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The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Marching through the galaxy with Dr. Moiya McTier

The Atlas Obscura Podcast

SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura

Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.61.6K Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2024

⏱️ 25 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Author, astrophysicist, folklorist, and science communicator Dr. Moiya McTier guides Dylan through the galaxy, and along the way reveals why she loves space so much, how folklore helps people understand things bigger than themselves, and the origins of her award-winning book, Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy. MORE: If this conversation really got you into thinking about space and mythology, Moiya will be teaching a facts-based fictional worldbuilding course online with us starting May 14. Use code GALAXY20 at signup to get 20% off the class when you sign up here.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Take a look around you human. What do you see? Actually don't answer that. Why would I bother listening to you when I know you'll get it wrong?

0:13.2

You'll start naming objects and places, but that chair you're sitting in isn't just a chair.

0:18.8

That book you're holding? It isn't just a book, and even the planet your kind is on the brink of ruining isn't just a planet.

0:26.2

They're all me. Everything you've ever seen or touched is a part of me.

0:32.2

Yes, even you, you vain filthy animal.

0:36.5

Before we get too far along allow me to introduce myself, I am the Milky Way,

0:42.4

home to more than 100 billion stars and yet you still think yours is special enough to have its own name.

0:48.0

I am space. I am made of space and I am surrounded by space. I am the greatest galaxy who has ever lived.

0:58.0

I don't know where you get off calling me a vain filthy animal you are a murderer on a scale

1:09.1

Unimagitable you would easily fling a rock from across

1:14.0

interstellar space and have it destroy the only species capable of

1:20.0

truly appreciating you.

1:22.0

I don't know why you think you can grandstand,

1:25.6

well we're the ones here describing you to yourself.

1:29.2

Well you're very good at cutting to the heart of my insecurities for something as insignificant as a worm, but okay go off.

1:38.0

I am the greatest life giver that you've ever known without me making my stars which is a selfless act by the way I love them so much more than you you wouldn't be around do you think you'd be around without that shining ball of gas you call a sun?

1:53.2

No, you're so fragile.

1:54.8

Yeah, sure, maybe you gave birth to us,

1:57.7

but we will be lucky if we survive you.

2:01.0

It is gonna take everything we have just to build a tiny bubble of

2:06.0

safety around us in this dangerous chaotic home you've made. We're leaving mom!

2:12.6

Dude that was so fun. I love that conversation because I really feel like it's a

...

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