The Scientists

Comedians and "scientists" Madelyn Freed (The Annoyance) and Blythe Roberson (New Yorker, The Onion) investigate a new scientific topic each month at Union Hall in Brooklyn. From AI to romantic attraction to body decomposition, Madelyn and Blythe give an hour-long lecture with help from NYC's funniest comedians. At the end of every show, they bring out an actual scientific authority to pester with questions and to tell them where they went wrong.

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Episodes

The Scientists Ep 8: Dinosaurs w/Allie Goertz, Joe Zimmerman, Paul Gale, Madelyn Freed, Blythe Roberson

It’s DINOSAURS, friend-o’s!!!!!! everyone loves dinosaurs and everyone loves our lineup: Allie Goertz (Mad Magazine) Joe Zimmerman (Comedy Central), Paul Gale (HuffPo). Madelyn Freed and Blythe Roberson host. Recorded at Union Hall November 17, 2017 as part of the Brooklyn Podcast Festival!! Live sound and recording by Chris Medrano. Edited by Shannon Manning for Good Orbit. Original poster by Hallie Bateman ( @hallithbates)...

Mar 04, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 8

The Scientists Ep 7: Bugs w/Jaboukie Young-White, Bennett Ferris, Harris Mayersohn, Christine Johnson, Blythe Roberson, Madelyn Freed

Ep 7:BUGS! BUGS! BUGS!!!! We got bugs to show you and bugs to warn you about. Blythe loves a chill roach and Madelyn admires aphids as feminist heroes. Jaboukie Young-White, Bennet Ferris, and Harris Mayersohn scramble around and are generally freaky-deaky but also tell jokes. Plus scientist Christine Johnson from the AMNH with expertise on parasites and their hosts, with a specialization on slave-maker ants. Madelyn Freed and Blythe Roberson host. Recorded at Union Hall September 15, 2017 as pa...

Feb 28, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 7

The Scientists Ep 6: Cancer w/Sachi Ezura, John Reynolds, Blythe Roberson and Madelyn Freed

Ep: 6 This show was so good that after this show a bunch of Sloan Kettering administrators asked for my autograph. We delighted them and probably the audience with dreadful facts about CANCER. Did you know that the doctors that invented chemotherapy tried to poison their young patients with anything they could think of including mustard gas? Did you want to know? Sachu Ezura and John Reynolds yummed our yucks, too. Madelyn Freed and Blythe Roberson host. Recorded at Union Hall Oct 24, 2017. Live...

Oct 03, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 6

The Scientists Ep 5: Lying to Yourself w/Mitra Jouhari, Alex Watt, Zach Zimmerman

This month we’re psychologists. And you have to pay us $225/hr to be told that you’ll swim faster if you tell yourself you’re terrific. So pony up, kiddo. Kings and queens of Brooklyn Mitra Jouhari, Alex Watt, and Zach Zimmerman floor us with giggling. Hosted by Blythe Roberson, Madelyn Freed Recorded Tuesday, June 6, 2016 at Union Hall Live sound and recording by Dave Polk. Produced and edited by Shannon Manning. https://good-orbit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/theScientistsLyingToYourself.mp4...

Nov 22, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 5

The Scientists Ep 4: Dead Bodies w/Jo Firestone, Josh Gondelman, Friends Who Folk & Bess Lovejoy

We don’t mean to spook you but someday Blythe is going to die. What is going to happen to her? We will tell you in excruciating detail and Madelyn’s not going to like it. Luckily, Madelyn’s mom didn’t ever give her permission to die so she can’t. They talk to Order of the Good Death member, author, and alive ghost Bess Lovejoy. We got some cool ass witches on the docket scamming us with tricks, Jo Firestone, Josh Gondelman, and Friends Who Folk. (Bowen Yang’s motivational dance to fend off rigor...

Jun 03, 2018•1 hr 29 min•Season 1Ep. 4

The Scientists Ep 3: Romantic Love w/Dr. Helen Fisher, Elna Baker, Patti Harrison, Alexandra Song & Catherine Cohen

We did this show because Madelyn had a fever dream about a scientific study that may never have existed at all. If you have any information about it, please call 911. We truly figure out love in this episode with the help of the queen, Dr. Helen Fisher. Elna Baker, Patti Harrison, Alexandra Song, and Catherine Cohen thrill us with their little skits. Hosted by Blythe Roberson, Madelyn Freed Recorded Live at BRIC House May 2, 2017. Live sound and recording by Andrew Lulling and Evan Zierk at BRIC...

Jan 08, 2018•1 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 3

The Scientists Ep 2: Garbage w/Halcyon Person, Matt Barats, Catherine Cohen and Elizabeth Royte

This month, we’re anthropologists, and we’re slaves to capitalism. Madelyn meets her hero, Elizabeth Royte , and Blythe doesn’t like Kondo-ing. Everyone’s best friends Halcyon Person and Matt Barats YUCK it up, Catherine Cohen does it in song.

Nov 20, 2017•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 2

The Scientists Ep 1: Artificial Intelligence w/Joel Kim Booster, Ana Fabrega, Stephen Markow, and Rob Dubbin

Artificial Intelligence Is the robot takeover around the corner? Or is it just nerd apocalypse that we have nothing to worry about? Madelyn & Blythe explain the singularity, and comedians Joel Kim Booster, Ana Fabrega, Stephen Markow, and Rob Dubbin weigh in. Hosted by Blythe Roberson, Madelyn Freed Recorded Live at Union Hall , Feb 7, 2017. Live Sound by Dave Polk. Produced and edited by Shannon Manning. ABOUT THE SHOW Comedians and “scientists” Madelyn Freed (The Annoyance) and Blythe Robe...

Sep 15, 2017•1 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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