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Instant Genius

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Mental Health
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Type 2 Diabetes
Hedgehogs
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Obesity
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Psychology
Work-Life Balance
Self-Regulation
Environmental Impact
Gardening
Wildlife Conservation
Aging Biology

Whether you’re curious about getting healthy, the Big Bang or the science of cooking, find out everything you need to know with Instant Genius. The team behind BBC Science Focus Magazine talk to world-leading experts to bring you a bite-sized masterclass on a new subject each week. New episodes are released every Monday and Friday and you can subscribe to Instant Genius on Apple Podcasts to access... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes659Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnology

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Latest Episodes

It’s currently thought that around one billion people worldwide aren’t getting enough protein to meet their daily needs. Alongside this, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the large-scale farming of livestock and the overfishing of the Earth’s oce... more

Many of us will have experienced changes in our emotional states after failing to get a good night’s sleep. Maybe we find that we lose our temper more easily or that we’re more likely to feel sad or upset. But what exactly is going on in our bodies a... more

According to the United Nations, around one-third of all the food currently produced across the planet is being lost or wasted, oftentimes before it even reaches our plates. As well as the loss of essential sources of nutrition needed to feed the glo... more

This episode was recorded on November 6th 2025.

Artificial intelligence has been the movement of the moment in recent years. Since it burst to prominence in 2022, hundreds of millions of people have started using AI systems every day – for everythin... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Dr. Bogdan Matei
Medical psychiatrist and master trainer for Hästens
Hästens
Episode: Why not getting enough sleep plays havoc with our emotions
Dr. Natalia Falagán
Agricultural engineer and senior lecturer in food science and technology
Cranfield University
Episode: How to combat the planet’s growing issue of food waste
Gary Marcus
Scientist, author, and entrepreneur known as a leading voice in AI
Episode: The hidden forces driving the AI bubble
Dr. Dave Chandler
Crop researcher and agricultural scientist
University of Warwick
Episode: Earth is heading for a food emergency. Can we stop it?
Eduardo Mercado
Behavioral neuroscientist and author.
Author of the book 'Why Whales Sing'
Episode: How whales may be using their haunting songs as a navigation system
Dr. Saleyha Ashan
Journalist, emergency medicine doctor, and researcher based at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Episode: What we all need to know about menopause
Lise Barnéoud
Science writer and author
Episode: How our bodies are host to mysterious cells that came from other people
Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin
Neuroscientist and author
Episode: How human consciousness emerged from the fundamental processes of nature
Dr. Emma Chapman
Astrophysicist and Royal Society Research Fellow
University of Nottingham
Episode: The hunt for the first stars in the Universe

Hosts

Jason Goodger
Commissioning Editor at BBC Science Focus, experienced in bringing scientific topics to a wider audience.
Hattie Wilmas
Trends Editor at BBC Science Focus, focuses on the intersection of current trends and science.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 752 ratings
  • Always interesting

    The episodes are always interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    XXVI
    United States2 years ago
  • Always fascinating,interesting and creative

    I’ve just finished listening to a professor talk about snakes. It was so fascinating to listen to him talk about what snakes do for the environment and how different species are much-needed in nature.

    I’ve been listening to this podcast since it has begun and I find it wonderful to be able to learn something new and it’s a little bit more than a bite size is a reasonable size.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lucyhedgehog
    Canada3 years ago
  • Absolutely dreadful audio quality and as for that intro with that loud music over a weak voice!!

    Come on guys, really? I was looking forward to this podcast but after struggling through about ten or so that's it for me. The producers don't care about sound quality and if they actually bother to listen back to the result then they are either drunk or have perfect hearing.

    Deleting

    Podcast Addict
    RKF
    3 years ago
  • Absolutely dreadful audio quality and as for that intro with that loud music over a weak voice!!

    Come on guys, really? I was looking forward to this podcast but after struggling through about ten or so that's it for me. The producers don't care about sound quality and if they actually bother to listen back to the result then they are either drunk or have perfect hearing.

    Deleting

    Podcast Addict
    1
    RKF
    3 years ago
  • Awesome podcast! (Would recommend)

    Love this podcast ❤️❤️❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    *fc
    Canada3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many highlight the accessible presentation of complex scientific concepts, making the material enjoyable to learn.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and educational discussions, often finding the topics both interesting and relevant.
Some reviews express a desire for more in-depth analysis rather than solely bite-sized information but overall appreciate the variety of subjects covered.
Negatives include criticisms regarding the presentation style, where a few felt that the hosts could improve their interviewing techniques.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#31
United States/Science
Spotify
#14
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#52
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#60
Canada/Science
Spotify
#14
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#237
France/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The hidden forces driving the AI bubble
Q: Is there a way we could ever reach the desired level of intelligence in AI?
We need a paradigm shift toward new methodologies such as neuro-symbolic AI to achieve a more reliable form of AI; the current approach primarily focused on scaling does not seem sustainable.
The hidden forces driving the AI bubble
Q: What makes these current AI systems effective and where do they fall short?
Current AI systems excel in tasks requiring pattern recognition and predicting outcomes based on large datasets but struggle with tasks lacking data patterns and often produce unreliable outputs or 'hallucinations.'
How personalised nutrition is transforming our understanding of diet and health
Q: How do we plan to monitor personalized nutrition factors?
We can collect data through novel technologies and apps allowing for real-time insight into health metrics.
How personalised nutrition is transforming our understanding of diet and health
Q: What is the future of personalized nutrition?
The future is exciting with growing understanding and accessibility of technologies allowing for personalized dietary advice.
How personalised nutrition is transforming our understanding of diet and health
Q: What is the role of the microbiome in health?
The microbiome is crucial for maintaining health and can be modified by diet, impacting health outcomes.

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 Instant Genius

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

This podcast offers listeners engaging discussions on a wide range of science and technology topics, featuring interviews with leading experts in their fields. Each episode presents succinct insights, making complex subjects accessible and entertaining. From exploring health trends to amazing astronomical phenomena, the content is designed for those eager to increase their knowledge without wading through overly technical jargon. Unique to the format is the blend of expert insights and the bite-sized presentation style, catering to curious minds looking for quick yet informative learning experiences.

Where can I find podcast stats for Instant Genius?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Instant Genius. 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 Instant Genius and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Instant Genius get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Instant Genius, 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 Instant Genius?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Instant Genius, 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 Instant Genius have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Instant Genius 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 Instant Genius?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Instant Genius:

1. BBC Inside Science
2. The Life Scientific
3. CrowdScience
4. Science In Action
5. Unexpected Elements

How many episodes of Instant Genius are there?

Instant Genius launched 8 years ago and published 659 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 Instant Genius?

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 Instant Genius?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Instant Genius 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 Instant Genius?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Instant Genius. 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 Instant Genius?

Recent guests on Instant Genius include:

1. Dr. Bogdan Matei
2. Dr. Natalia Falagán
3. Gary Marcus
4. Dr. Dave Chandler
5. Eduardo Mercado
6. Dr. Saleyha Ashan
7. Lise Barnéoud
8. Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin

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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