TRACK 01

Somewhere Among the Stars: How a Podcast Made Me Fall in Love with the Universe.

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Sometimes I forget how small we are, until I came across CrashCourse’s podcast “The Universe” by John Green & Dr. Katie Mack, and suddenly feel like I’m among the stars. I found it one afternoon while I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, and what started as casual curiosity quickly turned into awe as I realized how little I know about the universe we call home.

Seeing John Green’s name on the podcast probably pushed me to click play. If you’re a reader, you probably know him — the author behind books like Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars, which left a mark on me I’ll never forget. This podcast feels like it might do the same.

Listening to The Universe while my projector cast constellations across my ceiling made every word sink deeper. It’s beautifully put together. As I listened, several fascinating ideas began to unfold, drawing clear connections between the science and the stories we tell about our universe. Here are a few of the things that stuck with me:

I used to think of stars as eternal glowing dots, but they are alive in their own way. They are born from clouds of dust and gas, burn through their fuel, and eventually collapse. Some end their lives quietly, while others go out in spectacular explosions called supernovas.

It made me think about life, too. Some people leave a bright, unforgettable legacy. Others pass quietly, yet both matter deeply. Maybe that’s a naive thought, but it’s what crossed my mind while listening.

The idea that every atom in our bodies was created in the heart of a dying star amazed me. We are literally made of stardust.

It made me wonder, "What if we're all just stardust learning how to shine?"

The podcast also talked about how time works differently on a cosmic scale. Billions of years mean nothing to the universe, but for us, a decade feels huge. It made me realize how brief our life is compared to the age of galaxies. Strangely, instead of feeling insignificant, I found comfort in the idea that the universe has always been here, always will be, and we are just one small but meaningful note in its endless song.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit insignificant, too. The universe is so much bigger than us, and there’s still so much left undiscovered. But maybe that’s the most beautiful part. The mystery, the vastness, and the reminder that there’s always more to learn are what make it special.

I’ve never been a fan of physics — it never really clicked for me — but this part of it? I could listen to it for hours. This podcast opened up a side of the universe I’d never explored before, and I’m completely captivated.

And then, of course, black holes.

They’re terrifying and fascinating all at once. These invisible giants that warp space and time itself, swallowing anything that comes too close. The idea that something can exist with gravity so strong that not even light can escape is truly surreal. But there’s also mystery in them—we still don’t fully know what happens beyond that event horizon. It’s the ultimate cosmic cliffhanger.

Sometimes black holes feel closer to life, it’s like we are all in one huge black hole without knowing what’s gonna come next, not knowing what will happen in our futures and the strong gravity that’s holding us together, holding us in place could be the people closest to our hearts, it could be family memebers, friends, collegues, or even a dear little pet.

Something I loved most about the podcast was how John Green kept asking the exact questions I had in my head. It felt like we were learning together. Whenever Dr. Katie used complex terms, I didn’t need to Google them — John would jump in and ask for an explanation.

My favourite moment was probably when John was ranking the names of the universe epochs just by how poetic they sound. It was a perfect combination of science and art. Or John’s amazing question that stuck with me, “But free will’s not an illusion, right? RIGHT?" I loved it, it made me laugh out loud. 

Dr. Katie was endlessly patient and passionate, answering everything with enthusiasm and sharing insights about her work and discoveries.

Looking back, listening to The Universe left me with a strange mix of awe and calm, like staring up at the night sky and realizing there’s so much more out there than I can ever imagine. It was a lot to take in, and I learned so much. 

Have you listened to The Universe? If not, and you’re even a little curious, you can find it on Apple Podcasts and YouTube. It’s truly mesmerizing — maybe even life-changing.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about the universe, too. What fascinates you the most about it?

Track 01 belongs to the stars, the black holes, and the beautiful reminder that we are all just tiny specks in something vast. Somehow, that makes us extraordinary.