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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
Jupiter
Saturn
Earth
Mars
Venus
Uranus
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes419Founded8 years ago
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SciencePhysics

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

Latest Episodes

"Lamarkism" is a term often attached to a seemingly discredited idea in evolutionary biology: that one organism could acquire characteristics (e.g., becoming stronger through exercise) that would then be inherited by its descendants. This is a differ... more

In the 18th century, philosopher Jeremy Bentham suggested the Panopticon as a model of a prison where inmates could be constantly observed by just a single prison guard. Although his original idea was never built, the word has come to indicate any sy... more

Intelligence is a many splendored thing, especially when it comes to comparisons between species. Chimpanzees are better than humans at some numerical tasks, but less good at understanding what numbers actually mean. One window on the ways that speci... more

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

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Recent Guests

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
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

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
  • A great listen

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    zormble
    United Statesa month ago
  • It’s a bummer.

    Fully succumbed to Trump Derangement Syndrome.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Josh from Cape May
    United States2 months 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
    Canada2 months 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 States2 months ago
  • Call it a Political philosophy podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    jostef
    2 months 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 | 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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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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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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Quanta Podcast
2. The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss
3. Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
4. Into the Impossible With Brian Keating
5. The Michael Shermer Show

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this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 419 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. Jessica Riskin
2. Andrew Guthrie Ferguson
3. Erica Cartmill
4. Adam Elga
5. Adam Gurri
6. Tom Griffiths
7. Rachell Powell
8. Stewart Brand

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