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Human Rights
International Relations
Climate Change
Naming and Shaming
Political Polarization
PFAS
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Environmental Science
Universal Periodic Review
Public Diplomacy
Alzheimer’s Disease
Cancer
China
Israel and Palestine
Iran
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Psychology
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes191Founded7 years ago
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Artwork for Big Brains

Latest Episodes

What if a single number, derived from your DNA, could predict your income, education level or even who you're likely to marry? In his new book “The Social Genome,” Princeton University sociologist Dalton Conley explores the science behind how our gen... more

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When we lose someone, we love, we often say we have a broken heart—but what if that’s not just a metaphor?

In her new book “The Grieving Body: How The Stress of Loss Can Be An Opportunity For Healing” University of Arizona Professor of Psychology Ma... more

YouTube

New federal data paints a stark picture: American children are falling behind in reading and test scores, with the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged kids growing wider. But is this really just a problem of money? University of Chicago Developm... more

YouTube

What does it mean to understand death? For centuries, philosophers have argued that only humans can truly comprehend mortality. But what if they’re wrong?

In this episode, we speak with philosopher Susana Monsó, author of Playing Possum: How Animals... more

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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

Mary Frances O'Connor
Professor of Psychology at the University of Arizona and director of the Grief, Loss, and Social Stress Lab
University of Arizona
Episode: Can You Really Die of a Broken Heart? The Hidden Dangers of Grief, with Mary Frances O'Connor
Adam Ratner
Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at New York University and Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
New York University and Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
Episode: Why Measles Is Resurging—And The Rise Of Vaccine Hesitancy, with Adam Ratner
Bozhi Tian
Professor of Chemistry at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: How Bioelectronics Could Heal Our Bodies And Minds, with Bozhi Tian
J. Doyne Farmer
One of the world's leading scholars in the science of complex systems and a professor at Oxford University.
Oxford University
Episode: Can We Predict The Unpredictable? with J. Doyne Farmer
James A. Robinson
Leading political scientist and economist
University of Chicago
Episode: 2024 Nobel Laureate Explains What Makes Countries Fail Or Succeed, with James A. Robinson
Wendy Freedman
Professor of astronomy and astrophysics
University of Chicago
Episode: Why Can’t Scientists Agree On The Age Of The Universe? with Wendy Freedman
Peggy O'Donnell Heffington
Assistant instructional professor in the Department of History at the University of Chicago and the author of the book Without Children, The Long History of Not Being a Mother.
University of Chicago
Episode: Why Are More Women Saying No To Having Kids? With Peggy O'Donnell Heffington
Adrienne Brown
Associate professor of race, diaspora, and indigeneity in the English Department at the University of Chicago and author
University of Chicago
Episode: How Homeownership Shaped Race In America, with Adrienne Brown
Ellen Langer
Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and author
Harvard University
Episode: Is Mindfulness The Secret To Health?

Host

Paul Rand
Host of Big Brains, known for engaging discussions that unpack complex subjects in a digestible way.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 630 ratings
  • Well done

    Excellent topics and guests. Thoughtful, and thought provoking

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kai'mana
    United Statesa month ago
  • Sound quality

    Thanks for providing transcripts to your interesting interviews. I find the music too distracting to listen to the conversation.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    2000times
    Canada2 months ago
  • Big Brains

    Excellent. Concise, informative, plausible and easy listening

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Voles Rule
    United States3 months ago
  • My favorite podcast

    I want to know and learn everyone on this podcast. I love the learning. Great topics and discussions. Give me more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fe Ford
    United States4 months ago
  • Fascinating

    Fascinating study on what happens when we die. The researcher sums the end of the study well, but the question for me is what lives to save, certainly not those who die of untreatable diseases, right?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joy Jiang Chen
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There are some critiques regarding the format and interruptions during episodes, suggesting a straightforward interview style would be preferable.
Listeners appreciate the educational content and the diversity of topics covered.
Many highlight the engaging and clear explanations provided by the host and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#76
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#191
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#202
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#230
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#55
Chile/Science
Apple Podcasts
#81
United Arab Emirates/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Measles Is Resurging—And The Rise Of Vaccine Hesitancy, with Adam Ratner
Q: What is the perception that people have about getting vaccinated?
People often feel that vaccination is a personal choice, but it impacts the community due to measles' high contagion rate.
Why Measles Is Resurging—And The Rise Of Vaccine Hesitancy, with Adam Ratner
Q: How do we trace the decline in vaccination rates?
Vaccine hesitancy has been historically present, but the fraudulent Wakefield study linking vaccines to autism significantly contributed to current skepticism.
The Little-Known Secrets To A Good Life, with Shigehiro Oishi
Q: How does the culture around happiness impact people's perceptions of their lives?
The focus on maximizing happiness can trap individuals into thinking that unhappiness is a personal failure, making it difficult to accept negative events.
The Little-Known Secrets To A Good Life, with Shigehiro Oishi
Q: What is a psychologically rich life?
A psychologically rich life is one filled with diverse, unusual, and interesting experiences, often leading to perspective changes.
Could A Fungal Pandemic Be “The Last of Us?", with Arturo Casadevall
Q: Is there a likelihood that we will not have a medication to treat it once symptoms arrive?
It is difficult to make a vaccine for immunosuppressed populations because they may not respond well to it, which poses challenges for development.

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?

Providing insightful explorations into groundbreaking research and discoveries, this podcast features in-depth conversations with leading experts across a broad spectrum of topics. Episodes cover a range of subjects from child development and parenting to complex scientific discussions surrounding health, ethics, and societal issues, making complex ideas accessible and engaging. The ability to articulate intricate themes such as moral behavior, the implications of vaccine hesitancy, and the science of consciousness showcases a commitment to understanding the world through evidence-based dialogue.

Unique for its educational focus, this podcast not only informs its audience but also invites listeners into thoughtful discussions about contemp... more

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How many listeners does Big Brains get?

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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. The Pie: An Economics Podcast
3. Not Another Politics Podcast
4. Hidden Brain
5. Conversations with Tyler

How many episodes of Big Brains are there?

Big Brains launched 7 years ago and published 191 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. Mary Frances O'Connor
2. Adam Ratner
3. Bozhi Tian
4. J. Doyne Farmer
5. James A. Robinson
6. Wendy Freedman
7. Peggy O'Donnell Heffington
8. Adrienne Brown

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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