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Embodied

WUNC
Mental Health
Intimacy
Community Support
Relationships
Aging
Sexuality
Masculinity
Healthcare Access
Gender Identity
Therapy
Queerness
Body Image
Dementia
Grief
Motherhood
Body Positivity
Parenthood
Artificial Intelligence
Psychedelics
Trans Technologies

Sex and relationships are intimate — and sometimes intimidating to talk about. In WUNC’s award-winning podcast, host Anita Rao guides us on an exploration of our brains and bodies that touches down in taboo territory.

Follow the show on Instagram at @embodiedwunc and on Bluesky at embodiedwunc.bsky.social. You can find Anita on Bluesky at asrao.bsky.social.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes281Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessSexuality

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Artwork for Embodied

Latest Episodes

For most of the first few decades of his life, Indigenous writer and filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat didn’t see much of his father, who left the family when Julian was 6. In the handful of times they did see each other over the years, that history of... more

YouTube

Sadie Dingfelder spent decades not recognizing people who knew her and not knowing why. At 39, she found an explanation: she is faceblind. She talks with Anita about how that discovery sent her down a journalistic rabbit hole that led her to rewrite ... more

YouTube

For years, audio creator Helena de Groot felt almost certain that she did not want kids. Then, she got unexpectedly pregnant. That pregnancy was the first in a series of curveballs that set her on a path of questioning everything she thought she knew... more

YouTube

When Mary Cain stepped onto the track as a high schooler, it was clear that she was a once-in-a-generation kind of talent. Her rise was quick and spectacular, which made it all the more stunning that just a few years after going pro with Nike, she st... more

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Recent Guests

Helena de Groot
Creator of the memoir podcast Creation Myth; discusses her journey around the kid decision
Creation Myth
Episode: Making The Kid Decision ... And Learning To Live With It
Merle Bombardieri
Parenting decision coach and author of The Baby Decision
The Baby Decision (book)
Episode: Making The Kid Decision ... And Learning To Live With It
Mary Cain
Athlete and author of This Is Not About Running
Former Nike Oregon Project athlete, Stanford Med student
Episode: Why The Former ‘Fastest Girl In America’ Wants To Change Sports
Derek Daniels
Associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wayne State University; speech-language pathologist and person who stutters
Wayne State University
Episode: Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak
Jia Bin
Doctoral student; stutterer who immigrated from China; advocate and creator of stammering communities
Michigan State University
Episode: Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak
Courtland Crain
24-year-old speech-language pathologist and person who stutters
YouTube educator / clinical practice
Episode: Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak
Nina G
Comedian known for discussing sex, sexuality, and stuttering in her act
Comedian
Episode: Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak
Matice Morris
YouTuber and figure in the stuttering community
YouTube creator
Episode: Stuttered: Diversifying The Way We Speak
Danilyn Rutherford
Anthropologist and author of Beautiful Mystery
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill/WUNC
Episode: How A Mother Learned To Connect Without Language

Host

Anita Rao
Host of Embodied; NPR-affiliated interviewer focusing on bodies, sexuality, and culture

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 331 ratings
  • Neutral and objective

    Common sense approach, well researched, logical, and sensitive journalism in this story are refreshing in this day of insanity in the u.s. Thanks Embodied!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dog Momz
    United States3 months ago
  • Professional. Raw. Beautiful.

    Anita has the most intuitive and elegant presence around asking questions, making guests comfortable with front topics, making people feel seen. What an exceptional addition to the world of podcasts. I’m grateful for her affect as calming and curious. Grateful for the topics.

    Always looking forward to episodes. Thank you, Anita!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CatCat53
    United States3 months ago
  • So relatable!

    As a millennial mom of young mixed race boys I feel like every episode speaks directly to some part of my life. Thanks for hosting such a great show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LindsDeA
    United Statesa year ago
  • 1000%

    So grateful for this incredible podcast!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mmmmmmmrose
    United Statesa year ago
  • Shouldn’t be aired

    Host has zero judgment. I’ll never forget tuning in to WUNC, at noon on a Friday, and the first words I heard were “sex toys” and “penises.”

    You shouldn’t have to worry about turning on NPR with little ones in the car.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    hangdawg33
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes resonate across demographics with thoughtful takeaways and diverse perspectives.
Listeners praise the host's balanced approach and ability to make difficult topics accessible.
Host and guests are consistently thoughtful, well-researched, and respectful in exploring nuanced topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Making The Kid Decision ... And Learning To Live With It
Q: How did you get clarity to make the decision about what to do with this pregnancy?
Helena describes the process as gradual and guided by hormonal shifts and a growing sense of calm, culminating in a decision aligned with her evolving understanding of herself rather than a single moment of certainty.
How A Mother Learned To Connect Without Language
Q: What have you learned about Millie from your team and experiences in public settings?
That Millie has agency and preferences that can be communicated through subtle cues and that caregivers must attune to, balancing the desire for visibility with Millie's own comfort and responses.
How A Mother Learned To Connect Without Language
Q: How did Millie respond to the POD communication system?
She showed strong engagement and interest in the voice of the consultant and the materials, though implementing it at home proved difficult due to the intensive training required for everyone, leading to a pause in using the system.
The Future of Trans Athletes in Sports
Q: How did you perceive the reaction of the sporting world to your coming out in Advocate Magazine, and how did it influence your subsequent actions?
There was a mixed reaction—initial buzz and a shrug from some—but it reinforced my resolve to prove what I could achieve and to press for policy changes that would benefit others in similar situations.
The Future of Trans Athletes in Sports
Q: What factors were you weighing during the period you considered coming out publicly?
Safety and the impact on career and family were paramount, but so was the desire to live authentically in sport, which ultimately led to using advocacy as a pathway to help others.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Embodied

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

Embodied explores sexuality, health, relationships, and the body through thoughtful conversations that blend expert insight with personal storytelling. Episodes frequently tackle taboo topics with nuance, incorporating scientific context, lived experience, and cultural critique. The show stands out for its accessible yet rigorously researched approach, its willingness to surface diverse perspectives, and its location-based NPR roots that add a sense of grounded, listener-friendly journalism. Listeners are likely drawn to psychologies of intimacy, inclusive conversations about identity, and practical takeaways for navigating real-life relationships and body autonomy.

Where can I find podcast stats for Embodied?

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How many listeners does Embodied get?

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How many subscribers and views does Embodied have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Embodied?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Embodied:

1. Death, Sex & Money
2. Code Switch
3. Proxy with Yowei Shaw
4. This American Life
5. This Is Uncomfortable

How many episodes of Embodied are there?

Embodied launched 6 years ago and published 281 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 Embodied?

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 Embodied?

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

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What guests have appeared on Embodied?

Recent guests on Embodied include:

1. Helena de Groot
2. Merle Bombardieri
3. Mary Cain
4. Derek Daniels
5. Jia Bin
6. Courtland Crain
7. Nina G
8. Matice Morris

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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