StarTalk Radio is creating
Space and Science Podcasts and Videos

Science, pop culture and comedy collide on StarTalk with your own personal astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, co-hosts & guests. Keep Looking Up!

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About

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

Location

New York, NY, USA

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Message from Neil deGrasse Tyson

StarTalk began in the minds of its three creators as a dream. An idea that we could blend Science, Comedy, and Pop Culture and deliver it to the public in a commercially viable way. We did not want to be bound to the Public Radio model, in which funds must be raised seasonally to operate. But we learned quickly that our show concept was so different from anything else in the marketplace that no sponsors were interested.

Proceeding with the courage of our vision, we applied for a grant from the National Science Foundation to test the concept. They approved a multi-year grant that fades to zero as our commercial support rose. After some follow-up "bridge" support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, we finally broke even in 2014. Today, StarTalk supports a free-lance staff of a dozen people, and we routinely break the top 20 of all podcasts downloaded from iTunes. In fact the first week of March 2015, we were Number 1. (Yes, that was a "Holy Shit!" moment for us all.)

What we learned along the way is that the marketplace of sponsors is risk-averse. No surprise, in retrospect. But we still have creative ideas on how to grow our reach further -- on different platforms, with different demographics, in different media, using variations of our show model, and so forth. In nearly all those untested pathways, no sponsor awaits us.

So we create this page, humbly asking your support of our ongoing experiments in bringing the Universe down to Earth.

Respectfully Submitted
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist
& co-creator of StarTalk Radio

Pledge $1.00 or more per month

124 patrons
In addition to the knowledge that you’re helping to keep StarTalk Radio on air, you’ll get our thanks in the form of an autographed digital photo of our host, Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Pledge $3.00 or more per month

102 patrons
For just $0.10 a day, explore more of the StarTalk universe with inside access to our exclusive Patron Activity Feed. We’ll be posting audio and video content that hasn’t made it to the general public. Unedited footage, outtakes, and more. Plus, all the rewards above.

Pledge $5.00 or more per month

94 patrons
As long as you support us, we’ll support you, like a pair of binary stars hurtling together through the cosmos! We’ll follow you on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, SoundCloud, Instagram and Tumblr. We’ll add you to a special circle on our Google+ account just for Patrons. We'll even add your name to a supporters page on StarTalk Radio.net. Plus, all the rewards above.

Pledge $10.00 or more per month

42 patrons
We get more questions than we can ever answer on our show. But as a StarTalk Patron, you’ll stand out like a pulsar in the darkness of deep space. We'll choose one Patron question to answer on each new episode of Cosmic Queries. We'll tell you in advance when your question will air so you can make sure everyone tunes in. And, if your Cosmic Query becomes a video, we’ll mention you in the description copy and link to your personal page (Facebook, Twitter, website, etc.). Plus, all the rewards above.

Pledge $25.00 or more per month

13 patrons
Like Saturn’s innermost D ring, you’ll get as close as you can to the excitement when you pledge $25 a month and gain access to preferred seating in our VIP section at StarTalk Live! Patrons will get one week to purchase seats on a first come, first served basis. After that time, or once the section is filled, you’ll end up in the outer rings with the rest of the audience. Plus, all the rewards above.

Please note: you can pledge $25 at any time to qualify for this reward, but if you drop back to a lower pledge level, this reward will go away. (And if you do that more than once, we reserve the right to put you at the end of the line for the VIP section, or worse, out in the G ring.)

Pledge $50.00 or more per month

5 patrons
Flying to the moon in Apollo 8 must have been amazing, but it was nowhere as incredible as leaving your footprints in the lunar dust. Patrons who pledge $50 a month can attend our exclusive “Patron Meet and Greet” after our StarTalk Live! shows. You’ll get to meet our host, co-host, and as many guests as we can manage. Plus, all the rewards above.

In order to be eligible for this unique opportunity, you’ll need to be an active $50 Patron for at least 4 months. But if you haven’t been a Patron that long, never fear: you can pledge the missing amount as a one time pledge, and reduce your pledge back to $50 the following month. (For example, let’s say you’ve been a Patron for 1 month. Pledge $150 for the next month, and you’re eligible, and then reduce your monthly pledge to $50 the following month.)

Pledge $100.00 or more per month

3 patrons
The stars will align for the StarTalk Radio Holiday Party… and by stars, we mean you, if you pledge $100 a month. You’ll get the chance to mingle with Neil deGrasse Tyson and our comic co-hosts, guest hosts, guests and more at this exclusive holiday party. The party will be held in the NYC area, location and date TBD. Plus, all the rewards above.

In order to be eligible for this unique opportunity, you’ll need to be an active $100 Patron for at least 6 months. But if you haven’t been a Patron that long, never fear: you can pledge the missing amount as a one time pledge, and reduce your pledge back to $100 the following month. (For example, let’s say you’ve been a Patron for 3 months. Pledge $300 for the next month, and you’re eligible, and then reduce your monthly pledge to $100 the following months to secure your invitation to the next Holiday Party.)

Pledge $500.00 or more per month

2 patrons
In addition to being your own personal astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson also knows a bit about wine. As a $500 per month Patron of StarTalk Radio, you will be invited to an exclusive wine and food party with Neil that is sure to be an event of cosmic significance. Time and place TBD, as is the wine and guest list. To keep this reward exclusive and intimate, if we have too many Patrons at this level, we'll hold more than one event. Plus, all the rewards above.

In order to be eligible for this unique opportunity, you’ll need to be an active $500 Patron for a full year. But if you haven’t been a Patron that long, never fear: you can pledge the missing amount as a one time pledge, and reduce your pledge back to $500 the following month. (For example, let’s say you’ve been a Patron for 3 months. Pledge $4500 for the next month, and you’re eligible, and then reduce your monthly pledge to $500 the following month and start getting ready for next year’s event!)
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