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Artwork for Particles of Thought

Particles of Thought

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

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 weeklyEpisodes75Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Particles of Thought

Latest Episodes

Federico Rossano caught dogs doing something that looks a lot like telling jokes. The cognitive scientist shares what he learned from speaking with dogs. Dogs can smell, hear, and in some ways see better than humans. So why wouldn’t they have somethi... more

Federico Rossano didn't care about talking dogs until science made it impossible to ignore. The cognitive scientist joins Hakeem to reveal how a viral social media trend turned into the largest citizen-science study of animal communication ever condu... more

Brent Minchew could have a plan to stop Thwaites Glacier, AKA the “Doomsday Glacier”, cold in its tracks. That’s good news because if this one glacier slips into the sea, it could flood coasts across the planet. The Caltech glaciologist covers what m... more

YouTube

Brent Minchew responded to the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. Before he was a glaciologist at Caltech, he was a marine aboard the Marine One presidential helicopter and was one of the first on sight after the deadly attack. Brent joins Hakeem to t... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Federico Rossano
Cognitive scientist researching animal communication
University of California, San Diego
Episode: How Dogs Talk
Brent Minchew
Geophysicist at MIT and Caltech, former Marine
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; California Institute of Technology
Episode: From Marine One to Mission Antarctica
Jordan Ellenberg
Mathematician and author
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Episode: Full Interview: The Hidden Math Behind Everything
Ella Al-Shamahi
Anthropologist and archaeologist discussing human evolution
Independent researcher / palaeoanthropologist
Episode: Real Hobbits?
Daniela Rus
Dr. Daniela Rus, a leading AI and robotics researcher
MIT CSAIL
Episode: Full Interview: The Future of AI and Us
Wendy Suzuki
Neuroscientist
New York University (author/ researcher)
Episode: Neuroscience of Exercise
Steve Brusatte
Paleontologist and author
University of Edinburgh / author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
Episode: T. rex Family Secrets
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

Host

Hakeem Oluseyi
Host of the show

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 208 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 States2 months 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 States3 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 States7 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 States8 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.

Listeners applaud clear explanations of complex topics and engaging guest lineups.
Audience feedback highlights the host's curiosity and approachable delivery.
Some critics want tighter focus on science and fewer jokes, but most praise the depth and accessibility.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#36
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#60
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#159
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#95
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#164
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#245
France/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Dogs Talk
Q: Has anyone tried this with wolves?
Wolves have been considered, but the current data set focuses on domestic dogs; the team notes potential future exploration with wolves to examine limits of this communication ability.
How Dogs Talk
Q: So how do you train 'want' in these dogs?
Training builds a construction: dogs learn 'want' initially tied to a specific item (e.g., milk), then generalize to other contexts (toy, outside, food), showing how language-like tools develop through experience.
Full Interview: The Hidden Math Behind Everything
Q: What underlies how large language models work, if not a fixed set of rules?
They are built on probabilistic rules learned from huge text corpora, refined by gradient descent, with human feedback guiding improvements, rather than a single hand-crafted algorithm for language.
Full Interview: The Hidden Math Behind Everything
Q: And the question is, in one word, what is math about?
The guest argues that math is about everything, not just numbers, as it underpins patterns, geometry, and probability across the universe, and it should be seen as a broad, interconnected framework rather than a narrow focus on calculations.
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.

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 thought-provoking science interview show that blends deep-dive conversations with accessible explanations. Episodes frequently explore mathematics, AI, neuroscience, archaeology, and human evolution, often linking abstract ideas to real-world technology and everyday life. Guests range from mathematicians and AI researchers to paleoanthropologists and neuroscientists, producing a mix of rigorous analysis and engaging storytelling. The host's curiosity and ability to translate complex topics into clear, entertaining dialogue seem to be a standout trait, and the show often features cutting-edge research and cross-disciplinary connections that can appeal to both scientists and general listeners interested in big-picture science.

Noteworthy e... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Particles of Thought?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Particles of Thought:

1. Science Friday
2. NOVA Presents
3. Radiolab
4. The Joy of Why
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Particles of Thought are there?

Particles of Thought launched a year ago and published 75 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. Federico Rossano
2. Brent Minchew
3. Jordan Ellenberg
4. Ella Al-Shamahi
5. Daniela Rus
6. Wendy Suzuki
7. Steve Brusatte
8. Dave Kaiser

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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