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Instant Genius

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

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 weeklyEpisodes735Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnology

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Latest Episodes

It’s widely documented that during the time of the Third Reich, the Nazi Party employed a legion of scientists to aid them in their goals of military superiority and ethnic cleansing – particularly in their pursuit of eugenics and development of crue... more

Oftentimes in popular culture we’ll hear the term narcissist used to describe a person who has an inflated opinion of themselves, a big ego or someone who tends to overestimate their own abilities. However, in psychology, narcissistic personality dis... more

Parkinson’s disease currently affects more than 160,000 people in the UK. It’s a complex, progressive condition that typically develops slowly over many years and causes issues with movement, balance, and quality of life, and currently has no known c... more

For a large proportion of our lives, our brains seemingly

work on autopilot – the many processes the brain controls hum away behind the scenes, helping us to carry out our daily tasks. But in certain scenarios, our attention takes over, giving more c... 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

Dr. Dean Burnett
Neuroscientist and bestselling author, discussed narcissistic personality disorder
Neuroscientist and author
Episode: What we’re getting wrong about narcissists
David Dexter
Director of Research at Parkinson's UK
Parkinson's UK
Episode: The latest breakthroughs in Parkinson’s research
Adrian Owen
Neuroscientist and author of Think Before You Think
Think Before You Think
Episode: How to harness your brain’s underused superpowers
Melanie Challenger
Researcher, broadcaster and author of Alive! The Hidden Intelligence of the Living World
Author, Alive! The Hidden Intelligence of the Living World
Episode: How we define intelligent life
Ross Brooks
Historian and author of Darwin and the Queer Origins of Life, A History of Sex and Science
University/Institute not specified in transcript
Episode: Exploring Darwin’s ideas through a queer lens
Selina Wray
neuroscientist and researcher
University College London
Episode: On the frontlines of our fight against dementia
Steven A. Benner
Astrobiochemist and author
Meet the Neighbours, Life on Mars and How to Find It
Episode: Why the search for life on Mars is far from over
Ian Bogost
Professor of Computer Science and Design; author of The Small Stuff, The Sensory Enchantment of Everyday Life
Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: Why rediscovering simple pleasures may be the key to happiness
Kai Udert
Researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Episode: Why human urine may be our most untapped natural resource

Host

Jason Goodger
Host (and commissioning editor) specializing in science communication for BBC Science Focus.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 806 ratings
  • 7

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Rhapsody
    2 months ago
  • 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 Kingdom9 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

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate accessible yet rigorous science explanations and expert guests.
Audience values diverse topics across biology, technology, and space, with emphasis on credibility and curiosity.
Some critiques focus on presentation style or pacing, not the quality of content.
Feedback often notes strong host-guest dynamics and clear, practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#33
United States/Science
Spotify
#15
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#54
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#66
Canada/Science
Spotify
#16
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#87
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The latest breakthroughs in Parkinson’s research
Q: What happens during the diagnostic process and are there any blood or CSF tests on the horizon?
Right now diagnosis is clinical, but there are promising tests using cerebrospinal fluid to detect alpha-synuclein misfolding and a related seeding assay, and researchers at University College London are pursuing a blood-based test using AI to identify signature proteins.
The latest breakthroughs in Parkinson’s research
Q: So first off, what's happening in the brain of somebody who is suffering from Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's is a progressive neurodegenerative condition where a misfolded protein accumulates in neurons, particularly affecting the nigrostriatal pathway that controls movement, which explains the characteristic motor symptoms.
What we’re getting wrong about narcissists
Q: Is there any correlation between narcissism and success?
There can be a correlation insofar as confidence and public perception can open doors, but true success is not guaranteed by narcissistic traits and depends on many factors like opportunity and luck.
What we’re getting wrong about narcissists
Q: So what are some of the signs?
The signs include a persistent focus on self-interest at the expense of others, a lack of empathy, and either grandiose behavior or deep self-loathing that still centers on one's own status and needs.
How we define intelligent life
Q: What distinguishes living intelligence from AI in practical terms?
Living intelligence involves intrinsic, embodied goals and dynamic, open systems, whereas AI operates within externally defined objectives and lacks the self-generated teleology of life.

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?

A concise, science-leaning show that presents two bite-sized masterclasses per week, often featuring leading researchers and practitioners who break down complex topics for a broad audience. Episodes frequently cover neuroscience, biology, aging, space, technology, and the social implications of science, with a strong emphasis on practical takeaways, accessible explanations, and real-world applications. Noteworthy is the wide range of expert guests—from neuroscientists to historians to engineers—providing both depth and diverse perspectives across the sciences, plus clear efforts to connect ideas to everyday life. Potential listeners can expect energetic, evidence-based conversations that aim to educate and inspire curiosity, sometimes acco... more

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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. CrowdScience
3. Discovery
4. Science Weekly
5. Science Quickly

How many episodes of Instant Genius are there?

Instant Genius launched 9 years ago and published 735 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?

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What guests have appeared on Instant Genius?

Recent guests on Instant Genius include:

1. Dr. Dean Burnett
2. David Dexter
3. Adrian Owen
4. Melanie Challenger
5. Ross Brooks
6. Selina Wray
7. Steven A. Benner
8. Ian Bogost

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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