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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 weeklyEpisodes718Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnology

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Latest Episodes

When it comes to the effects of ageing on our bodies, there are many more factors at play than simply the number of years we’ve been alive. It turns out, that for some people, there is a huge gap between their chronological age and their biological a... more

The truth is, when most of us think of wasps, our minds will likely go to memories of irritating winged pests landing in our drinks when we’re trying to have a nice summer picnic or perhaps one of the times we got a nasty sting when we were out playi... more

These days the supplement industry is booming – supermarket shelves are stacked high with all manner of pills and powders claiming to do everything from helping us to live longer or improving our digestive health to boosting our energy levels or even... more

Although it often goes unnoticed, plankton is the most abundant form of life in Earth’s oceans, making up 95 per cent of all oceanic biomass. These tiny organisms are responsible for generating around half of the planet’s oxygen, play a vital role in... 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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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

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
Dr. Julia Shaw
Broadcaster, bestselling author and psychologist based at University College London
University College London
Episode: Why bisexuality is everywhere
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

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 Kingdom7 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
#34
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#242
United States/Science
Spotify
#18
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#52
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#57
Canada/Science
Spotify
#20
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
What we can learn about parenting from the animal kingdom
Q: What role do grandmothers play in human evolution and modern society?
Grandmothers contribute to offspring survival through post-reproductive care, as seen in humans and species like orcas; programs like Zimbabwe's Friendship Bench show grandmothers can also provide pivotal community mental-health support, extending the influence of intergenerational care beyond biology.
What we can learn about parenting from the animal kingdom
Q: How does cooperative breeding differ from a nuclear family, and why is this important?
The guest describes cooperative breeding as involving helpers such as aunts, uncles, siblings, grandparents, or neighbors, enabling families to raise more than one dependent child and to allocate caretaking tasks more broadly than the traditional mom-dad model.
What we can learn about parenting from the animal kingdom
Q: What is the basic idea running through the book?
Elizabeth Preston explains that parenting is not a uniquely human problem and that looking through an evolutionary biology lens reveals recurring patterns of cooperative care across species, suggesting humans evolved to rely on a broader network of helpers and not just just parents.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
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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. The World, the Universe and Us
3. Science Weekly
4. CrowdScience
5. The Life Scientific

How many episodes of Instant Genius are there?

Instant Genius launched 9 years ago and published 718 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. Vincent Doumeizel
2. Dr. Saira Hameed
3. Elizabeth Preston
4. Dr. Julia Shaw
5. Turi King
6. Dr. Sarab Sethi
7. Dr. Alfredo Carpineti
8. Nilo Merino Recalde

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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