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Instant Genius

Our Media
Climate Change
Mental Health
Artificial Intelligence
Neuroscience
Nutrition
Evolution
Sleep
Space Exploration
Dementia
Social Media
Psychology
Mars
BBC Science Focus Magazine
Mathematics
Food Security
Food Production
Therapy
Sleep Research
Genetics
Alzheimer's Disease

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 weeklyEpisodes726Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyScience

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Latest Episodes

It’s a good bet that if most of us were to glance around our living rooms or offices, we’d quickly spot all manner of electronic devices that are powered by microchips. Since their introduction in the 1950s, chips have become one of the fundamental b... more

For most of us, music has a unique, almost supernatural, ability to trigger our emotions and memories and conjure up evocative images or even fantasies in our minds in a way that few other experiences or art forms can. But what exactly is happening i... more

Most of us think about the liver as simply being the body’s filtration system that acts as a sponge that removes toxins from our bloodstreams. But the truth is it performs many more functions that are vital for our health such as acting as the primar... more

Despite affecting as many as 80 per cent of women by the age of 50, fibroids, lumps of tissue that grow in or around the womb, are not commonly discussed outside of specialist doctors’ offices. However, they can cause a whole host of health issues, s... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Timothy Brown
Researcher at the University of Leeds; IUCN Parasite Specialist Group member
University of Leeds; IUCN Parasite Specialist Group
Episode: How parasites play a vital role as caretakers of Earth’s ecosystems
Jean-Marc Lemaitre
Aging and longevity expert and research director at Inserm in France
Inserm (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research)
Episode: How to keep your body younger for longer
Adam Hart
BBC broadcaster, author and entomologist based at the University of Gloucestershire
University of Gloucestershire / BBC
Episode: Why wasps are one of the planet’s most misunderstood insects
Josie Porter
Dietitian and author of How Not to Take Supplements, A Dietician's Guide to Thriving on Real Food
Author, Dietitian
Episode: Why you probably don’t need to be taking dietary supplements
Vincent Doumeizel
Senior Advisor to the United Nations on Oceans
United Nations
Episode: Why this tiny organism is essential for the health of the planet
Dr. Saira Hameed
Endocrinologist at Imperial College London NHS Trust, author of Signals, The Inside Story of Our Hormones
Imperial College London NHS Trust
Episode: What happens in our bodies when our hormones misfire
Elizabeth Preston
Science writer and author of The Creatures' Guide to Caring, How Animal Parents Teach Us That Humans Were Born to Care
Author, The Creatures' Guide to Caring
Episode: What we can learn about parenting from the animal kingdom
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

Host

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

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 804 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 Kingdom8 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
    4 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
    4 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
#33
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#235
United States/Science
Spotify
#19
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#88
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#103
Canada/Science
Spotify
#19
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to keep your body younger for longer
Q: First off, I think, what do we mean by those ages—chronological, biological, and physiological?
Chronological age is simply the number of years since birth and is useful for administration, but biologically age reflects the actual health and aging state of cells and tissues; two people can be the same chronological age yet have very different biological ages due to lifestyle and biology.
How parasites play a vital role as caretakers of Earth’s ecosystems
Q: How do parasites influence ecosystems and food webs?
Parasites regulate host populations through density-dependent transmission, contribute to the majority of links in food webs, and can trigger complex indirect effects that ripple through ecosystems; they can also drive biodiversity by creating conditions that allow alternative species to thrive.
How parasites play a vital role as caretakers of Earth’s ecosystems
Q: What exactly do we mean by a parasite?
A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host for all or part of its life cycle, deriving resources at the host's expense and often reducing host fitness; they rely on the host as habitat and can range from bacteria and worms to arthropods and beyond.
Why this tiny organism is essential for the health of the planet
Q: What are some of the most exciting future uses or innovations involving plankton?
The guest highlights possibilities such as bioluminescent plankton for urban lighting, bioremediation for plastic degradation, and the potential for sustainable aquaculture and novel foods, including spirulina and other edible plankton species.
Why this tiny organism is essential for the health of the planet
Q: So broadly speaking, what exactly are we talking about when we're talking about Plankton?
Vincent explains that plankton is a vast, diverse collection of drifting organisms that cannot swim against currents, spanning from tiny viruses to giant siphonophores, and that they underpin nearly every geochemical process essential to life.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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?

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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. TED Talks Daily
3. The World, the Universe and Us
4. Discovery
5. CrowdScience

How many episodes of Instant Genius are there?

Instant Genius launched 9 years ago and published 726 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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What guests have appeared on Instant Genius?

Recent guests on Instant Genius include:

1. Timothy Brown
2. Jean-Marc Lemaitre
3. Adam Hart
4. Josie Porter
5. Vincent Doumeizel
6. Dr. Saira Hameed
7. Elizabeth Preston
8. Turi King

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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