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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes683Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSocial SciencesSciencePerforming Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Hidden Brain

Latest Episodes

In 2009, an old man died in a California nursing home. His obituary included not just his given name, but a long list of the pseudonyms he’d been known to use. In this classic 2019 episode, we trace the life of Riley Shepard, a hillbilly musician, wr... more

Last week, we looked at the hidden beliefs that can leave us feeling stuck in life. This week, in the second part of our conversation with behavioral scientist Dave Evans, we talk about radical acceptance. Dave shares why accepting reality as it is c... more

We tell ourselves that meaning comes from impact, passion, or finding the “one right path.” But these beliefs can leave us feeling stuck — even when our lives look perfectly fine on paper. Behavioral scientist Dave Evans describes a new approach, bor... more

What’s the difference between being loved and feeling loved? Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky joins us to discuss the distinction, and how we can create a stronger feeling of closeness in our relationships. Then, in our latest installment of Your Quest... 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.

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

Recent Guests

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?
Erica Chenoweth
Political scientist, Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: How to Change the World
John Dinsmore
Professor studying financial decision making at Wright State University
Wright State University
Episode: The Debt Trap
Emma Levine
Psychologist, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Episode: When It's Okay to Lie
Jay Van Bavel
Psychologist
New York University
Episode: Group Think
John Rottenberg
Psychologist at Cornell University, author of The Depths
Cornell University
Episode: Rethinking Depression
David Pizarro
Psychologist at Cornell University researching disgust and ethics
Cornell University
Episode: Yuck! The Science of Disgust

Host

Shankar Vedantam
Host of the podcast, a seasoned science journalist with a focus on human behavior and psychology.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 60.6k ratings
  • Very encouraging

    I love listening to Shankar voice and the way he asks the questions. It makes me feel that he’s a very open understanding person. Listening to the podcast has helped me be more understanding of other’s. I would hope in the future that I could be as understanding.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Buunyto
    United Statesa month ago
  • The mind is a complex thing, and I learn something new every time I listen

    Each episode has such an incredible, diverse way of helping you understand yourself - and I’ve learned about so many interesting guests along the way! 10/10 recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stephanie Carlin
    United Statesa month ago
  • Interesting Material but…

    Interesting material, but this guy’s voice is horrendous and hard to listen to. He has the worst accent I have ever heard! Find a new narrator please!!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Disappointed WSJ user
    United Statesa month ago
  • Topics

    I’ve been a Hidden Brain subscriber for years.

    Best decision I ever made. Most enlightening and informative podcast on the planet! Each one is well researched. And the experts that Shankar finds makes it even better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rich Korn
    United Statesa month ago
  • Splicing nightmare

    The material ranges from brilliant to meh, but serious issues with audio splicing. Can the audio engineer give the episodes a listen before airing?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    kc_17_
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

There is feedback regarding the podcast's pacing, with some suggesting that discussions can be lengthy before reaching core points.
Listeners appreciate the engaging storytelling and insightful interviews with experts on nuanced psychological concepts.
Several reviews highlight the podcast's ability to make complex subjects relatable and accessible to everyday listeners.
Many find the content deeply thought-provoking, often prompting reflections on personal experiences and relationships.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Radical Acceptance
Q: Can you talk about this idea of not just acceptance, but radical acceptance as the heart of design thinking?
Radical acceptance is the starting point; you must accept the current reality fully, without resistance, before you can empathize, understand, and design meaningful life changes.
Designing a Life that Matters
Q: Dave, you've taught design thinking for many years. What is design thinking?
Design thinking is a process to understand problems, generate ideas, prototype, and learn through experimentation, focusing on human-centered approaches to craft solutions for problems you didn't previously know how to solve.
Do You Feel Loved?
Q: What practical strategies can help someone recover from a negative spiral?
Use growth mindset language, break goals into proximal steps, engage in expressive writing to process emotions, and rely on supportive social networks to reframe challenges as opportunities for becoming rather than fixed limits.
Do You Feel Loved?
Q: How can people move from performative displays of affection to authentic connection?
Shift the focus from showcasing external signals (look, status, achievements) to engaging in meaningful conversations, asking about inner lives, and maintaining an open heart that accepts complexity without judgment.

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?

This podcast offers listeners an insightful exploration into the complexities of human behavior, psychology, and relationships. Each episode engages with professionals from various fields, covering topics such as self-disclosure, the nature of intelligence, and the psychological implications of seeking recognition. With a focus on the nuances of emotion and social connection, it aims to illuminate why we feel certain ways and how we can enhance our understanding of ourselves and others. Unique for its blend of rigorous academic research with relatable narratives, the podcast encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences and behaviors, fostering personal growth and emotional intelligence.

Listeners can expect a mix of deep dives ... 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. This American Life
2. TED Radio Hour
3. Radiolab
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Hidden Brain are there?

Hidden Brain launched 11 years ago and published 683 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. Dave Evans
2. Sonja Lyubomirsky
3. Gregory Walton
4. Erica Chenoweth
5. John Dinsmore
6. Emma Levine
7. Jay Van Bavel
8. John Rottenberg

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