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Engines of Our Ingenuity

Houston Public Media
University Of Houston
Houston
World War I
World War II
Mathematics
Music
Education
Advertising
Crossbow
Second Law Of Thermodynamics
Europe
Technology
Face Recognition Software
Champagne
Marketing
Evolution
Oxygen
Google Books
Military Technology
Artificial Gravity

The story of technological progress is one of drama and intrigue, sudden insight and plain hard work. Let’s explore technology’s spectacular failures and many magnificent success stories.

This content is in service of Houston Public Media’s education mission and is sponsored by the University of Houston. It is not a product of our news team.

PublishesDailyEpisodes167Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

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Artwork for Engines of Our Ingenuity

Latest Episodes

Episode: 1605 The brief race to build very tall buildings: 1885 to 1931. Today, the brief day of the first skyscrapers.

Episode: 1604 In which hydrogen balloons bind science to technology. Today, hydrogen -- in 1783.

Episode: 1603 Galileo: An old man grieves his daughter and writes his last book. Today, an old man writes his most important book.

Episode: 2618 Søren Kierkegaard: Christian Existentialist. Today, an exit.

Key Facts

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

William Bryant Logan
Author of Dirt, The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth
Author/Essayist
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1601: Dirt
Jakub Bektas
Historian who discusses the Ottoman telegraph project
Historian
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1597: Ottoman Telegraph
John Kiker
NASA engineer who developed the piggyback shuttle carrier concept
NASA
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3381: Shuttle-Carrier N905NA
Michael Barrett
NASA astronaut, associated with the University of Houston
NASA / University of Houston
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2670: Expanding the Human Environment
Whithold Ribchinski
Writer on technologies of the home, author of One Good Turn
Author/Researcher
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1581: One Good Turn
Kresa Josic
University of Houston researcher
University of Houston
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3374: Board Game Design
Cathy Patterson
Historian
University of Houston
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2081: A Monstrosity and a Skeptic
Mary Colter
Architect
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3371: Mary Colter
John Leinhardt
Professor at the University of Houston
University of Houston
Episode: The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1552: Global Warming Again

Hosts

John Leinhardt
Host of Engines of Our Ingenuity, University of Houston
Andy Boyd
Host of Engines of Our Ingenuity, University of Houston

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 214 ratings
  • A daily listen for me.

    I have been listening to this program for many years, probably since it first came on some local public radio stations, jazz 88 in St. Paul MN. It happened to be played at drivetime in the evening so every day I learned something from John Leinhardt. I love the fact that he is from Minnesota. And also that he is an aviation enthusiast. These episodes do not age. I hope they continue with new episodes for a long time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Doc's Mom
    United States6 months ago
  • This cannot end

    I have been listening to this for 3 years and I cannot get enough. I listen to it in the car with my kids, although they are very young they are hearing about the wonders of engineeringand how inventive minds work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fatnessmonster8
    United States5 years ago
  • My First Exposure to Science

    I remember listening to this show everyday on my way to elementary school. Thank you, John Lienhart for the great memories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Evanpf
    United States6 years ago
  • Each episode is packed with knowledge, like an espresso bean.

    Great starting point for exploring new subjects.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jbjrcatches
    United States6 years ago
  • Broad range of subjects

    The podcasters cover an amazing array of subjects, but each presented in an engaging short format.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr. Eitz
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Host delivers a human-centric view of invention and progress.
High-quality, educational sponsorships reinforce credibility.
Timely and timeless—episodes age well and stay relevant.
Engaging and concise storytelling that makes complex tech history accessible.
Broad subject range kept short and digestible for daily listening.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#63
India/Science
Apple Podcasts
#182
Saudi Arabia/Science

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per EpisodeGender SkewLocation
InterestsProfessionsAge Range
Household IncomeSocial Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Engines of Our Ingenuity

What is Engines of Our Ingenuity about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engines of Our Ingenuity presents compact, idea-driven explorations of technology and its history, weaving science, engineering, art, and culture into short, highly readable narratives. Episodes frequently connect early innovations to modern life, highlighting how human ingenuity, rather than sheer novelty, advances civilization. A signature strength is the blend of rigorous context with accessible storytelling, often featuring university-affiliated hosts and sponsorships that emphasize educational outreach. Overall, it's ideal for curious listeners who enjoy crisp, informative takes on how inventions shape daily life and society, with a notable emphasis on historical perspective and human perspectives behind technical progress.

Where can I find podcast stats for Engines of Our Ingenuity?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Engines of Our Ingenuity. 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 Engines of Our Ingenuity and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Engines of Our Ingenuity get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Engines of Our Ingenuity, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Engines of Our Ingenuity?

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How many subscribers and views does Engines of Our Ingenuity have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Engines of Our Ingenuity 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 Engines of Our Ingenuity?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Engines of Our Ingenuity:

1. Short Wave
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4. Think from KERA
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How many episodes of Engines of Our Ingenuity are there?

Engines of Our Ingenuity launched 20 years ago and published 167 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 Engines of Our Ingenuity?

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 Engines of Our Ingenuity?

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Engines of Our Ingenuity?

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What guests have appeared on Engines of Our Ingenuity?

Recent guests on Engines of Our Ingenuity include:

1. William Bryant Logan
2. Jakub Bektas
3. John Kiker
4. Michael Barrett
5. Whithold Ribchinski
6. Kresa Josic
7. Cathy Patterson
8. Mary Colter

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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