Brandon Royal’s photo of Stephen Hawking and Neil deGrasse Tyson in Professor Hawking’s office.
Brandon Royal’s photo of Stephen Hawking and Neil deGrasse Tyson in Professor Hawking’s office.

The Universe and Beyond, with Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Photo Credit: Brandon Royal.
  • Free Audio
  • Ad-Free Audio

About This Episode

Discover the universe and beyond in this episode of StarTalk Radio as Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with world-renowned physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking in one of his last on-camera interviews. Joined in-studio by comic co-host Matt Kirshen and astrophysicist Janna Levin, we explore our place amongst the stars. Before we go deep, you’ll learn what Stephen’s favorite food, drink, and equation is (Hint: it’s one of his own). You’ll hear what questions Stephen would have asked Sir Isaac Newton. Find out what Professor Hawking thinks came before the Big Bang and what “imaginary time” is. We answer fan-submitted Cosmic Queries about the speed of light, super massive black holes, and seeing our past selves. Theoretical physicist and futurist Michio Kaku stops by to discuss time travel and quantum mechanics. You’ll also hear Neil and company ponder what will cause the death of humanity, if there is to be one. Plus, Bill Nye weighs in on how far our curiosity can take us. Lastly, Stephen shares his thoughts on uploading his brain to a computer, and about religion, before he leaves us with a few parting words of wisdom. As he has said, “…remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet.”

NOTE: Watch this entire episode commercial-free here: The Universe and Beyond, with Stephen Hawking.

In This Episode

Get the most out of StarTalk!

Ad-Free Audio Downloads
Priority Cosmic Queries
Patreon Exclusive AMAs
Signed Books from Neil
Live Streams with Neil
Learn the Meaning of Life
...and much more

Episode Topics