Rephonic
Artwork for Hidden Brain
Innovation
Entrepreneurship
Creativity
Human Behavior
Coping With Challenges
Failures In Business
Down Syndrome
Business Strategy
Goal Setting
Psychology
Listening
Titanic
Cultural Anthropology
Workplace Interactions
Beauty Bias
Communication
Beauty
Human Potential
Eric Erickson
Disability Rights

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes637Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesArtsPerforming ArtsScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Hidden Brain

Latest Episodes

Many love stories end when the characters are still in the heady, euphoric early stages of a relationship. But what comes after that intoxicating first phase of love is over? Today, we kick off a new series on the challenges specific to long-term rel... more

The idea of being driven by a calling goes back centuries. It was the language used to describe religious people who were called to the priesthood. Today, millions of people in secular professions yearn to be similarly galvanized by their work. This ... more

It's not easy for most of us to receive negative feedback. Even when the person delivering that feedback is constructive and reasonable, we often feel the urge to defend ourselves. This week, we look at the psychology of defensiveness with neuroscien... more

Many of us have been raised to believe that if we want to get something done, we just need to set our minds to it. Where there's a will, there's a way, right? Yet somehow we end up polishing off that pint of ice cream in the freezer, or spending more... 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

Emily Falk
Psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Winning the Battle Against Yourself
Thomas Curran
Psychologist at the London School of Economics and author of The Perfection Trap, Embracing the Power of Good Enough
London School of Economics
Episode: Escaping Perfectionism
Mary Helen Immordino-Yang
Psychologist and neuroscientist at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
Episode: How Our Brains Learn
Abigail Marsh
Psychologist and neuroscientist at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Episode: Radical Kindness
Jonathan Adler
Psychologist at Olin College, focusing on narrative psychology.
Olin College
Episode: You 2.0: Change Your Story, Change Your Life
Massimo Pigliucci
Philosopher and author
City College of New York
Episode: You 2.0: The Wisdom of Stoicism
Iris Mauss
Psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley.
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: You 2.0: The Path to Contentment + Your Questions Answered on Conversations
Jan Jachimowicz
Behavioral scientist at Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Episode: You 2.0: The Passion Pill
Victor Strecher
Public health researcher at the University of Michigan, and author of Life on Purpose.
University of Michigan
Episode: You 2.0: What Is Your Life For?

Host

Shankar Vedantam
Host of Hidden Brain; veteran science journalist who explores the complexities of human behavior and psychology.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 59.4k ratings
  • Highly recommended.

    Hidden Brain is regularly thought provoking, useful, practical and brilliantly presented. Every episode helps the listener explore a subject from a different angle. The episodes enable the listener to connect behavioural science and psychology to their every day lives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oscar8745
    United Kingdom11 days ago
  • Excited to listen until…

    Some of the subject matter is very interesting but by the time you get to the end of the podcast, you realize you have learned nothing much at all. A lot of talk that results in very little helpful information. Judging from some of the comments posted on Apple about the show, it may not be for me. So many pusillanimous people complaining about the AI cover art of the episodes. Seriously? Lol! Oh yeah, and they get political sometimes. Take a wild guess which side this NPR podcast is on…

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Marines of 75
    United States14 days ago
  • Thoughtful, sincere and well researched.

    I love the thought provoking themes that seem to be able to capture all of us in one aspect or another. It spans across all types of beliefs and gets to the heart of us all, our complicated brains, and our humanity. Thank you for your work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fitnessvibes
    United States16 days ago
  • Love it

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Fab
    20 days ago
  • The Therapy We All Need

    Listening to Hidden Brain is a gift. It’s like receiving the therapy that we all need, but can’t afford to get.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Madeleine2R
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Many listeners note that the insights shared have had a significant impact on their personal lives, often helping them to navigate challenges effectively.
The blend of scientific research with personal narratives is frequently praised, with episodes being described as both informative and calming.
There are complaints about the show's commercialization and the frequency of advertisements, which some believe detracts from the overall experience.
Listeners appreciate the engaging content and the depth of insights, often referring to it as 'a must-listen' for those interested in understanding human behavior.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Winning the Battle Against Yourself
Q: How can we regain control over our decision making?
By understanding the operation of the value system and framing our choices in ways that align with our long-term goals, we can make this process easier.
Winning the Battle Against Yourself
Q: What is the value system in the brain?
The value system is a network of brain regions that handle our choices, conducting a value calculation based on our current context, past experiences, and future goals.
Escaping Perfectionism
Q: What can be done to combat perfectionism?
People can write down their perfectionist thoughts and assess their realism, considering the actual consequences of not achieving high standards.
Escaping Perfectionism
Q: What do you think about perfectionism and its effects?
Perfectionism leads to an urgent need to exceed standard expectations, which exacerbates stress and anxiety.
How Our Brains Learn
Q: What implications does transcendent thinking have on education?
It suggests that educational reforms should prioritize engagement and personal relevance in curriculum to foster meaningful learning experiences.

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?

The content explored covers the intersection of psychology, behavior change, and personal growth, aiming to provide listeners with insights into their own minds and relationships. Key topics include emotional well-being, decision-making, perfectionism, trauma, altruism, and the search for life's meaning, often featuring expert guests who provide research-based insights into these subjects. The unique aspect of the conversations is the blend of scientific exploration with personal stories, making complex psychological theories accessible and relatable to a broad audience. This approach encourages listeners to engage deeply with the material, reflecting on their own experiences and how they can apply these insights to improve their lives.

Th... 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 10 years ago and published 637 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. Emily Falk
2. Thomas Curran
3. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang
4. Abigail Marsh
5. Jonathan Adler
6. Massimo Pigliucci
7. Iris Mauss
8. Jan Jachimowicz

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