Serious Inquiries Only

Thomas Smith

Booking Overview

This is an expert-interview podcast focused on science, philosophy, skepticism, politics, and critical thinking, typically featuring academics, researchers, and policy specialists in informal but substantive conversations. Credible pitches include subject-matter experts with strong research or policy credentials who can explain evidence, challenge misinformation, and engage thoughtfully on complex issues; booking difficulty is medium because expertise is essential, though the show actively invites expert applications.

Metrics

Episodes: 842

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Estimated listeners: 10k-100k

Gender skew: Unknown

Location: USA

YouTube: 8.4k subscribers

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

thomas@seriouspod.com

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Host

Thomas Smith - Host focused on critical thinking across science, philosophy, skepticism, and politics, presenting serious subjects through thoughtful and humorous conversations.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium

Typical Credentials:

Academic researchers, scientists, subject-matter experts, and policy scholars with demonstrable expertise in the issue under discussion.

Required Achievements:

Published or conducted relevant research, Professional or academic specialization, Policy or institutional expertise

Recent Guest Discussions

Jenessa Seymour - Autism And ADHD Research, Sensory Processing, Curiosity, Autism Research Practices, And The Limitations Of The Extreme Male Brain Theory.

Eric Jaffe - Cancer Biology, Cellular Mechanisms, Evolutionary Biology, Radiation, Car-t Therapy, Oncolytic Viruses, RAS Inhibitors, And Mrna Cancer Vaccines.

Eric Jaffe - What Cancer Is At The Cellular Level, Peto's Paradox, Cancer Research Funding, And Cancer-related Misconceptions.

David O'Brien - Federal Higher Education Rules, Student Loans, Pell Grants, Low-earning Degree Programs, And The History Of Higher Education Austerity.

David O'Brien - Student Loans, Pell Grants, Higher Education Funding, Reagan-era Policy, Prop 13, State Defunding, And Tuition Increases.

Recent Topics

Skepticism, Critical Thinking, Science, Philosophy, Politics

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on

Serious Inquiries Only

SIO526: Why Is College So Expensive?

September 01, 2026

David O'Brien, higher education policy scholar with the California Community Colleges System, is back to answer the question Thomas posed last time: why is college so expensive? They get into tuition vs. total cost of attendance, the dirty little secret of private university pricing, administrative bloat, the amenities arms race, and why the people loudest about college costs are likely well-off, but getting very little financial aid. Mentioned: The Daily: College, Student Loans, and Trump ...

Some More News Is COMPLETELY WRONG About Spider-Man Brand New Day

August 31, 2026

I cannot stop thinking about Cody from Some More News's video in which he could not stop thinking about Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Cody is INCREDIBLY sure that you're an idiot incapable of watching movies or consuming art if you don't agree with his conception of what the ending of Brand New Day meant. The problem is... Cody gets about a billion things wrong and his arguments are terrible. This was going to be just a Patreon bonus of Serious Inquiries Only but I wanted to put it up on YouTub...

SIO525: Dude Who Said Autism Is "Extreme Male Brain" Walks It Back

August 11, 2026

... and other autism/ADHD research! So pleased to have Dr. Jenessa Seymour back - this time with a variety of studies in the Autism and ADHD realms. Jurek, L., Duchier, A., Gauld, C., Henault, L., Giroudon, C., Fourneret, P., … Nourredine, M. (2025). Sensory processing in individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder compared with control populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 64, 1132-1147. Le Cunf...

Publicly listed emails

thomas@seriouspod.com

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