Rephonic
Artwork for Hidden Brain
Psychology
Mental Health
Creativity
Innovation
Interpersonal Relationships
Memory
Social Media
Entrepreneurship
Resilience
Grief
Human Behavior
Relationships
Trauma
Depression
Behavioral Science
Social Connections
Anxiety
Goal Setting
Covid-19 Pandemic
Connective Labor

Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes693Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesArtsSciencePerforming Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Hidden Brain

Latest Episodes

Why does one bad experience have the power to overshadow an otherwise good day? Psychologist Alison Ledgerwood explores the negativity bias, the deeply human tendency to hold on to what went wrong and overlook what went right. She explains why our mi... more

We all have moments in our lives when we see someone who could use a helping hand. It could be a friend who recently went through a breakup, or an older person trying to load groceries into their car. We tell ourselves we should help, but then someth... more

You’re not the same person with your friends as you are with your co-workers or your kids. So who are you, really? This week, political scientist Eric Oliver explores why we often feel divided within ourselves, and how we can learn to live more peace... more

For centuries, people have described creativity as something mysterious: a flash of insight, a whisper from the muse, a sudden idea that seems to arrive out of nowhere. Psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis explores the hidden mental processes that lead to th... more

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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Radiolab
RadiolabWNYC Studios
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Recent Guests

Eric Oliver
Author of How to Know Yourself and professor at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: Who Are You, Really?
Ap Dijksterhuis
Psychologist researching creativity and inspiration
Radboud University / Inspiration, Where the Best Ideas Come From
Episode: Unleashing Your Creativity
Joseph Henrich
Anthropologist at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: The Past is Never Dead
Steve Winnick
Folklorist at Library of Congress
Library of Congress
Episode: The Cowboy Philosopher
Stasha Shepard Silverman
Daughter of Riley Shepard
Private individual
Episode: The Cowboy Philosopher
Kevin Coffey
Music researcher and writer
Independent researcher
Episode: The Cowboy Philosopher
Dave Evans
Co-author of How to Live a Meaningful Life, Stanford engineer
Stanford University / Author
Episode: Designing a Life that Matters
Sonja Lyubomirsky
Psychologist at University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
Episode: Do You Feel Loved?
Gregory Walton
Psychologist at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: Do You Feel Loved?

Host

Shankar Vedantam
Host of the show, a veteran science journalist who guides discussions with leading researchers.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 60.9k ratings
  • Love ❤️ My Favourite Podcast🥰

    Dependably interesting. Shankar has the best podcast voice! Topics are awesome. Just love this show

    One year later and this continues to be true.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    20Smith
    Canadaa month ago
  • Well!

    This is a terrific show ! You could learnt a lot from this great show!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    best handsome in moon
    China2 months ago
  • Love Shankar - excellent!

    I'm always impressed by the comprehensive knowledge presented in these podcast episodes. I very much appreciate the background work to bring us these succinct presentations. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shel Lynn
    United States2 months ago
  • We know your name

    Hi Shankar, no doubt great topics and guests and interview style. Just one thing grinds me that throughout each pod you repeat your name ad nauseum.

    Please accept this feedback is constructive and comes from a good place.

    Keep on keeping on!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mark33.
    Australia2 months ago
  • 👌🏽 great one

    Designing a life that Matters, so many people need to listen to this

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🐾muddypaws
    Canada2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners critique audio quality and pacing, but overall the show remains highly valued for its rigor and relevance.
Guests and topics are consistently diverse and deeply engaging, offering practical psychology insights.
Listeners praise the host's curiosity and questioning style, calling the show insightful and well-researched.
There is appreciation for the balance of storytelling with scholarly content, making complex ideas accessible.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Who Are You, Really?
Q: What does it mean that there is no single unified self?
Eric Oliver explains that the self is a dynamic collection of processes (cellular, animal, linguistic, egoistic) that often conflict, and that observing this flow helps people understand their behavior beyond a fixed identity.
The Empathy Gym
Q: How does trauma influence empathy in the long term, according to the discussion?
Trauma can lead to altruism born of suffering, where enduring pain can increase care for others and push people toward helping roles, though outcomes vary and depend on social support.
The Empathy Gym
Q: What are the core components of empathy as described by the guest?
Emotional empathy, cognitive empathy, and empathic concern (compassion) are the three components, each sometimes operating independently and supported by different brain systems; a well-functioning empathy repertoire involves all three.
The Cowboy Philosopher
Q: Why do people keep secrets despite knowing there are costs?
People weigh fear of judgment, rejection, and the disruption secrets might cause, against potential relief and closer understanding that can come from disclosure; the decision is complex and context-dependent.
Radical Acceptance
Q: What is the compass exercise and how does it help people live coherently?
The compass exercise helps people articulate life view, work view, and present story, then extract core values to align actions with who they are and what they believe.

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 Hidden Brain

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

Thoughtful conversations grounded in behavioral science explore why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Episodes frequently feature psychologists, economists, historians, and policy researchers who unpack topics like self-disclosure, happiness, leadership, group dynamics, and decision making. Across formats, expect data-driven insights, real-world experiments, and practical guidance for personal growth, healthier relationships, and more effective organizations. A standout aspect is the rigorous use of research and expert perspectives to illuminate everyday psychology, often framed with compelling stories and accessible explanations. If you're curious about the science behind human behavior and how to apply it to work, life, and rel... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Hidden Brain?

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

How many listeners does Hidden Brain get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Hidden Brain, 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 Hidden Brain?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Hidden Brain, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Hidden Brain have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Hidden Brain 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 Hidden Brain?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hidden Brain:

1. TED Radio Hour
2. Radiolab
3. This American Life
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Hidden Brain are there?

Hidden Brain launched 11 years ago and published 693 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 Hidden Brain?

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 Hidden Brain?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Hidden Brain?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Hidden Brain. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Hidden Brain?

Recent guests on Hidden Brain include:

1. Eric Oliver
2. Ap Dijksterhuis
3. Joseph Henrich
4. Steve Winnick
5. Stasha Shepard Silverman
6. Kevin Coffey
7. Dave Evans
8. Sonja Lyubomirsky

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days