
From First Principles is a fast, funny, and rigorous breakdown of the biggest science stories of the week, hosted by Lester Nare and physicist Krishna Choudhary, PhD. We go past headlines into the actual mechanics: what happened, why it matters, and what everyone’s missing. Expect physics, space, AI, energy, biotech, and the occasional “wait… is that real?” story. If you’re curious, skeptical, and... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 60 | Founded | a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Science | |||

Who could win the 2026 Nobel Prizes? From the science behind Ozempic to quantum interference and droplets inside living cells, Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary make their picks for Medicine, Physics and Chemistry, and explain the discoveries behind ... more
What connects a noise complaint, holiday lights seen from space, and the physics of a coffee stain? Three unexpected paths from basic research to discoveries with real-world impact.
Krishna Choudhary and Lester Nare explore the science behind the 20... more
What does it mean to solve an equation that describes almost every fluid around us, from the air over a wing to the water swirling down a drain?
In Episode 58 of From First Principles, Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary build the Navier-Stokes equati... more
What science should you be watching this fall? From Nobel Prize season to NASA’s Roman Space Telescope, Mars’ moons and Mercury, Lester Nare and Krishna Choudhary take a relaxed tour of the discoveries and missions on their radar.
In Episode 57 of F... more
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I listen to a lot of different kinds of podcasts but when it comes to science it’s FFP or Startalk. Thanks for all you guys do!!
They cover a really broad range of topics across science, super interesting and distilled down for the curious non experts
Hats off to anyone practicing science communication, Krishna and Lester included. But they have habit of starting episodes with an ad where someone is literally screaming which is agitating af. They’ll also cut away mid episode to an ad that’s obnoxious and twice as loud as their speaking voices 1/10 of a second earlier. You’re creating a bad listening experience. Run your ads. Just do it less obnoxiously.
Lester. My guy, my captain. Love the pod. Big fan. However, your mix is way too low relative to the commercials in your episodes and relative to every other podcast on this app. I never do this but I have to say something.
I have to really crank up the volume to hear you both which would be fine but then when you cut to commercial my ears/speakers are blown out with the massive jump in audio level.
Your audio levels may “look good” on your end but your show does not exist in a vacuum, look a... more
The passion man , the passion is infectious !
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #31 | |
Apple Podcasts | #51 | |
Apple Podcasts | #51 | |
Apple Podcasts | #69 | |
Apple Podcasts | #62 | |
Apple Podcasts | #102 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Two hosts deliver rigorous, accessible briefings on the week's biggest science stories, spanning physics, space, AI, energy, and biotech. Episodes blend deep-dive explanations with practical storytelling, historical context, and lively banter, helping curious listeners understand not just what happened, but why it matters and how it connects to broader science and society. Notable strengths include a clear two-person dynamic anchored by a physicist and a curious interlocutor, long-form explorations of complex topics, and a consistent emphasis on explaining concepts from first principles for non-experts. A standout trait is the show's willingness to tackle high-level ideas with engaging visuals into the narrative and a data-driven mindset, w... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with From First Principles:
1. StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
2. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
3. The Joy of Why
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
From First Principles launched a year ago and published 60 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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Recent guests on From First Principles include:
1. Juan Busso
2. Arron Ackerman
3. Michael Blanton
4. Dan Gilman
5. John Mulchaey
6. Daniel Toker
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