host Jordan Klepper as he leaves the comfort of his desk behind and hits the road. Whether he’s in a capsized boat with environmental protesters in a Louisiana bayou or waiting to post bail at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia, Jordan is on the front lines of American activism.”

To start things off, you’ll find out about Jordan’s background. He tells us about growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan and how he attended school at the “nerd farm.” You’ll hear about his roots in mathematics and how studying math helped him in his comedy career. Jordan admits that he is also, in fact, a space geek.

Neil and Jordan dive into discussion about the future of American space exploration. Jordan shares what it was like to get a drink with astronaut Scott Kelly. He also tells us how he got really into The Right Stuff and wouldn’t shut up about it for months. We ponder if the audacity of the current administration is possibly the thing we need when it comes to re-igniting the idea for another Moon shot or Mars shot.

You’ll learn about Jordan’s time spent at HI-SEAS, the Martian simulation site in Hawaii. You’ll also learn about Jordan’s experiences at Space Camp and in the centrifuge. Lastly, Neil and Jordan debate if monetization, and maybe a lottery system, will be a necessary component to the future success of space exploration.

Please join us tomorrow night for A Conversation with Jordan Klepper at 7pm ET right here on our website, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn. If you’re an All-Access subscriber, you can watch or listen to this episode ad-free at 7pm, too.

That’s it for now. Keep Looking Up!
-Ian Mullen