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Instant Genius

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Climate Change
Mental Health
Neuroscience
Artificial Intelligence
Nutrition
Evolution
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Psychology
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BBC Science Focus Magazine
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Alzheimer's Disease
Free Will
Therapy

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 two bite-sized masterclasses 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 ac... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes714Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyScience

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Artwork for Instant Genius

Latest Episodes

While the larger, more impressive or charismatic animal and plant species often receive the most attention, the natural world is filled with lesser-known or even misunderstood organisms without which life on planet Earth would look very different ind... more

In June of every year, the LGBTQ+ community across the world comes together to celebrate Pride Month – an annual event that began in 1970 to promote awareness, visibility and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals.

In... more

Whether it’s the swab tests many of us use to help us piece together our family trees, the painstaking detective work carried out by forensic scientists, or its use in medical screening to look for signs of our predisposition to develop certain disea... more

Traditionally, ecologists wanting to take stock of the diversity, health and population levels of animal species within a given environment have needed to tie on their boots, get out in the field and painstakingly record what they are able to observe... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

More or Less
More or LessBBC Radio 4
Science Weekly
Science WeeklyThe Guardian
Inside Health
Inside HealthBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

Turi King
Professor, Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath
University of Bath / DNA Family Secrets
Episode: The past, present and future of DNA science
Dr. Sarab Sethi
Head of the Ecosystem Sensing Research Group at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Episode: Why ecoacoustics is the future of conservation
Dr. Alfredo Carpineti
Science journalist and astrophysicist
Independent author/science communicator
Episode: Unlocking the invisible rainbows of the Universe
Nilo Merino Recalde
Senior conservation scientist at the RSPB
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Episode: Why birdsong is the pop music of the natural world
Courtney Conley
Doctor of chiropractic medicine
Walk, Your Life Depends on It (book authors)
Episode: Why walking more is the best thing you can do to boost your health
Milica McDowell
Doctor of physical therapy and exercise physiologist
Walk, Your Life Depends on It (book authors)
Episode: Why walking more is the best thing you can do to boost your health
Sophie Lund Rasmussen
Scientist focused on hedgehog research and conservation
University of Oxford; University of Copenhagen
Episode: How ultrasound tech could save hedgehogs
Ellie Dommett
Neuroscientist at King's College London
King's College London
Episode: Why ADHD is so challenging to diagnose
Trevor Cox
Acoustic engineer at the University of Salford, involved in the Cadenza Project
University of Salford / Cadenza Project
Episode: Inside the project helping the hard of hearing listen to music

Host

Jason Goodger
Host with focus on translating science for a broad audience.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 801 ratings
  • Lots of talks with authors

    Mostly interesting and gives me a lot of interesting book recommendations however the episodes with a female host is terrible and a nightmare to listen to. Too loud, too chaotic, makes me think of a party girl rather than a professional.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Poshum
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • 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

Listeners Say

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

A few listeners mention the host's delivery style as a point of critique or contrast to guest expertise.
Some feedback notes pacing and delivery can be uneven, but the content is consistently strong.
Listeners describe the show as engaging, educational, and accessible, with high-quality guests.
Guests are often top-tier scientists and researchers delivering practical insights for everyday life.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#32
United States/Science
Spotify
#16
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#99
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#102
Canada/Science
Spotify
#19
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#236
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How ultrasound tech could save hedgehogs
Q: What exactly did you test, and what were the key findings about their hearing range?
The study found hedgehogs hear between 4 kHz and 85 kHz, with the best sensitivity around 40 kHz, indicating the feasibility of ultrasonic sound repellents and possible ultrasonic communication in hedgehogs.
How ultrasound tech could save hedgehogs
Q: So how did you determine hedgehogs could hear ultrasound without stressing the animals?
We used auditory brainstem response on 20 hedgehogs that were already in care, sedating them briefly and recording brain activity in response to sounds while they slept, which provided a humane and effective measure of hearing thresholds.
Why birdsong is the pop music of the natural world
Q: Can you give us a brief overview of the Great Tit project and why that species was chosen?
The great tit was chosen because it is a well-studied, common model for behavioral and population dynamics in the wild, with a long history of data on its lives and reproductive biology. Its songs are varied but recognizable, providing a rich dataset to study learning, demographic influences, and cultural transmission.
Why ADHD is so challenging to diagnose
Q: So I think a good place to start is first off, I think a lot of people don't know, but there are actual several different types of ADHD, aren't there?
Ellie explains that ADHD is categorized into three main types—predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and the combined type—with thresholds for diagnosis depending on age, but ultimately the key factor is functional impairment across settings.
How to save the planet’s forests
Q: What are the two main regeneration strategies discussed, and what are their pros and cons?
Regeneration can be achieved by planting nursery-grown seedlings, which allows control over species and spacing, or by natural regeneration from left-over seeds and existing trees, which better reflects local adaptation and potentially greater resilience, though it may be more vulnerable in extreme conditions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Genius

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

Two bite-sized science masterclasses per week explore a wide range of topics—from biology and ecology to neuroscience and everyday tech. Episodes feature world-class researchers and practitioners who translate complex science into practical takeaways, with a strong emphasis on curiosity, systems thinking, and real-world impact. Notable threads include avian culture and conservation, human health and movement, the science of sound and hearing, and how our bodies and brains adapt to change. The format tends to pair accessible explanations with actionable tips, guest-driven deep dives, and clear connections to everyday life, making it appealing to listeners who want trustworthy, expert insight without heavy jargon.

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. More or Less
2. BBC Inside Science
3. Science Weekly
4. The World, the Universe and Us
5. Inside Health

How many episodes of Instant Genius are there?

Instant Genius launched 9 years ago and published 714 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.

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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. Turi King
2. Dr. Sarab Sethi
3. Dr. Alfredo Carpineti
4. Nilo Merino Recalde
5. Courtney Conley
6. Milica McDowell
7. Sophie Lund Rasmussen
8. Ellie Dommett

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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