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Lateral with Tom Scott

Tom Scott and David Bodycombe
Youtube
Trivia
Japan
Trivia Questions
Scrabble
Let's Learn Everything
Escape This Podcast
Photography
Wikipedia
Kids Invent Stuff
No Such Thing As A Fish
Vietnam War
NASA
Basketball
Lateral
Space Exploration
Morse Code
Mint Mobile
Berlin
Amazon

Award-winning comedy panel game about weird questions with wonderful answers. Each week, Tom Scott is joined by three guests to ask each other questions with a sideways twist. There's no points or prizes - just reputation and bragging rights on the line. Enquiries and question submissions: www.lateralcast.com. Ad-free shows and bonus content: www.lateralcast.com/club.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes203Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedyEducation

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Artwork for Lateral

Latest Episodes

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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.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Elle Cordova
Writer, comedian, and science enthusiast
Independent / YouTube / Patreon
Episode: 200: The pink hat
VeeVee TV
Short-form news content creator
VeeVee TV
Episode: 199: Unburned gasoline
Ólafur Waage
Comedian and returning guest
Self
Episode: 196: A tiny umbrella
Emily Graslie
YouTube channel creator and scientist; former host of The Brain Scoop
The Brain Scoop
Episode: 195: Dumped pizza
Jen the Archaeologist
Content creator focused on archaeology and history
TikTok and YouTube
Episode: 195: Dumped pizza
Sabrina Cruz
Answer in Progress member
Answer in Progress
Episode: 193: The empty-handed winner
Melissa Fernandes
Answer in Progress member
Answer in Progress
Episode: 193: The empty-handed winner
Taha Khan
Answer in Progress member
Answer in Progress
Episode: 193: The empty-handed winner
Michelle Wong
Cosmetic scientist and science communicator from Lab Muffin Beauty Science
Lab Muffin Beauty Science
Episode: 192: Picnic by the prison

Host

Tom Scott
Host of the show, lead moderator and question presenter.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 6.7k ratings
  • I like cheese

    Hello!!! I love cheese a one of the episodes talks about cheese and because I love cheese I love the episodes. Muy bien

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Potato master threethousand
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • What about the Mitten?

    Love this show but Tom Scott just listed the 4 states with the longest coastline and Michigan wasn’t one of them? Help me understand 🧐

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DopeyJen55
    United Statesa month ago
  • Really good

    Tom Scott’s great, the show is let down a little by the “did you know..?” YouTuber types that don’t have much knowledge beyond their in-jokey niches.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Orchardo
    Australia2 months ago
  • A very interesting yet easy to listen to podcast. I always go away learning something new too.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    thom_horne
    3 months ago
  • Lateral may be the best Podcast ever

    I truly think this is the best podcast out there! I especially love the episodes with the hosts of Let's Learn Everything! Tom Scott has such a perfect dynamic with his guests but with Caroline, Ella and Tom Lum, they're really unmatched! I've learnt so many fun facts from this show, it's my go-to podcast for any occasion!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    maxxus2
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listener feedback often highlights clever prompts and puzzle-solving fun.
Broad guest mix provides fresh perspectives and learning moments.
Question quality can vary, but banter remains entertaining.
Guests are consistently witty and the host keeps energy high.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#194
United States/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#101
United Kingdom/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#141
Canada/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#64
Australia/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#87
Italy/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#135
Germany/Comedy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

182: The calendar goal scorer
Q: What was Prince Harvey doing at the Apple Store, and why didn't he get paid?
He went to the Apple Store to record music using GarageBand; he wasn't paid but benefited from free access to equipment and the potential publicity from his work becoming an album.
182: The calendar goal scorer
Q: In 1978 Norway banned skateboarding nationwide; what was the safety concern?
The discussion settles on safety data around injuries from skateboarding, leading to a broad ban until 1989 as evidence accumulated.
182: The calendar goal scorer
Q: Why is Colombian footballer Hassand Gonzalez nicknamed the calendar goalscorer?
Because his forename is constructed from the initial letters of each month (F-M-A etc. for a stylized spelling), making his nickname a wordplay on the calendar.
180: A curved bridge
Q: Why did Karl-Ola spend nine years wearing a shirt with his birthday on the back?
The team ultimately settles on a playful, lateral explanation involving a baseball player named Carlos May who wore a shirt with May 17 on the back, aligning with his birth date and career timeline.
175: Food tattoos
Q: Why were people seen carrying bags around Vancouver that said Into the Weird Adult Video Emporium, Dr Toe's Wart Ointment Wholesale, and the Colon Care Co-op?
It was part of a campaign to shame people into using reusable bags, making it cool to have these embarrassing bags for proving one's eco-friendliness.

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 Lateral

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

Lateral with Tom Scott is a fast-paced comedy panel show built around lateral-thinking questions and witty banter. A rotating trio of guests joins the host to brainstorm creative, offbeat answers to trivia-style prompts, with emphasis on curiosity, humorous misdirection, and collaborative problem-solving. Episodes blend education and entertainment through a wide range of topics—from science and technology to history, language, and pop culture—often featuring guests who contribute questions or prompts of their own. A notable strength is how effectively the format sustains energy with rapid-fire riffs and thoughtful explanations, making it engaging for listeners who enjoy nerdy puzzles, quick thinking, and entertaining hosts and guests. The s... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Lateral?

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How many subscribers and views does Lateral have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Lateral 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 Lateral?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lateral:

1. Let's Learn Everything!
2. Escape This Podcast
3. A Problem Squared
4. Dear Hank & John
5. Humans

How many episodes of Lateral are there?

Lateral launched 4 years ago and published 203 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 Lateral?

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 Lateral?

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

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What guests have appeared on Lateral?

Recent guests on Lateral include:

1. Elle Cordova
2. VeeVee TV
3. Ólafur Waage
4. Emily Graslie
5. Jen the Archaeologist
6. Sabrina Cruz
7. Melissa Fernandes
8. Taha Khan

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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