How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality
PRXWhile religion and science often seem at odds, there’s one thing they can agree on: people who take part in spiritual practices tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The big question is: Why? In How God Works, professor Dave DeSteno takes us on a journey to find out how spirituality impacts our minds and bodies, as well as the world in which we live.
He speaks to leading scientists an... more
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 121 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PhilosophySociety & Culture | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Money may not buy happiness. But it turns out that the way it’s distributed can affect everything from happiness and a sense of meaning to physical health and mortality.
On this episode, we’ll explore the role economic inequality plays in the wellb... more
The United States is a country founded on the separation of church and state. But what did the founders really mean by that? Should religion be banished from public life and policy debates? Or could it serve a purpose in the pursuit of happiness and ... more
These days, it seems like advice for how to “find your purpose” is everywhere. But what if purpose isn’t some hidden answer waiting to be found? And what if anxiously searching for our one true calling actually makes it harder to live with purpose?
more
Join us for Season 11 of How God Works, starting next week!
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
This has grown on me with each listen. I continue to find it challenging and enlightening. Episodes are usually a calm and thoughtful exploration.
Podcast Addict57 months agoAurorespera- Listening for over a year
So I think the podcast is ok, seems to have a lot of filler material while missing some key takeaways. Sometimes it seems the focus is on someone who is an extremophile from a religious standpoint, which misses the larger audience which is closer to the middle.
I would seriously change the name of this podcast. Really? Are you saying you know how God works?
works??
Apple Podcasts3Cornell Big Red
United States9 months ago - Glad I found you!
I don’t remember how I found How God Works, but I’m so glad I did.
Apple Podcasts5llamalovin'chilUnited Statesa year ago - A lens I didn’t know I needed
I grew up Pentecostal but I distanced myself from practicing religion over the years. I find many of the episodes spark my curiosity about faith and spirituality.
Apple Podcasts5Passenger 2025United Statesa year ago - Enlightening
Finally - Voices of reason discussing fascinating topics of faith through a scientific lens. No judgement & no preaching.
Apple Podcasts5NeneNonisUnited States2 years ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #46 | United States/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #89 |  Canada/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #203 |  Australia/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #229 |  Italy/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #30 |  Brazil/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Apple Podcasts | #47 |  Philippines/Society & Culture/Philosophy |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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 This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This program explores the intersection of science, spirituality, and everyday life, often featuring psychologists, theologians, philosophers, and journalists who discuss how belief, doubt, and spiritual practices impact well-being, ethics, and society. Episodes frequently cover AI ethics, doubt and doubt's role in faith, the science of morality, and how traditions from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and other faiths intersect with contemporary culture, technology, and public life. A standout trait is its willingness to tackle provocative questions—such as whether machines could serve as spiritual guides or how genetic insights shape notions of sin—while grounding conversations in research and lived experience. Fans tend to value thoughtful, ... more
Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. 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 this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does this podcast get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, 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 this podcast?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, 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 this podcast have?
To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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 this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. Sounds True: Insights at the Edge
2. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
3. Wonder Cabinet
4. Emergence Magazine Podcast
5. Living Myth
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 121 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 this podcast?
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 this podcast?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast 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 this podcast?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. 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 this podcast?
Recent guests on this podcast include:
1. Keith Payne
2. Bart Ehrman
3. Ross White
4. Edward Slingerland
5. Ted Slingerland
6. Curtis Chang
7. Jill Jacobs
8. Elizabeth Oldfield
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.