New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

New Books Network

Technology

Climate Change

Mundania

Complex Technologies

Transparency

Digital Cultures

Engineering Ethics

Wicked Problems

User Experience

Systems Engineering

Social Change

Artificial Intelligence

Science Communication

Space Shuttle

NASA

Infrastructure

Gravity

Complexity In Engineering

Human Behavior

Fossils

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

75 ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	2816	Founded	14 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	ScienceSocial Sciences

Listen to this Podcast

Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

Amelia Acker, "Archiving Machines: From Punch Cards to Platforms" (MIT Press, 2025)

We're so pleased to welcome Dr. Amelia Acker, author of Archiving Machines: From Punch Cards to Platforms (MIT Press, 2025) to the New Books Network!

This book describes the struggle between the computing technologies that archive data and the cultu... more

4 Mar 2026 • 46 min

Jieun Kiaer, "Emoji Speak: Communication and Behaviours on Social Media" (Bloomsbury, 2023)

Emoji Speak: Communication and Behaviours on Social Media (Bloomsbury, 2023) by Dr. Jieun Kiaer provides an in-depth discussion of emoji use in a global context, this volume presents the use of emoji as a hugely important facet of computer-mediated c... more

2 Mar 2026 • 41 min

Miguel Sicart, "Playing Software: Homo Ludens in Computational Culture" (MIT Press, 2023)

The play element at the heart of our interactions with computers—and how it drives the best and the worst manifestations of the information age.

Whether we interact with video games or spreadsheets or social media, playing with software shapes every... more

2 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 1 min

Honghong Tinn, "Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan's Computing Industry" (MIT Press, 2024)

How Taiwan rose to global prominence in high tech manufacturing, from computer maker to the world's leading chip manufacturer. How did Taiwan, a former Japanese colony and the last fortress of the defeated Chinese Nationalists, ascend to such heights... more

26 Feb 2026 • 1 hr 12 min

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.

99% InvisibleRoman Mars

Science FridayScience Friday and WNYC Studios

Ones and ToozeForeign Policy

Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher

The Art AngleArtnet News

Recent Guests

Honghong Tinn

Author and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota in the Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

University of Minnesota

Episode: Honghong Tinn, "Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan's Computing Industry" (MIT Press, 2024)

Dr. Subodhana Vijeyeratne

Assistant Professor of History at Purdue University, author of The Islands and the Stars: A History of Japan's Space Programs

Purdue University

Episode: Subodhana Wijeyeratne, "The Islands and the Stars: A History of Japan's Space Programs" (Stanford UP, 2026)

Marc Masters

Music journalist, author of No Wave, and expert on the history of cassette tapes

University of North Carolina Press

Episode: Marc Masters, "High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape" (UNC Press, 2023)

Dr. Vanessa Rampton

An academic with interests in philosophical ideas related to progress and justice.

University of St. Gallen and McGill University

Episode: Vanessa Rampton, "Making Medical Progress: History of a Contested Idea" (Cambridge UP, 2025)

Dr. Javiera Barandiaran

Associate Professor in the Global Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Co-Founder of CRU.

University of California, Santa Barbara

Episode: Javiera Barandiaran, "Living Minerals: Nature, Trade, and Power in the Race for Lithium" (MIT Press, 2026)

Yi-Ling Liu

Author and journalist exploring the Chinese Internet

Not explicitly mentioned

Episode: Yi-Ling Liu, "The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet" (Knopf, 2026)

Ting Luo

Associate Professor in Government and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Birmingham

University of Birmingham

Episode: Daniela Stockmann and Ting Luo, "Governing Digital China" (Cambridge UP, 2025)

Daniela Stockmann

Director of the Center for Digital Governance and Professor of Digital Governance at the Hertie School in Berlin

Hertie School

Episode: Daniela Stockmann and Ting Luo, "Governing Digital China" (Cambridge UP, 2025)

Tom Bolton

A writer focused on landscape and culture

Episode: Tom Bolton, "Atomic Albion: Journeys Around Britain’s Nuclear Power Stations" (Strange Attractor, 2025)

Host

Dr. Miranda Melcher

Host of New Books in Science, Technology, and Society, and co-host of New Books in Science, Technology, and Society.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 75 ratings

Excellent, but please fix the audio
Excellent content, but the audio of the introductory part is disturbed by static noise. Thankfully the introduction is pretty short. The audio of the interview is much better. I think it would be wise to get a new microphone.
Apple Podcasts
3
Em1975
United States5 years ago

Embed These Reviews on a Website

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback points to audio quality issues, with suggestions for technical improvements to enhance the listening experience.

Listeners appreciate the depth and breadth of content covered, often finding the discussions enriching and intellectually stimulating.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#100	United States/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#134	Canada/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#196	United Kingdom/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#148	Australia/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#193	Germany/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#16	Ukraine/Science/Social Sciences

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Honghong Tinn, "Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan's Computing Industry" (MIT Press, 2024)

Q: Can you tell us about the women factory workers and the challenges they face?

You noted that women in these factories faced challenges such as lower wages compared to men, poor living conditions, and limited opportunities for career advancement due to their educational background.

Honghong Tinn, "Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan's Computing Industry" (MIT Press, 2024)

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about Jiao Tong University and why it is important in this process?

Jiao Tong University was crucial as the first two computers in Taiwan were installed there, which would help train the first generation of computer engineers and programmers through its technical aid programs from the United Nations.

Honghong Tinn, "Island Tinkerers: Innovation and Transformation in the Making of Taiwan's Computing Industry" (MIT Press, 2024)

Q: How did you get this book started?

Honghong shared that her interest stemmed from her experience of building desktop computers as a college student in Taiwan and how this experience led her to explore the historical DIY computer culture in Taiwan.

Subodhana Wijeyeratne, "The Islands and the Stars: A History of Japan's Space Programs" (Stanford UP, 2026)

Q: When they're on TV, when they're giving these lectures, what is the program actually trying to achieve?

The program focused on launching scientific satellites and improving public life through technology, presenting successes like the first scientific satellite Tansi as part of Japan's technological progress.

Subodhana Wijeyeratne, "The Islands and the Stars: A History of Japan's Space Programs" (Stanford UP, 2026)

Q: How did it get to a point where kind of this was something that could be touched again?

After regaining independence in 1952, Japan, motivated by a desire to re-industrialize, began pursuing rocketry again, partly due to the interests of individuals like Itokawa Hideo.

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?

Focusing on the intersection of science, technology, and society, this podcast features in-depth discussions with scholars about their recent research and publications. The dialogue encompasses a diverse range of topics, including health disparities linked to medical institutions, the historical evolution of artificial intelligence, Indigenous narratives in archaeology, and the cultural significance of technology in social movements. Noteworthy is the engagement with contemporary issues such as environmental justice, digital rights, and the implications of fintech innovations. This podcast is likely to appeal to listeners interested in scholarly insights into how scientific and technological advancements shape societal dynamics.

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 three 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. 99% Invisible
2. Science Friday
3. Ones and Tooze
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. The Art Angle

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 14 years ago and published 2816 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. Honghong Tinn
2. Dr. Subodhana Vijeyeratne
3. Marc Masters
4. Dr. Vanessa Rampton
5. Dr. Javiera Barandiaran
6. Yi-Ling Liu
7. Ting Luo
8. Daniela Stockmann

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