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Profoundly Pointless

Cloud10
Christmas
Artificial Intelligence
Consciousness
Mental Health
Social Media
Psychology
Climate Change
Neuroscience
Casino Cheating
Pyrotechnics
Astrobiology
Relationships
Olympics
Hobbyhorsing
Blackjack
Intuition
Latex
Sex Work
Ghost Investigation
Fear

A podcast for the curious. Interviews on Society, Sex, Science and Sports. From CERN Particle Physicists and Professional Casino Cheats to Erotic Hypnotists and Olympic Athletes, every week host Nick VinZant sits down with a guest from a different walk of life. The story is never the same but the goal always is, to truly learn something new. Signal Award winner for Best Interview Podcast.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes407Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophyPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Profoundly Pointless

Latest Episodes

Sometimes it’s inside information, sometimes it’s changing perceptions with huge amounts of cash, sometimes it’s holding a hair dryer to a weather gage.

Prediction Market Researcher Dr. Joshua Mitts says these are just some of the ways Prediction Ma... more

Right now Prediction Markets are exploding in popularity and controversy. Going from a niche hobby to a market with billions of dollars in trades.

In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we explore the future of Prediction Markets with Prediction Ma... more

In Hollywood casting is everything. Movie Producers and Casting Agents have to find just the right person to make movies and TV shows come to life. Even if that person, isn't a person.

In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we explore how Hollywood... more

In every language there are words you just don’t say. They can be about sex, religion, food or even your mother-in-law.

In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we explore the fascinating history and controversial present of language taboos with Prof... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Randall Eggert
Linguist and language taboo researcher
Episode: Words You Just Don't Say with Language Taboo Linguist Professor Randall Eggert
Dr. Richard Stephens
Psychologist
Episode: Why We Cuss with Cuss Word Researcher Dr. Richard Stephens
Brent Brisben
Professional treasure hunter
Brisben Companies / treasure hunting team
Episode: Finding Buried Treasure with Treasure Hunter Brent Brisben
Grant Reichardt
Drone show designer
Aerial Illuminations
Episode: How Drone Shows are Made with Drone Show Designer Grant Reichardt
Steven Yoss
Pyro technician featured as first guest
Episode: The Art and Science of Creating Fireworks Shows with Pyrotechnician Steve Yoss
Devon Powers
Professor who studies what makes a song a summer song
University (as discussed in episode)
Episode: The Songs of Summer with Summer Song Researcher Devon Powers
Raven Lynette
Aquaphiliac, guest discussing underwater fetishes and related topics
Episode: I'm Attracted to Water with Aquaphiliac Raven Lynette
Dr. Anna Frebel
Astrophysicist, expert on ancient stars
Institute for Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics / university affiliations mentioned in episode
Episode: The Universe's Oldest Stars with Stellar Archaeologist Dr. Anna Frebel
Linus Peitz
Soccer violence researcher
Episode: The New Soccer Hooligans with Soccer Violence Researcher Dr. Linus Peitz

Host

Nick VinZant
Host of the show

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 92 ratings
  • Good podcast

    You guys make me laugh ..some good points in tour pointless section!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shill2121
    United States3 years ago
  • Musk v Mark = You lose

    I awarded three stores because this podcast is tolerable. Although the profound interviewer tends to ask a lot of questions that the interviewee literally just answered. But otherwise, it’s tolerable. However, I had to kick it out of my list because they decided to dump their Twitter handle and take on instead of threads handle. Now I don’t play in either game, I don’t do social media at all. none of it. I think it’s childish and ridiculous. but for you to dump Twitter to run into the arms of Ma... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    chrisley007
    United States3 years ago
  • Pretty good pretty good

    Thanks for the entertainment! I have a car ride once a week that is 6 hours and your show makes my drive go a lot better. Keep up the good work🍺. #Needmoreshull

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Englisgaggro
    United States4 years ago
  • Brilliant and underrated

    I skip the interview and go straight for the pointless part of the podcast. Nick and John should just do a whole hour of them talking crap. It’s weird how much I agree with their views on life and too 5 lists. Brilliant and very underrated podcast. Well done guys keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WelshGuy12
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Laughed until I cried

    Started listening after the show was plugged on Everything Everywhere Daily. My weird brain forces me to listen to podcasts from episode 1, and I’ve been bingeing since. I love the interviews because the questions are engaging, so the responses are informative & interesting. But the phone calls are what do me in - they’re hilarious! I just laughed until I cried at “hand-smash a cactus” on the Professional Cuddler episode. 🤣 That entire exchange was hysterical. Thank you both for keeping me laug... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nhand1022
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics mention inconsistent pacing or long ads in episodes.
Listeners note the hosts' ability to surface interesting angles and keep conversations lively.
Guests praise the engaging, humorous interview style and the breadth of topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Words You Just Don't Say with Language Taboo Linguist Professor Randall Eggert
Q: What makes a word taboo in different cultures?
Taboos arise from cultural norms and the social consequences of uttering certain terms; sounds, contexts, and the surrounding discourse all contribute to how speech is regulated.
The History and Meaning of Swear Words with Linguist Professor Randall Eggert
Q: Are there words that have shifted from swear words to normal usage?
Yes, many terms have undergone a cycle where they lose their taboo status after time and cultural change, such as occupy, which moved from a political/active sense to a sexual euphemism, then back into common language through gradual re-acceptance.
The History and Meaning of Swear Words with Linguist Professor Randall Eggert
Q: What makes a word become a swear word in the first place?
A word typically becomes taboo when it moves from a neutral meaning to a domain tied to bodily functions, sex, or religion, then gains social salience as something forbidden and controlled, which reinforces its status as a swear word.
Finding Buried Treasure with Treasure Hunter Brent Brisben
Q: How much does it cost to treasure hunt?
Costs include boat building, fuel, gear, crew, and ongoing operations; on average, the business runs tens of thousands per year, with some participants joining under subcontract arrangements to pursue finds and split proceeds.
Why We Cuss with Cuss Word Researcher Dr. Richard Stephens
Q: If you were going to use this strategically, how would you do it? Do you just say it once? Do you have to say it multiple times?
In experiments, repeating the swear word for short bursts before or during a task increases performance temporarily; the effect wears off if not repeated or extended over time.

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 Profoundly Pointless

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

A sharp, wide-ranging interview show that blends curiosity with a playful, no-nonsense vibe. Episodes span society, science, sports, and human behavior, featuring experts and high-enthusiasm enthusiasts who unpack complex ideas in accessible ways. Notable strengths include a host's engaging interview style, clear skepticism paired with genuine curiosity, and episodes that mix deep dives with light banter and recurring bits. The format seems to attract listeners who enjoy thoughtful analysis tempered by humor, surprising topic pairings, and candid conversations with guests from academia, industry, and niche subcultures. A few episodes lean into controversial or buzzy topics, but the overall tone remains approachable and entertaining, making ... more

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How many listeners does Profoundly Pointless get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Profoundly Pointless?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Profoundly Pointless:

1. Small Town Dicks
2. Criminal
3. Two Guys on a Plane
4. Buried Bones - a historical true crime podcast with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes
5. What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

How many episodes of Profoundly Pointless are there?

Profoundly Pointless launched 8 years ago and published 407 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 Profoundly Pointless?

Recent guests on Profoundly Pointless include:

1. Randall Eggert
2. Dr. Richard Stephens
3. Brent Brisben
4. Grant Reichardt
5. Steven Yoss
6. Devon Powers
7. Raven Lynette
8. Dr. Anna Frebel

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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