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Cortex

Relay
Technology
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Interpersonal Skills
Social Media
Youtube
Apple
Email Management
Apple Vision Pro
Self-Help
Work-Life Balance
Productivity
Cortex
Business Relationships
The Social Network
Technological Unemployment
Leadership
Communication
Mark Zuckerberg
Product Design
Lord Of the Rings

Cortex is a show that explores how creative people think about their work — and how they get it done. Each episode dives into the workflows they follow, the apps and devices they depend on, and the habits that keep projects moving. Hosted by CGP Grey and Myke Hurley.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes182Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for Cortex

Latest Episodes

Subtitle: State of the Workflow

Myke talks to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg about his workflow for reporting on Apple, building and verifying sources, balancing speed with accuracy, and how publishing a scoop can uncover the next part of the story.

Thi... more

Subtitle: State of the Workflow

Myke talks to Jack Coyne about turning the viral hit Track Star* into a media business, growing a creative team without adding complexity, and building new shows while protecting what made the original special.

This... more

YouTube

Subtitle: State of the Workflow

Myke talks to Loryn Brantz – illustrator, poet, and bestselling author – about her journey from Sesame Street and BuzzFeed to becoming an independent creator, how her poems grew into a book, and the routines she uses ... more

YouTube

Subtitle: State of the Workflow

Myke talks to Steph Ango, CEO of Obsidian, about building tools for thought, working without meetings, managing knowledge with markdown and links, and how a seven-person team builds software used by millions.

This e... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jack Coyne
Host and co-creator of Trackstar
Public Opinion / Trackstar
Episode: 181: The Workflow Behind Track Star*, with Jack Coyne
Loryn Brantz
Poet and illustrator; NYT bestselling author; former BuzzFeed illustrator
Independent creator; formerly BuzzFeed
Episode: 180: From Instagram Poems to a Bestselling Book, with Loryn Brantz
Steph Ango
CEO of Obsidian
Obsidian
Episode: 179: The Philosophy of Obsidian, with CEO Steph Ango
Jason Schreier
Lead video game reporter at Bloomberg and author
Bloomberg
Episode: 178: The Process of Investigative Reporting, With Jason Schreier
Quinn Nelson
Tech YouTuber, Snazzy Labs
Snazzy Labs
Episode: 177: How Major Life Changes Reshape Creative Workflows, With Quinn Nelson
Becca Farsace
YouTuber focusing on tech reviews and creative content
Episode: 176: Going From a Newsroom to Being Independent, With Becca Farsace
Marques Brownlee
Tech YouTube creator and influencer known as MKBHD, who has been creating tech-focused videos for over 17 years.
MKBHD
Episode: 174: Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) – State of the Workflow
Hank Green
YouTuber and co-creator of educational content with notable projects including Crash Course.
Vlogbrothers and Complexly
Episode: 173: Hank Green – State of the Workflow
David Pierce
Editor at large for The Verge, product reviewer, and podcaster
The Verge
Episode: 172: David Pierce – State of the Workflow

Hosts

CGP Grey
Host of Cortex; frequent contributor to technology, productivity, and workflow discussions
Myke Hurley
Co-host of Cortex; focuses on practical production workflows and creator life

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 4.2k ratings
  • Yawn

    How many “workflow” shows does this podcast network need? Face it, the show is over. Myke can’t carry an original show by himself.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jdma3
    United States3 months ago
  • Poor

    Without CGP Grey this podcast is pretty much pointless

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mike-tastic
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Love

    Love the show but grey needs to cone back mike and workflow have been awful compared to the rest

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cnlysvegdbecsj
    United States5 months ago
  • Meh

    The conversation is interesting-ish, but there are a lot of adds. Two ad breaks in 30 minutes is fine if it’s an add at the start and end of a short podcast episode, but the adds break up the conversation in annoying ways and are way too frequent.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    [enter pun here]
    United States6 months ago
  • End it please

    CGPGrey has always left his listeners and followers in the dark. He just doesn't care, trust me i followed him for more than 10 years and this guy is extremely self centered

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hodl_till_the_end
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the actionable productivity and workflow insights.
Some critique feels heavy on ads and sponsorships.
Overall perceived as insightful and well-edited among creator-focused shows.
Guests with strong process experience tend to resonate well with this audience.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#108
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#46
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#89
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#59
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#162
Italy/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#213
France/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

181: The Workflow Behind Track Star*, with Jack Coyne
Q: What's the core business model behind Trackstar and Public Opinion?
Public Opinion started as an advertising agency and book projects, with revenue from brand collaborations and later expanding into branded content and RFP-driven campaigns, while Trackstar remains a creative engine and a core growth driver for the business.
181: The Workflow Behind Track Star*, with Jack Coyne
Q: Why not shift entirely to celebrity interviews if they're easier to produce?
It's easier to produce with celebrities but would reduce the sense of discovery and the show's core focus on music fans; keeping street interviews maintains variety, surprise, and a broader appeal beyond celebrities.
181: The Workflow Behind Track Star*, with Jack Coyne
Q: When did you start booking musicians and celebrities onto the show, and how did that change the operation?
Musicians were brought on roughly six months in, starting with non-famous artists, and soon after bigger names like Ed Sheeran and Olivia Rodrigo appeared as the show grew and learned how to navigate music labels and PR.
176: Going From a Newsroom to Being Independent, With Becca Farsace
Q: What has been the biggest lesson you've learned in your first, let's say, 18 months for your first year?
I need to always do things for me, keeping me as the North Star.
176: Going From a Newsroom to Being Independent, With Becca Farsace
Q: Are there any areas of work that you're doing right now that you could expect wanting help on? Or do you think you are someone who wants the full control?
I'm trying to decide what the future looks like for my channel, whether I want to build a larger team or keep it just myself.

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 Cortex

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

Cortex-style conversations typically center on how creative professionals organize their work, the tools and devices they rely on, and the habits that keep ongoing projects moving. Episodes often feature deep dives into workflows, writing and production processes, and the trade-offs involved in scaling independent creative endeavors. A standout theme is how people balance creative integrity with practical constraints—whether building a media business, managing teams, or maintaining personal focus across multiple platforms. The show's strength lies in practical, actionable insights about productivity, tooling, and collaboration, often framed through the hosts' candid perspectives and real-world experiments. This mix makes it particularly val... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Cortex?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cortex:

1. Connected
2. Upgrade
3. The Unmade Podcast
4. AppStories
5. The Talk Show With John Gruber

How many episodes of Cortex are there?

Cortex launched 11 years ago and published 182 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Cortex?

Recent guests on Cortex include:

1. Jack Coyne
2. Loryn Brantz
3. Steph Ango
4. Jason Schreier
5. Quinn Nelson
6. Becca Farsace
7. Marques Brownlee
8. Hank Green

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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