About
Blue Dot, named after Carl Sagan's famous speech about our place in the universe, features interviews with guests from all over the regional, national and worldwide scientific communities. Host Dave Schlom leads discussions about the issues science is helping us address with experts who shed light on climate change, space exploration, astronomy, technology and much more. Dave asks us to remember: from deep space, we all live on a pale, blue dot.
Latest Episodes
View all 21 episodesBlue Dot: California's wild and scenic Eel River and California Fly Fisher magazine
Blue Dot: The science behind NASA's historic return to the Moon with Artemis 2
Blue Dot presents a special program produced during the Artemis 2 mission to take an in-depth look at the science objectives for the historic lunar mission, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, and flew by the Moon on April 6.
Best of Blue Dot: On the frontiers of philosophy and physics: a conversation with Caltech's Chip Sebens
Host Dave Schlom is joined by California Institute of Technology Philosophy Professor Chip Sebens for an engaging look at how philosophical thought and methodology can help unravel the mysteries of modern Physics.
Best of Blue Dot: Reimagining Ag: the California State University Chico Center for Regenerative Agriculture
Blue Dot goes down on the farm by visiting with folks from California State University, Chico's Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS).
Best of Blue Dot: California's imperiled Delta region
Blue Dot takes a deep look at issues surrounding one of the world's most diverse waterways, the California Delta.
Blue Dot: Excellence in science teaching: Caltech's Feynman award-winning Sarah Reisman
Host Dave Schlom is joined by California Institute of Technology professor Sarah Reisman for an in-depth conversation about teaching one of the most difficult subjects taught on any college campus: organic chemistry.
Blue Dot: Wildlife photography with Yellowstone's Tom Murphy
Host Dave Schlom is joined by nature and wildlife photographer Tom Murphy for an in-depth conversation about his life and career.
Best of Blue Dot: The anatomy of a disaster-- inside the Titan submersible implosion
Gordon Telepun joins host Dave Schlom to discuss the Titan submersible implosion that killed five people, including Ocean Gate CEO and pilot Stockton Rush, in 2023.
Blue Dot: Exploring the Salish Sea and coast with the SeaDoc Society
Host Dave Schlom is joined once again by Joe Gaydos and Bob Friel from the SeaDoc Society based on Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest.
Blue Dot: Sky ghosts of the cosmos: Comets
Host Dave Schlom is joined by two scientists from the SETI Institute in Mt. View, California, to talk about one of hisfavorite celestial phenomena -- comets.
Blue Dot: Good Fire as a tool for landscape and human healing
Host Dave Schlom is joined by two program managers from California State University's Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve to discuss the concept of "good fire."
Blue Dot: California's imperiled Delta region
Blue Dot takes a deep look at issues surrounding one of the world's most diverse waterways, the California Delta.
Best of Blue Dot: Understanding the earthquake and tsunami hazards of California's North Coast with Lori Dengler
Geology Professor Emeritus Lori Dengler joins host Dave Schlom from Cal Poly Humboldt for an in-depth look at the tectonic forces that have shaped California's North Coast.
Blue Dot: The undertold story of Project Gemini with Jeffrey Kluger
Host Dave Schlom is joined by veteran space journalist Jeffrey Kluger to talk about his new book, Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, The Untold Story.
Blue Dot: Britain's standing stones and prehistoric sites: a conversation with author Fiona Robertson
Host Dave Schlom is joined by Fiona Robertson, author of the new book, Stone Lands: A Journey of Darkness and Light through Britain's Ancient Places (
Best of Blue Dot: SETI Institute: it's role in the Disney/Pixar animated film Elio and The Fermi Paradox
Host Dave Schlom is joined by two guests from the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, for a fun and thought-provoking program. Simon Steel, Deputy Director of the Carl Sagan Center for Research, joins us for an inside look at the Institute's role as a science advisor for the Disney/Pixar film Elio.
Blue Dot: Tribute to an American hero: NASA astronaut Jim Lovell
Host Dave Schlom is joined by some very special guests to celebrate the life of one of NASA's greatest astronauts, James A. Lovell Jr.
Best of Blue Dot: California's landscapes: human and natural history with artist and author Obi Kaufmann
Artist and writer Obi Kaufmann joins host Dave Schlom to discuss his documentation of California's wild and scenic places.
Best of Blue Dot: Bill Nelson: Congressman, astronaut and NASA Director
Bill Nelson joins host Dave Schlom for a special conversation about his life in public service at NASA. Nelson served representing the people of his home state of Florida for 30 years, first in the House of Representatives and then the Senate.
Blue Dot: Reimagining Ag: the California State University Chico Center for Regenerative Agriculture
Blue Dot goes down on the farm by visiting with folks from California State University, Chico's Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS).