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Artwork for Inquiring Minds

Inquiring Minds

Indre Viskontas
Photography
Communication
Memory
Hippocampus
Aging
Consciousness
Neuroscience
Neurodiversity
Artificial Intelligence
Sea Lions
Evolutionary Biology
Domoic Acid Poisoning
Twitter
Evolution
Cognitive Science
Decision Making
Chaos Theory
Integrated Information Theory
Quantum Mechanics
Quantum Field Theory

Each week we bring you a new, in-depth exploration of the space where science and society collide. We’re committed to the idea that making an effort to understand the world around you though science and critical thinking can benefit everyone—and lead to better decisions. We want to find out what’s true, what’s left to discover, and why it all matters.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes461Founded12 years ago
Categories
Social SciencesScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Inquiring Minds

Latest Episodes

In this powerful episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas reconnects with her longtime mentor, Dr. Bruce L. Miller—one of the world’s foremost authorities on dementia, empathy, and the neuroscience of human behavior. Dr. Miller is a Distingui... more

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas speaks with investigative journalist Charles Piller about his explosive new book, Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's. Piller unearths the troubling reality... more

In this episode of Inquiring Minds, host Indre Viskontas speaks with Kurt Gray, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and director of the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. 

Gray’s ... more

In the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles where people have lost their homes and all their worldly possessions and when many are questioning their purpose it was a timely moment for host Indre Viskontas to sit with hospice physician, financ... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Bruce Miller
AW and Mary Margaret Clawson Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at UCSF, co-author of 'Mysteries of the Social Brain'
University of California, San Francisco
Episode: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Social Brain with Dr. Bruce Miller
Charles Piller
Investigative journalist for Science Magazine and author of "Doctored, Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's"
Science Magazine
Episode: Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's with Charles Piller
Kurt Gray
Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UNC Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Episode: Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground with Kurt Gray
Jordan Grumet
Hospice and palliative care physician and author
Episode: The Purpose Code: How To Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave A Lasting Legacy with Jordan Grumet
Gary Bengier
Technologist and science fiction author
Episode: Journey to 2125: One Century, One Family, Rising to Challenges with Gary F. Bengier
Vince Beiser
Award-winning journalist and author
Wired, The Atlantic, Mother Jones, The New York Times
Episode: Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future with Vince Beiser
Ravi Bapna
Chair of Business Analytics and Information Systems at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.
University of Minnesota
Episode: Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI with Ravi Bapna
Peter Godfrey-Smith
Professor in the School of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Sydney.
University of Sydney
Episode: Living on Earth: Forests, Corals, Consciousness, and the Making of the World with Peter Godfrey-Smith
Nicola Twilley
Science journalist and author of 'Frostbite', focusing on refrigeration’s impact on food, planet, and human health.
Episode: Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves with Nicola Twilley

Host

Indre Viskontas
Host with a background in neuroscience, dedicated to making science accessible to a broad audience.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Good. Description needs a small edit.

    “Understanding the world around you ‘though’ should read as ‘through’”🙂

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    August Rivers Humanities
    United States9 months ago
  • A favorite science education resource!

    A delightful, engaging science podcast with personable interviews and deep, yet accessible discussions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cedinaaa
    Germany9 months ago
  • Appreciation from Italy

    I’m a University professor but I have been learning more from Indre and her guests during my early morning running than from my academic formation. These podcasts are a real enrichment in different disciplines from basic to applied sciences.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SuperVinted
    Italya year ago
  • Interviewer does not push back

    I was disappointed that the interviewer does not push back a little against claims made by her guests. For example there was no mention about the controversy against integrated information theory and the letter written by 100 scholars that the theory is pseudoscience.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    nomorelandmines
    United Statesa year ago
  • I have a question

    I am trying to get my head around this concept, bit feel that it falls apart in the semantics of pulling it apart. Sapolsky says that instead of telling our child that they are smart , we should CHOOSE to say they worked hard . How do we choose if we have no free will? Similarly, we should feel that we don’t deserve blame or praise , but how do we choose that also ?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Everythink
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critiques point to a lack of critical pushback from the host or perceived biases in certain episodes, though most feedback is overwhelmingly positive.
Many praise the depth of exploration on complex issues, valuing the blend of expert interviews with accessible explanations.
Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions and variety of topics that blend science with real-world applications.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Unlocking the Mysteries of the Social Brain with Dr. Bruce Miller
Q: What is your optimistic view regarding the treatment and prevention of dementia?
Miller believes that certain social brain circuits remain unaffected by aging and that if we can protect elders from decline, they can offer valuable wisdom and support.
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Social Brain with Dr. Bruce Miller
Q: How do you distinguish between Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia?
Miller explains that Alzheimer's typically affects the back parts of the brain while frontotemporal dementia affects the front, leading to significant differences in social behavior and empathy.
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Social Brain with Dr. Bruce Miller
Q: What have you learned about the anatomy of the social brain?
Bruce Miller discusses the evolution of human social networks and their importance in understanding each other, fostering empathy, and driving societal development.
Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's with Charles Piller
Q: What are the implications of the amyloid hypothesis failures?
The failures shifted focus and funding towards alternative theories, reflecting the need for continued exploration in Alzheimer's research.
Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's with Charles Piller
Q: What are some of the key challenges when it comes to the reproducibility crisis in research?
The peer review process is often not rigorous enough when it comes to scrutinizing potential fraud in research publications, especially concerning image data.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Inquiring Minds

What is Inquiring Minds about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Explorations primarily focus on the intersection of science and societal issues, including critical health challenges and advancements in technology. Episodes often feature expert guests discussing topics like social brain functions, morality, artificial intelligence, and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of understanding scientific principles in daily life. Unique to this series is the blend of personal stories and deep dives into complex subjects, making the content accessible for a broader audience while encouraging critical thinking about contemporary issues. This commitment to bridging scientific insights with everyday relevance offers listeners a rich tapestry of knowledge that fosters informed decision-making.

Where can I find podcast stats for Inquiring Minds?

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

How many listeners does Inquiring Minds get?

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What are the audience demographics for Inquiring Minds?

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How many subscribers and views does Inquiring Minds have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Inquiring Minds 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 Inquiring Minds?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Inquiring Minds:

1. You Are Not So Smart
2. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
3. Making Sense with Sam Harris
4. Gastropod
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Inquiring Minds are there?

Inquiring Minds launched 12 years ago and published 461 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 Inquiring Minds?

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 Inquiring Minds?

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

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What guests have appeared on Inquiring Minds?

Recent guests on Inquiring Minds include:

1. Dr. Bruce Miller
2. Charles Piller
3. Kurt Gray
4. Jordan Grumet
5. Gary Bengier
6. Vince Beiser
7. Ravi Bapna
8. Peter Godfrey-Smith

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.

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