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Instant Genius

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

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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Artwork for Instant Genius

Latest Episodes

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

What does it mean to be a living organism? What are the

driving forces that motivate our thoughts and actions? Are we all simply acting the way we do thanks to the instructions built into our genes and our automatic responses to the environments we l... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

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
Pamela Pavliscak
Researcher and author of All the Feels
Author, All the Feels
Episode: How new technology can change our emotional lives for the better
Rakesh Kumar
John Bardeen Faculty Scholar in Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Illinois
Episode: The birth, evolution and future of microchips

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
    a month 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
#37
United States/Science
Spotify
#14
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#88
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#89
Canada/Science
Spotify
#19
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#103
Italy/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
How we define intelligent life
Q: Is free will an illusion, or can agency exist without conscious thought?
Agency can exist as a property of the living body and its interactions with the environment, not solely as conscious deliberation, highlighting a non-dual view of mind and body.
How we define intelligent life
Q: Can AI ever be truly intelligent if intelligence requires intrinsic goals?
If intelligence is defined as entities generating their own goals intrinsically, AI falls short because its goals are externally programmed, not immanent to the system itself.
Why the search for life on Mars is far from over
Q: So why was Mars chosen in the first place as a potential place to look for signs of life?
Mars was chosen because it historically had conditions closer to Earth, with a thinner atmosphere, evidence of ancient water environments, and the potential for carbon-based chemistry and organics that could hint at past life.
Why human urine may be our most untapped natural resource
Q: Perhaps you could tell me what actually is urine recycling.
Urine recycling focuses on recovering nutrients—primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, and also other constituents like potassium—from urine at the source, then converting them into useful products such as fertilizers, and potentially other materials like bricks or energy-related outputs. The key is to separate urine early to minimize contamination and maximize recovery efficiency.

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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How many listeners does Instant Genius get?

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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. 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?

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.

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What guests have appeared on Instant Genius?

Recent guests on Instant Genius include:

1. Adrian Owen
2. Melanie Challenger
3. Ross Brooks
4. Selina Wray
5. Steven A. Benner
6. Ian Bogost
7. Kai Udert
8. Pamela Pavliscak

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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