EP 48: Moiya McTier & Joanna Gardner
From The Podcast With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell Foundation
June 10, 2026 · 60 min · Episode 48
About this episode
This episode explores the intersection of mythology and astrophysics through a conversation with Dr. Moiya McTier.
What happens when mythology meets astrophysics, and the stars become storytellers? In this episode of The Podcast With A Thousand Faces, JCF’s Joanna Gardner sits down with Dr. Moiya McTier - an astrophysicist, folklorist, author, and science communicator whose work bridges the worlds of science, story, mythology, and creativity. Since breaking barriers at both Harvard University and Columbia University, Dr. McTier has given hundreds of talks around the world, helped design museum exhibits, consulted on projects with Disney, and become a compelling voice helping people reconnect wonder, metaphor, and meaning with the cosmos. She is also the host of the astronomy podcast Pale Blue Pod and the author of the upcoming book Mothers of Invention. Together they explore Joseph Campbell’s influence on her work, the mythic resonance of the Artemis II mission, the role of metaphor in both science and myth, and what creativity can teach us about being alive in an increasingly technological world. Thoughtful, expansive, and full of wonder, this conversation invites us to reconnect with curiosity, imagination, and the shared human experience beneath the stars.
People in this episode
Host: Joanna Gardner
Guest: Moiya McTier
Topics covered
- mythology
- astrophysics
- creativity
- science communication
- human experience
- curiosity
Keywords
- mythology
- astrophysics
- creativity
- science
- Joseph Campbell
- Artemis II
- curiosity
- storytelling
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Harvard University, Columbia University, Disney
Books & works: Pale Blue Pod, Mothers of Invention, Joseph Campbell
More episodes of The Podcast With A Thousand Faces
- EP 47: Sean Brawley & John Bucher · May 5, 2026 · 1h 0m
- EP 46: Cassidy Gard & Joanna Gardner · April 7, 2026 · 56 min
- EP 45: Catherine Svehla & Joanna Gardner · March 10, 2026 · 1h 3m
- EP 44: Brandon Boyd & Tyler Lapkin · February 10, 2026 · 1h 1m
- EP 43: Leigh Melander & Brad Olson · January 13, 2026 · 1h 19m
- EP 42: Rebecca Armstrong & John Bucher · December 9, 2025 · 53 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Podcast With A Thousand Faces podcast page.