The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean
Sam KeanA topsy-turvy science-y history podcast by Sam Kean. I examine overlooked stories from our past: the dental superiority of hunter-gatherers, the crooked Nazis who saved thousands of American lives, the American immigrants who developed the most successful cancer screening tool in history, the sex lives of dinosaurs, and much, much more. These are charming little tales that never made the history b... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 130 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksHistoryArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
When a British sub sank with all hands, JBS Haldane volunteered to investigate by experimenting on himself—even if it meant losing his own life in the process. (Part 2 of 2.)
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There’s only one thing Dr. John Haldane loved more than running dangerous experiments on himself—running them on his son Jack. But the duo would revolutionize our understanding of the human body.
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When Charles Lindbergh's sister-in-law developed heart trouble, he teamed up with a Nobel-Prize-winning doctor to save her. He had no idea the dark paths his work would lead him down, including Nazi politics and eugenics...
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Exactly a century ago, teacher John Scopes was charged with the “crime” of teaching evolution. But Scopes was hardly a defiant Galileo, nobly standing up for truth. In fact, he never even taught evolution. (Really.) But despite the unseemly origins o... more
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Reviews
Great
Podcast Addict53 months agoOleg- Good content
Bad narrator has an anxious delivery that sounds like he’s counting down to an explosion.
Apple Podcasts2sfmn15
United States4 months ago - My review
Hello Sam Kean. 👋
First of all amazing podcast, I have listened to every episode that you have posted, and I get excited every time you post a new episode.
“Your podcast shares and involves the listener into cool adventures about unique things. ♟️Second of all, your podcast is very well put together and distillations is actually very good like you said, but there are some flaws in your podcast that I would like to mention.
#1 some episodes are very scary, and I can understand that that migh... more
Apple Podcasts5Duckcoco Studios
Canada4 months ago - Love this show
To date. This is my favourite history podcast
Apple Podcasts5Nevwell
South Africa5 months ago - Amazing
One of the best podcasts out there. Nicely produced and well told unexpected stories, always interesting and surprising
Apple Podcasts5cupofmilo
Australia5 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #204 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #195 | Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #137 | Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #89 |  India/History |
Apple Podcasts | #119 |  South Korea/History |
Apple Podcasts | #126 |  United Arab Emirates/History |
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 This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show focuses on forgotten or overlooked episodes in science and history, told as vivid narratives that connect curiosities from the past to today's understanding. Listeners are treated to stories about scientific controversies, pivotal experiments, and quirky discoveries, all framed to reveal how small moments can shape big ideas. The host's engaging storytelling, use of sound design, and approachable yet rigorous research style make it a standout for listeners who like history, science, and curiosity-driven storytelling that feels both educational and entertaining.
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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. Sidedoor
2. 99% Invisible
3. Unexplainable
4. Decoder Ring
5. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 130 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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