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Artwork for Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

Sean Carroll
Quantum Mechanics
Artificial Intelligence
Consciousness
Democracy
Climate Change
Cosmology
Philosophy
Complex Systems
Black Holes
Neuroscience
Longevity
Dark Matter
Entropy
Cancer
Aging
Emergence
Free Will
Quantum Field Theory
Time
Exoplanets

Ever wanted to know how music affects your brain, what quantum mechanics really is, or how black holes work? Do you wonder why you get emotional each time you see a certain movie, or how on earth video games are designed? Then you've come to the right place. Each week, Sean Carroll will host conversations with some of the most interesting thinkers in the world. From neuroscientists and engineers t... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes425Founded8 years ago
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PhysicsScience

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Artwork for Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

Latest Episodes

Welcome to the May 2026 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -... more

The connectome is the wiring diagram of a brain, a big matrix that tells us what neurons talk to what other neurons. Understanding it is an important step to understanding how brains work, but a long way from the final answer. A big next step is unde... more

Peter Singer has been an influential philosopher for a number of decades. He was a significant early voice in animal rights, has been a leading thinker of utilitarianism, and helped inspire the effective altruism movement. In this podcast episode, we... more

We are more familiar with ourselves than with anything else in the universe, but we generally don't come very close to really understanding what our "self" is. That's not too surprising, as selves are very complicated and we are burdened by all sorts... more

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Recent Guests

Bing Brunton
Neuroscientist and biologist at the University of Washington
University of Washington
Episode: 352 | Bing Brunton on Connecting the Connectome to the Body
J. Eric Oliver
Political scientist at the University of Chicago, author of How to Know Yourself
University of Chicago
Episode: 350 | J. Eric Oliver on the Self and How to Know It
Daniel Harlow
Physicist at MIT, expert on quantum gravity
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Episode: 349 | Daniel Harlow on What Quantum Gravity Teaches Us About Quantum Mechanics
Jessica Riskin
Historian of science
Episode: 348 | Jessica Riskin on Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Life as Creative Agency
Andrew Guthrie Ferguson
Professor of Law at George Washington University Law School
George Washington University Law School
Episode: 347 | Andrew Guthrie Ferguson on How Your Data Will Be Used Against You
Erica Cartmill
Anthropologist, cognitive scientist, and animal behavior scientist
Indiana University
Episode: 346 | Erica Cartmill on How Human and Animal Minds Think and Play
Adam Elga
Philosopher at Princeton specializing in rationality and decision theory.
Princeton University
Episode: 345 | Adam Elga on Being Rational in a Very Large Universe
Adam Gurri
Founder of Liberal Currents and contributor to discussions on liberalism and democracy.
Liberal Currents
Episode: 344 | Adam Gurri on Liberal Democracy and How to Fight For It
Tom Griffiths
Cognitive scientist and author of The Laws of Thought
Episode: 343 | Tom Griffiths on The Laws of Thought

Host

Sean Carroll
Host of the show, guiding conversations on science, philosophy, and culture with a deep emphasis on clear thinking and accessible explanation

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 9.6k ratings
  • Very thoughtful thanks.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    John Newbould
    10 days ago
  • Disappointed

    I was excited to find a podcast dedicated to math and physics. Unfortunately it’s more MSNBC than science.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Eddie610267
    United States15 days ago
  • A very varied and engaging science podcast

    I love this podcast and like Sean‘s interviewing style. He engages deeply with his guests. I started by only listening to certain episodes covering topics that I was specifically interested in. But over time I found that often my interests were vastly expanded by listening to episodes about topics that I know nothing about. It shows that this podcast is especially good at being accessible to everyone that is interested, not just experts. Thank you, Sean!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    manuel-rhdt
    Germany15 days ago
  • Great podcast. He does stay into politics but sometimes the Truth is political.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    5marty55
    22 days ago
  • Favourite podcast

    A bit late to the party, but now my very favourite podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mcd_611
    Denmarka month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note occasional politics; overall high regard for the host's intellect and guest lineup.
Audience feedback highlights the show's ability to make challenging topics feel approachable and relevant.
A good balance of technical depth and approachable discussion; guests are consistently interesting.
Thoughtful, rigorous, and accessible exploration of big ideas across science and philosophy.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

AMA | May 2026
Q: What is your view on the appropriate contribution of contemplative practices and psychonautic explorations to understanding consciousness?
There is mild usefulness in altered states for data gathering, but they are not a pathway to a definitive understanding of consciousness; they may aid therapy and provide experiential context, while the scientific understanding requires careful, reproducible inquiry.
350 | J. Eric Oliver on the Self and How to Know It
Q: How does language influence our sense of self and time?
Language allows us to project into the future and reflect on the past, which makes selfhood highly time-bound and narrative-driven, while also enabling sophisticated self-reflection and social coordination.
350 | J. Eric Oliver on the Self and How to Know It
Q: Is there a thing called the self?
Yes, but not as a fixed essence; the self is a dynamic set of processes—cellular, neural, linguistic, and social—that unfold over time and interact with the world.
AMA | April 2026
Q: What are the biggest flaws in the many worlds version of quantum mechanics?
The biggest remaining issue is the probability problem: even though the theory is deterministic, one has to explain why and how probabilities appear in the outcomes we observe, and I think that while much of the conceptual space is understood, there are still lingering questions about structure and how to reconcile it with observer experiences.
AMA | March 2026
Q: Could you illuminate how decoherence and the Everettian view relate to the emergence of classical reality?
Decoherence explains how interference terms become effectively unobservable due to entanglement with the environment, leading to the appearance of distinct classical branches. In the many-worlds view, all branches exist, but observers experience a single outcome because their branch becomes effectively isolated through decoherence.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations that blend physics, philosophy, cognitive science, and societal issues. Episodes frequently center on fundamental questions in science and mind, the implications of artificial intelligence, and how education and culture influence public understanding. The show often features unique guest perspectives—from philosophers and physicists to science writers and policy commentators—creating deep, accessible dialogues that connect abstract ideas to everyday life. A notable strength is the ability to explore rigorous concepts without sacrificing clarity, while occasional political or societal framing adds heat and relevance for curious, analytically minded listeners.

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this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 425 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Bing Brunton
2. J. Eric Oliver
3. Daniel Harlow
4. Jessica Riskin
5. Andrew Guthrie Ferguson
6. Erica Cartmill
7. Adam Elga
8. Adam Gurri

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