Brain Games, StarTalk, and All Things Science: An Interview With Chuck Nice

Comedian, podcaster, actor, and self-professed “science geek” Chuck Nice is a busy guy. His most recent ventures have seen him operate at the intersection of pop culture and science. Nice co-hosts StarTalk with Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, where he provides humorous commentary to aid the insights of the popular astrophysicist, and Playing with Science alongside Gary O’Reilly. But Nice isn’t just there to provide comic relief to a discussion on topics that can be confusing for the 99% of us who are non-scientists; he has a genuine love for the field.

- Corey Noles

We sat down with Nice to talk about Brain Games, his career, and his innate love of all things science.

Innovation & Tech Today: You’re a man of a variety of talents and projects, I mean, comedian, actor, podcast host, Brain Games host, seems like you’ve got a lot to juggle these days? Is that difficult?

Chuck Nice: It is. But two things help, one, I meditate, and two, I end every day with a big tumbler of scotch.

I&T Today: You seem to be a really natural fit for the Brain Games audience. Watching those first few episodes. I’m seeing you look comfortable, you look at home. How did you land in Brain Games?

CN: Interesting. I think it has to do with the fact that, increasingly I have been moving into the science space, and as a fan, but also as a science communicator, I never really call myself a science communicator, because I think it’s a disservice to people who are science communicators, for me to include myself in that brood. However, it’s just something that has kind of naturally happened to me.

So, Terry Danuser of Nat Geo, who is familiar with me and my comedy through