And now, here's a soothing musical interlude......

Mat Kaplan

Mat Kaplan Profile Photo

Mat Kaplan loved hosting and producing Planetary Radio for 20 years. He was just 17 when he got his first job in broadcasting, yet it wasn't until the 2002 premiere of the Society's popular, weekly podcast and public radio series that he combined his twin loves of space and radio. A Planetary Society staff member for 24 years, Mat moderates many of the Society's events and webinars. He recently served as the MC for the Society’s two-day Eclipse-O-Rama celebration in Texas.

Mat's extensive background in journalism has ranged from public radio reporter covering the political conventions to movie reviewer for an international magazine. Some may remember him as a correspondent for a pioneering national TV series about personal computers. Mat also enjoyed a 30-year career in higher education that included major television awards and recognition for service to the community. He and his wife live in the San Diego region near his two adult daughters who were raised to be citizens of the solar system.

May 14, 2024

The Musical Innertube - Volume 2, Number 138 - Mat Kaplan goes to Mars!

Our old pal Mat Kaplan of the Planetary Society has just returned from the 2024 Humans to Mars Summit, and he's happy to tell us exactly how close we are to colonizing the Red Planet.
Guest: Mat Kaplan
May 16, 2023

The Musical Innertube - Volume 2, Episode 100 - The 100th Episode!

Guest Host Mat Kaplan takes us through the maze that is the minds of John Timpane and Don Rooney, to find out what has made the podcast tick all these years. (Be sure to check for ticks when it's done!)
Guest: Mat Kaplan
July 26, 2022

The Musical Innertube - Volume 2, Number 70 - Mat Kaplan JWST

The first images from the James Webb Space Telescope are amazing, and Mat Kaplan of the Planetary Society says they're changing the way we think about the universe. SPECIAL VIDEO INFORMATION BELOW!
Guest: Mat Kaplan
Feb. 1, 2022

The Musical Innertube - Blast from the Past - Mat Kaplan

Mat Kaplan of the Planetary Society talks about all things stellar -- the pitfalls of daytime stargazing, why it's important to get men and women on the moon and Mars, and whether or not Klingons appreciate "I Love Lucy."
Guest: Mat Kaplan
Nov. 26, 2020

The Musical Innertube - Volume 2, Number 17 - Don and John and Mary and Mat

To celebrate Thanksgiving, we gathered some of the Musical Innertube family around the table (virtually, of course!) to spin old family legends about how the Musical Innertube came to be, lo these many years ago.
Guests: Mat Kaplan , Mary Lyon
June 4, 2020

The Musical Innertube - Volume 2, Number 1 - Mat Kaplan

Don Rooney and John Timpane talk with Mat Kaplan of the Planetary Society about all things stellar (including their time together in college radio).
Guest: Mat Kaplan