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Artwork for Particles of Thought

Particles of Thought

GBH
Black Holes
Artificial Intelligence
Genetics
Evolution
De-Extinction
Dark Matter
Vocal Learning
Microbes
Dark Energy
Consciousness
Mars
General Relativity
Dire Wolves
Dinosaurs
Primordial Black Holes
Natural Selection
Flow State
Deepfakes
Animal Communication
Genetic Engineering

Ready to break your brain? Particles of Thought, the hit video podcast from the producers of NOVA is back with new mind-expanding conversations with scientists on the edge. Host Hakeem Oluseyi dives into how to hack your own anxiety, the surprising connection between dark matter and black holes, the secrets of animal communication, the hidden geometry shaping our world, and even what it means to b... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes67Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Particles of Thought

Latest Episodes

Jordan Ellenberg says geometry isn’t about shapes. It’s about distance. In a tour of geometry far stranger than anything from high school, the mathematician breaks down how our ancient understanding of triangles evolved into the invisible architectur... more

Jordan Ellenberg has good news: artificial intelligence is just math you can actually understand. The mathematician joins Hakeem to pull back the curtain on how large language models really work, revealing that the "miracle" of AI is closer to trial ... more

Ella Al-Shamahi explores what it means to be human. She reveals the surprising truth that our ancestors shared the planet with at least seven other human species as recently as 50,000 years ago. Ella and Hakeem dig into Neanderthal culture and the my... more

YouTube

Ella Al-Shamahi set out to disprove the theory of evolution. Now she’s one of its greatest advocates. In this deeply personal conversation, Ella tells Hakeem her story. She started university as an avid creationist missionary with the intention of di... 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.

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Recent Guests

Jordan Ellenberg
Mathematician who joins to discuss mathematical principles behind AI
Episode: AI’s Hidden Math
Ella Al-Shamahi
Anthropologist and archaeologist discussing human evolution
Independent researcher / palaeoanthropologist
Episode: Real Hobbits?
Daniela Rus
MIT Computer Scientist and Robotics Engineer
MIT CSAIL
Episode: AI Robots
Wendy Suzuki
Neuroscientist who discusses anxiety and its potential benefits
New York University
Episode: Good Anxiety
Steve Brusatte
Paleontologist, author of The Story of Birds
University of Edinburgh
Episode: How Birds Survived the Asteroid
Dave Kaiser
Physicist and cosmologist discussing dark matter and primordial black holes
Episode: Full Interview: Dark Matter = Black Holes?
David Kaiser
Physicist and science historian
MIT (inferred from context)
Episode: Why Dark Matter Matters
Kirk Johnson
Paleontologist and museum director (as introduced by episode title)
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Episode: How Many Leaves Are on a Tree? | Kirk Johnson
Heather Berlin
A neuroscientist and musician discussing peak performance and flow states
Episode: Your Brain’s Peak Performance Mode | Heather Berlin

Host

Hakeem Oluseyi
Host of Particles of Thought

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 192 ratings
  • When the data center is your dishwasher.

    Millions of dollars, and countless hours of research to make an AI-powered car that can roll your windows down! Is this a joke! Stop indulging these AI psychos. Stop telling us what future we should want. And get a slightly less credulous host, please. Or don’t, because I won’t listen again.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lostjar
    United Statesa month ago
  • Keep it up Dr!

    Found this first on PBS, then started listening on podcast format. Keep it up, Dr, Oluseyi!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KimSails
    United States2 months ago
  • My favorite podcast

    From the first episode, this became my favorite podcast in roughly 25 years of listening to podcasts. It’s engaging, enlightening, entertaining, informative, and fun all at once.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeevdhhsbbesbhehs
    United States6 months ago
  • On point science communication 10/10

    This podcast definitely lives up to the standard I would expect from Nova. Hakeem is a wonderful host and brings his curiosity to each conversation. Also the guest line up is incredible. I’m always excited to see when a new episode drops!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nickname8375
    United States7 months ago
  • Excellent listen!

    Love this podcast. It’s mind-bending, paradigm-shifting, and awesome. So grateful to the host and his guests for communicating complex concepts in terms someone like me (ie. not a scientist) can understand.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kellllley k
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, feedback highlights deep, thoughtful science conversations with excellent guests.
One review notes a desire for tighter focus on science and less jokey humor.
The show is described as engaging, accessible, and mind-expanding.
Listeners praise the host's curiosity and the quality of guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#22
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#12
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#37
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#86
France/Science
Apple Podcasts
#101
Germany/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Real Hobbits?
Q: How does ancient DNA change our view of when and where modern humans emerged?
Ancient DNA shows Neanderthal and Denisovan contributions in many populations and suggests complex migrations and admixture events, implying a more interconnected origin of modern humans than once thought.
Real Hobbits?
Q: What exactly do we mean by ghost lineages and how solid is the evidence for them?
Ghost lineages refer to genetic signals in modern humans that don't map neatly to known ancient genomes; while exciting and provocative, the concept is still early in research and debated among scientists.
Real Hobbits?
Q: Is there an analogue to another species that did something very similar that broke up into separate lineages, so listeners can get a sense of how speciation worked?
The analogy is that different human species coexisted and interbred at times, and the boundaries between species are fuzzy. This makes it clear that evolution wasn't a simple branching tree but a network of interconnections.
Full Interview: The Future of AI and Us
Q: What changed to allow AI to appear so suddenly?
A combination of more powerful processors, abundant data, and the transformer architecture, which together enabled scale and generalization that previous approaches lacked.
Your Brain Needs Friends
Q: Does the brain behave similarly across different types of love—romantic, familial, or friendship?
There is an evolution in brain circuits where romantic love often involves amygdala deactivation and reward system activation, while long-term family bonds shift to different reward and caregiving patterns, illustrating both shared and distinct neural dynamics.

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 Particles of Thought

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

A science-focused interview show hosted by a passionate physicist who guides conversations with leading researchers and science communicators. Episodes cover a wide range of topics—from evolution and brain science to cosmology and climate phenomena—delivering deep dives that are both rigorous and accessible to non-specialists. Noteworthy is the host's curious, friendly style and the lineup of guests who frequently push the boundaries of public understanding, making complex ideas feel relatable. The format often blends thoughtful questions with vivid explanations, appealing to curious listeners who want to expand their mental models without needing a technical background.

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How many listeners does Particles of Thought get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Particles of Thought?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Particles of Thought:

1. NOVA Presents
2. Hidden Brain
3. Freakonomics Radio
4. StarTalk Radio
5. Science Friday

How many episodes of Particles of Thought are there?

Particles of Thought launched a year ago and published 67 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Particles of Thought?

Recent guests on Particles of Thought include:

1. Jordan Ellenberg
2. Ella Al-Shamahi
3. Daniela Rus
4. Wendy Suzuki
5. Steve Brusatte
6. Dave Kaiser
7. David Kaiser
8. Kirk Johnson

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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