141. Favorite Science Explainers on YouTube (part 2)

Science Explainer: That is a term that has come out in the last bit of years to explain someone or to describe somebody who shares about science to the general public.

In this How To Write the Future podcast episode, host and science fiction author Beth Barany shares more of her “Favorite Science Explainers on YouTube (Part 2)” and the types of science they share including orbital mechanics and exploring the unexpected. 

YouTubers mentioned in this episode:

Scott Manley: https://www.youtube.com/@ScottManley

Universe Today - Frasier Cain: https://www.youtube.com/@frasercain

Joe Scott: https://www.youtube.com/@joescott

SciShow: https://www.youtube.com/@SciShow

Just Have A Think (Dave Borlace): https://www.youtube.com/@JustHaveaThink

ABOUT THE HOW TO WRITE THE FUTURE  PODCAST

The How To Write The Future podcast is for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to write positive futures and successfully bring those stories out into the marketplace. Hosted by Beth Barany, science fiction novelist and creativity coach for writers. We cover tips for fiction writers and get curious about the future of humanity.

ABOUT BETH BARANY

Beth Barany, an award-winning fantasy and science fiction novelist, teaches novelists how to write, edit, and publish their books as a coach, teacher, consultant, and developmental editor.

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• SHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth Barany
• SHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDade

c. 2025 BETH BARANY

https://bethbarany.com/

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Transcript

141. Favorite Science Explainers on YouTube (part 2)

[00:00] Introduction to the Podcast

BETH BARANY: Hi everyone. Beth Barany here. Welcome back, or welcome to How to Write the Future podcast. 

On this podcast I share with you tips and tricks to help you with your science fiction and fantasy writing. Also I share my stance on writing science fiction and fantasy, which is we are bringing stories of new possibilities, new ways that we can be human. That's my hope anyway and that's why I love reading science fiction and fantasy.

This week I'm bringing to you some more of my favorite science explainers on YouTube. Last week I shared some with you, five different science explainers, women who. Are either scientists or journalists and have a YouTube channel.

So this week I'm doing the same with five more people who talk about science on YouTube. This week, all men, and in no particular order, I am going to share them with you. 

[01:00] Explaining Science Explainers

BETH BARANY: Oh, and real quick, what is a science explainer?

That is a term that has come out in the last bit of years to explain someone or to describe somebody who shares about science to the general public. Maybe they're in a journalist capacity and sometimes they aren't. So I see this term science explainer is for all kinds of people. And there's a wide range of people I'm gonna share with you today. 

[01:27] Scott Manley: Orbital Mechanics and Rocket Science

BETH BARANY: So first off is Scott Manley and his YouTube channel is at Scott Manley and he loves teaching people about the science industry and specifically about orbital mechanics and rocket science. And apparently he started his YouTube channel so he could help people play Kerbal Space Program better, which is a game I've never played, which is all about orbital mechanics. 

So now he talks about how rockets work and he's even a pilot and his day job, I believe, is in software development and his YouTube channel is a lot about rockets and space launches. I really enjoy his channel and he's also a pilot and he's has a few videos of learning how to fly and showing his flights. I really enjoy those because it was a dream of mine when I was a kid to be a pilot. 

[02:21] Frasier Cain: Universe Today

BETH BARANY: All right, on to my next science explainer, and this is Frasier Cain. Frasier has a channel actually has a whole amazing, I dunno what to call it, empire called Universe Today, which you can find online and get his newsletter. And his channel is called Frasier Cain, and so many amazing things. He has Space Bites where he relates space news. He has a Q and A show where he'll answer all kinds of questions from all the different channels he's a part of. He does interviews. 

I really enjoy his interviews with scientists about their work and their discoveries. And then he'll do some deep dive videos around big questions in space and astronomy. He has so many things to offer. Really impressed with all his offerings. I enjoy a lot his interviews, talking to scientists who are working today in the field and what they're doing. So I hope you enjoy Frasier's channel at Frasier Cain on YouTube.

[03:16] Joe Scott: Comedy and Science

BETH BARANY: Next I wanna talk about a very interesting science explainer who brings comedy to his work. That's Joe Scott, so his channel is at Joe Scott on YouTube. And he does really funny YouTube videos and the name of his channels Answers with Joe and he takes questions and comments and he finds the funny, the unique and the universal around a topic.

All kinds of things, all kinds of science. Oh my goodness, so many different things. Strange phenomena, unexplained phenomena, biology space. Gosh, everything in between. So I really recommend Joe Scott, if you wanna laugh and also learn something. 

[03:57] SciShow: Educational Science Programming

BETH BARANY: Next, I wanna share a very informative show that does a lot of educational science programming on YouTube called Sci Show at SciShow. They explore the unexpected, all kinds of scientific topics, lots of space related topics, which is my interest, and I really enjoy them. 

They have different kinds of announcers and teachers on the show, I find their work very approachable and maybe because they do so much for kids it's very fun and very approachable. 

[04:28] Just Have a Think: Energy and Climate Change

BETH BARANY: And then last but not least, I wanna share with you a channel called, Just Have a Think. This is done by David Borlace, who is British and he is a really interesting fellow talking a lot about energy, and energy conservation and climate change from a scientific perspective. He also brings a lot of humor to his work, and he's really here to talk about the biggest issues that we're facing from a scientific perspective and very much with a focus on climate change. I really appreciate all of his videos on batteries and solar power. Just wonderful. I really also appreciate his British humor. 

[05:10] Conclusion and Call to Action

BETH BARANY: So those are the videos and channels, the science explainer channels I'm sharing with you this week. I hope you enjoy them. And also check back at the previous episode where I share five more science explainers. 

If you have a favorite science explainer, please share them with me.There's still more that I didn't cover, so I might do another episode like this at a later time. 

And thank you so much for listening, everyone. I hope that the material here will inspire you in whatever you are working on, especially if you're a science fiction writer. Write long and prosper.