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Instant Genius

Our Media
Climate Change
Mental Health
Neuroscience
Artificial Intelligence
Evolution
Nutrition
Sleep
Space Exploration
Dementia
Social Media
Mars
Psychology
Mathematics
Food Security
Food Production
BBC Science Focus Magazine
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 weeklyEpisodes731Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyScience

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Artwork for Instant Genius

Latest Episodes

When Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in the mid-nineteenth century, his theory of evolution by natural selection turned many of the scientific ideas of the day on their heads. The influence of the book was so profound that scientist... more

Currently there are around one million people in the UK living with dementia. Despite significant advances in our understanding of the disease over the past several decades an effective cure is yet to be found. However, recent breakthroughs made by r... more

Way back in 1976, NASA’s Viking landers touched down on Mars to search for potential signs of microbial life that could currently exist on the planet’s surface. Despite the mission making a number of promising discoveries, so far, no further landers ... more

Every single day of our lives, we’re exposed to a vast multitude of experiences and interactions with the various people, objects and technologies in the wider world that surrounds us. The chances are that many of us give these moment-to-moment encou... more

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

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
Elizabeth Margulis
Director of the Music Cognition Lab at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: What we can learn from music’s ability to evoke images in our minds
Quin Wills
Dr. Quin Wills, researcher and CEO of Ochre Bio
Ochre Bio
Episode: Why the liver is the body’s most misunderstood organ
Dr. Michelle Griffin
Women's health expert, author, former columnist
Independent expert affiliated with BBC Science Focus
Episode: Why this common women’s health condition is so misunderstood
Orlando Swayne
Neurologist and author of How to Use a Fork, Stories of Mending the Broken Brain
Author, Neurologist
Episode: The miraculous healing ability of our brains

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
#32
United States/Science
Spotify
#15
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#97
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#155
Canada/Science
Spotify
#17
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#193
Australia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The birth, evolution and future of microchips
Q: Could you tell us what GPUs are and how they fit into the picture of AI and chips?
GPUs are specialized processors originally created for graphics that proved highly effective for AI workloads because they can handle massive parallel computations, driving the growth of AI and reinforcing the GPU market.
The birth, evolution and future of microchips
Q: But I bet most people don't actually know exactly what they are. So we're talking about chips. What exactly do we mean?
Chips are the heart of electronic devices, essentially tiny substrates that host billions to trillions of transistors, which act as switches to process and store digital information.
How new technology can change our emotional lives for the better
Q: Can you unpack the concept of emotional contagion online and give examples of how it plays out in everyday digital life?
Pamela notes that emotional contagion happens both in overt and subtle ways: visible signals like friends' listening activity on platforms can convey presence and mood, and more pronounced effects come from visible content, such as positive or negative posts influencing our own postings, with ambient cues shaping our emotions.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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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. All in the Mind
5. Discovery

How many episodes of Instant Genius are there?

Instant Genius launched 9 years ago and published 731 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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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. Steven A. Benner
2. Ian Bogost
3. Kai Udert
4. Pamela Pavliscak
5. Rakesh Kumar
6. Elizabeth Margulis
7. Quin Wills
8. Dr. Michelle Griffin

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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