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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
Planets
Exoplanets
Quantum Mechanics
Venus
Saturn
Jupiter
Uranus
Earth
Mars
Neptune
Artificial Intelligence
Complex Systems
Nuclear Astrophysics
Standard Model
Seismology
STEM
Cosmology
Philosophy
Cognition
Higgs Boson

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes416Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhysicsScience

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

Latest Episodes

Welcome to the March 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

Behaving rationally involves facing up to conditions of uncertainty; we never navigate the world with perfect confidence. Sometimes we are uncertain about the way the world is, but we can also be uncertain about our place within the world. This kind ... more

It's possible to look at the course of history over the past few centuries and discern a movement toward increasing democracy, freedom, and individual rights -- "liberalism," in the political-philosophy sense of the term. But such movement isn't inev... more

For all that human beings spend a lot of their time thinking, it's far from obvious what that process actually entails. Part of it amounts to classical logical reasoning. But an even bigger part involves reasoning with probability and uncertainty. An... more

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Recent Guests

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
Rachell Powell
A philosopher interested in evolutionary biology and its implications.
Episode: 342 | Rachell Powell on Evolutionary Convergence, Morality, and Mind
Stewart Brand
An author, environmentalist, and founder of the Long Now Foundation
Long Now Foundation
Episode: 341 | Stewart Brand on Maintenance as an Organizing Principle
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Philosopher, novelist, and author of The Mattering Instinct
Episode: 340 | Rebecca Newberger Goldstein on What Matters and Why It Matters
Ned Block
Philosopher and expert on consciousness
New York University
Episode: 339 | Ned Block on Whether Consciousness Requires Biology
Ryan Patterson
A particle physicist, experimentalist at Caltech, and a member of several different neutrino experimental collaborations.
Caltech
Episode: 338 | Ryan Patterson on the Physics of Neutrinos
Kevin Zollman
A philosopher at Carnegie Mellon University with a focus on game theory.
Carnegie Mellon University
Episode: 337 | Kevin Zollman on Game Theory, Signals, and Meaning

Host

Sean Carroll
A theoretical physicist and accomplished science communicator, he explores a range of topics from physics to philosophy, engaging deeply with his guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 9.5k ratings
  • A great listen

    Crazy it’s rare to hear normal people have good conversations but here we are.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    zormble
    United States17 days ago
  • It’s a bummer.

    Fully succumbed to Trump Derangement Syndrome.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Josh from Cape May
    United Statesa month ago
  • F° vs C° in AMA 2026/02/02 - this review may repeat infinitely

    I’m not sure metric will ever completely win out. Most recipes call for a pound (16 oz or 454g) of this ingredient, or a cup (8 oz or ~250ml ) of that ingredient. So the Imperial system still lingers in our kitchens.

    I still buy 2”x4”x8’ lumber. And 4’x8’ sheets of drywall and plywood to meet building codes and standards

    We’ve live with both systems (Metric & Imperial) in Canada since the 1970s. No big deal - you’ll get use to it. Ignoring Imperial pints vs US pints.

    32°F is cold, 32°C is ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    gboundy
    Canadaa month ago
  • Thought it was good

    Was really enjoying the show until the owner displayed TDS & started going on about politics

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    apgovea
    United Statesa month ago
  • Call it a Political philosophy podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    jostef
    a month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the depth and rigor of discussions, emphasizing profound engagement with complex scientific and philosophical ideas.
Many highlight the thoughtful and respectful nature of conversations, even when discussing contentious topics.
There are some criticisms regarding the perceived political bias of the host, with a few suggesting a desire for more balanced viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

AMA | Feb 2026
Q: How do you reconcile the mathematical aspects of physics with the philosophical implications of mathematics such as truths about abstract objects?
I see abstract mathematical objects like Sherlock Holmes as useful constructs that help us understand the physical world. However, their existence is not the same as the reality of physical entities, and I think understanding consciousness requires examining both empirical evidence and deeper underlying processes.
AMA | Feb 2026
Q: How do you view the importance of education in today's context?
I believe obtaining a college education is valuable not only for career prospects but also for personal growth and understanding the world. It's essential to seek out educational opportunities despite the rising costs and current societal challenges.
AMA | Feb 2026
Q: What is your take on the current state of democracy in the United States?
The current state is concerning, with rising lawlessness and a government that seems unrestrained by traditional democratic norms. However, I believe that ordinary Americans do not support authoritarianism and there is hope for eventual stability and improvement.
341 | Stewart Brand on Maintenance as an Organizing Principle
Q: Why do you think maintenance is not given more attention?
It has never been considered a subject of its own, even though it's essential for complex systems.
341 | Stewart Brand on Maintenance as an Organizing Principle
Q: What is the premise behind your book on maintenance?
It's about how maintenance is often overlooked despite being crucial for our complex systems and technology.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

Conversations center around an eclectic mix of topics, uniting science, philosophy, culture, and the arts. Episodes frequently feature in-depth discussions about complex subjects such as quantum mechanics, artificial intelligence, and the philosophy of language. The host often engages renowned guests from diverse backgrounds including physics, psychology, and literature, making each episode an exploration of the intersection between knowledge and human experience. This approach fosters a unique and enriching dialogue that challenges listeners to consider multiple perspectives and encourages critical thinking, appealing to those with a curiosity for understanding the world in a more nuanced and sophisticated manner.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Why This Universe?
2. Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
3. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe
4. The Michael Shermer Show
5. The Supermassive Podcast

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 416 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. Adam Elga
2. Adam Gurri
3. Tom Griffiths
4. Rachell Powell
5. Stewart Brand
6. Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
7. Ned Block
8. Ryan Patterson

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