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Human Rights
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Climate Change
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Environmental Science
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Alzheimer’s Disease
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University Of Chicago

Big Brains explores the groundbreaking research and discoveries that are changing our world. In each episode, we talk to leading experts and unpack their work in straightforward terms. Interesting conversations that cover a gamut of topics from how music affects our brains to what happens after we die.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes211Founded8 years ago
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EducationScience

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Artwork for Big Brains

Latest Episodes

The process of understanding who we are is a lifelong journey for many of us. For two decades, that question has been one that University of Chicago scholar Eric Oliver has asked his students in class—and inspired him to write a new book called "How ... more

YouTube

What if we could precisely measure a cell at its most fundamental level? In this episode, we talk with the University of Chicago scientist Peter Maurer about how he and his colleagues made the breakthrough discovery of turning a protein found in livi... more

YouTube

We've all heard the phrase "Manifest Your Destiny" when it comes to wanting a new promotion, figuring out a new career path or just trying to achieve that long-term goal. It turns out that the act of manifestation is not merely pseudoscience—it actua... more

YouTube

The internet and social media have transformed the way in which we hear and understand music today—and online communities and platforms from YouTube to TikTok have changed how music circulates and ultimately goes viral. Why do some pop stars have mor... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Paula Harper
Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Chicago, researcher of music, sound, and the internet.
University of Chicago
Episode: What Makes Music Go Viral—From AI to Taylor Swift
Pedro Lopes
Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Chicago and director of the Human-Computer Integration Lab.
University of Chicago
Episode: How Wearable Tech Will Heighten Our Senses and Abilities, with Pedro Lopes
Daniel Sodickson
Professor at NYU and one of the world's leading researchers on modern MRI innovation.
NYU
Episode: How Full-Body MRIs Could Predict Your Long-Term Health, with Daniel Sodickson
Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen
Assistant professor of forensic epistemology and author of "Psychopathy Unmasked"
University of Toronto
Episode: Is There Such A Thing As A Psychopath?
Nicole Rust
Neuroscientist studying brain memory and disorders
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Why We Haven’t Solved Brain Disorders—And How To Fix It, with Nicole Rust
Edwin Kite
A member of the science team for the Mars Curiosity Rover and a professor of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago.
University of Chicago
Episode: Life On Mars: Is It Possible For Humans? with Edwin Kite
Matthew Campen
Professor at the University of New Mexico and a leading researcher on microplastics.
University of New Mexico
Episode: How Microplastics Are Invading Our Bodies, with Matthew Campen
Jerry Avorn
Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, author of the book Rethinking Medications
Harvard Medical School
Episode: Are Your Medications Safe And Effective?, with Jerry Avorn
Jacob Bean
Astrophysicist at the University of Chicago studying the atmospheres of exoplanets.
University of Chicago
Episode: Meet The ‘Planet Hunter’ Searching For Alien Life, with Jacob Bean

Host

Paul Rand
Host of the podcast, known for his ability to engage with complex subjects and facilitate thought-provoking discussions.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 685 ratings
  • Background track annoying

    The subtle music in the background is very distracting and takes away from what the guest is saying. It sounds overproduced for no reason.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    IMO_2000
    Australia6 months ago
  • Insightful concepts

    Friends, This podcast is full of sound, well-researched advice from professional panels and interviews. Never a dull episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TagBerg
    United States6 months ago
  • 21st century Pseudoscience

    In the 19th century it was Phrenology.

    In the 20th century it was Eugenics.

    And now we have Polygenic Indices?

    What a CROCK!

    Very sophisticated STORY, but not science.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JL From NYC
    Canada9 months ago
  • Above the herds

    I don’t know how I found the Big Brains podcast, but I am so happy I did. High quality, concise, well researched, and edited content every episode. Guests are always interesting and I learn something every time I listen. 100% recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lone Resident
    United States9 months ago
  • Well done

    Excellent topics and guests. Thoughtful, and thought provoking

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kai'mana
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the well-researched topics and expert guests, often praising the informative and engaging nature of the discussions.
Some feedback highlights concerns regarding the audio quality and production choices, with suggestions for a more straightforward format.
Overall, there's a strong sentiment towards the podcast being a valuable educational resource for understanding complex scientific concepts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#192
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#216
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#101
Chile/Science
Apple Podcasts
#153
Japan/Science
Apple Podcasts
#169
South Africa/Science
Apple Podcasts
#183
Taiwan/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Breakthrough Quantum Sensor That Sees Inside Your Cells, with Peter Maurer
Q: Can you help us understand why it's so hard to measure things inside a living cell?
Cells are highly complex systems with many types of proteins and modifications that rule biology.
The Breakthrough Quantum Sensor That Sees Inside Your Cells, with Peter Maurer
Q: So how is sensing, as you're talking about it, different from imaging or microscopy?
Imaging microscopy tells you where individual biomolecules are, but it doesn't tell you what happened to those biomolecules.
The Breakthrough Quantum Sensor That Sees Inside Your Cells, with Peter Maurer
Q: Tell us about that.
My group is a quantum engineering lab, but we are interested in exploring quantum systems in a biological environment to develop new type of sensors.
Is There Such A Thing As A Psychopath?
Q: What changed in the 90s when it started getting noticed in the criminal justice system?
A Get Tough on Crime movement created a demand for tools to identify problematic individuals, which led to increased research and cultural fascination with psychopathy.
Is There Such A Thing As A Psychopath?
Q: What is psychopathy and where did this term come from?
Psychopathy is an idea that dates back to the 1700s related to a perceived disorder that impacts moral judgment, later maturing into a personality disorder recognized in clinical settings.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Brains

What is Big Brains about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Groundbreaking research and discoveries are the primary focus of this engaging series, which features conversations with leading experts from various fields. Each episode explores a wide range of subjects, such as the impact of technology on human abilities, latest advances in medical imaging and preventative healthcare, and mysteries surrounding psychopathy and brain disorders. The content is accessible and informative, making it suitable for a diverse audience eager to understand complex scientific topics without overwhelming jargon. Noteworthy is the podcast's commitment to dissecting cerebral subjects in a relatable manner, often illuminating contemporary issues through the lens of deep academic insights.

Where can I find podcast stats for Big Brains?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Big Brains. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Big Brains and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Big Brains get?

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What are the audience demographics for Big Brains?

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How many subscribers and views does Big Brains have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Big Brains has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Big Brains?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Brains:

1. Capitalisn't
2. Hidden Brain
3. Freakonomics Radio
4. People I (Mostly) Admire
5. Science Friday

How many episodes of Big Brains are there?

Big Brains launched 8 years ago and published 211 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Big Brains?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Big Brains?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Big Brains from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Big Brains?

Recent guests on Big Brains include:

1. Paula Harper
2. Pedro Lopes
3. Daniel Sodickson
4. Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen
5. Nicole Rust
6. Edwin Kite
7. Matthew Campen
8. Jerry Avorn

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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