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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
Black Holes
Complex Systems
Free Will
Entropy
Neuroscience
Longevity
Time
Dark Matter
Quantum Field Theory
Cancer
Aging
Emergence
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes448Founded8 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 October 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 numb... more

One reason it's been so hard to directly detect the dark matter is that we're not sure what it is. But for a long time, a leading candidate has been "Weakly Interacting Massive Particles" (WIMPs), so an impressive amount of experimental effort has be... more

The worry about debates over free will is that they degenerate into semantics -- what do you mean by "free will," really? But there are important substantive issues that shouldn't be ignored. Do people deserve blame for doing wrong things? Can we mak... more

In all sorts of ways, the modern world makes it difficult to nurture our individual humanity and connect with the humanity of others. The disciplines that try to do so are, naturally enough, the humanities. Poet Elizabeth Alexander's new book, Signa... more

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Recent Guests

Gregg Caruso
Philosopher
Episode: 369 | Gregg Caruso on Living Well Without Free Will
Elizabeth Alexander
Professional poet and president of the Andrew Mellon Foundation
Andrew Mellon Foundation
Episode: 368 | Elizabeth Alexander on Why Democracy Needs Imagination
Jared Diamond
Professor at UCLA; author of Guns, Germs, and Steel; author of Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Episode: 367 | Jared Diamond on the Course of History and the Role of leaders
Jim Al-Khalili
Physicist and science communicator
University of Surrey (former)
Episode: 366 | Jim Al-Khalili on Time, Quantum, Biology, and Cosmology
Vitor Cardoso
Director of the Center of Gravity at the Niels Bohr Institute; theorist in general relativity, quantum gravity, and black hole physics
Center of Gravity, Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen
Episode: 365 | Vitor Cardoso on Why Black Holes Are Special
Stuart Firestein
Biologist and philosopher of science, former chair of biology at Columbia University
Columbia University
Episode: 364 | Stuart Firestein on How Science Relies on Ignorance and Failure
Chandra Sripada
Philosopher and cognitive scientist in the psychiatry department at University of Michigan; expert on LLMs
University of Michigan
Episode: 363 | Chandra Sripada on How LLMs and Humans are Cognitive Cousins
Luis Bettencourt
City scientist focusing on complex systems and urban scaling
Santa Fe Institute
Episode: 362 | Luis Bettencourt on the Universal Properties of Self-Organizing Cities
Bonnie Bassler
World-leading expert on quorum sensing; guest discussed her work and discoveries
Princeton University (implied by context as a leading researcher in quorum sensing)
Episode: 361 | Bonnie Bassler on How Bacteria Talk and Work Together

Host

Sean Carroll
Host of Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 9.9k ratings
  • I know ads are necessary, but…

    The ads are oddly placed and feel like a cash grab. They seem vulgar and the volume of the ads differ from the content. It’s a great show otherwise. But those ads don’t allow me to relax and enjoy the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nijo150
    United States23 days ago
  • Nightly Ritual

    Nearly every night I unwind by listening to this. Sean is great ti listen to.

    If you’re smart, and you’re interested in how the world works…this is for you.

    If you’re not that smart…this is probably not for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ahhartnett6
    United Statesa month ago
  • This is a is a one on one interview podcast. Being a Patreon supporter getting the ad free version, I don't get the opportunity to review the Mindscape podcast on Podcast Addict. Of the hundred or so I subscribe to this is my favorite. Although Sean M. Carroll is a particle physicist, the podcast covers a wide variety of topics covering the wide ranging interests of the host. There are no superficial or frivolous topics discussed as the guests are picked for their knowledge and expertise.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    frank tippin
    a month ago
  • On the slide

    Was one of my favourite podcasts, but now it’s losing its charm. Apart from the choice of guests (Annaka Harris didn’t deserve her airing, and listening to Bryan van Norden on what should be a fascinating subject made me wonder whether Trump is right to defund the universities) the introduction of creepy, deceitful advertising with no warning has pushed it to the back of my queue.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    greekship
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Intelligent conversation

    Sean is a good communicator and he lets his guests riff on their given subjects.. even because we may not understand everything they discuss that’s ok. Nobody understands string theory and quantum fully but listening to these people discuss black holes excetra is fascinating

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Moriarty1916
    Ireland2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans praise the show's depth and the host's thoughtful interviewing style.
Audience notes the conversations are accessible yet rigorous, with strong guests.
A few reviews call out political commentary, reflecting the host's willingness to engage with contemporary issues.
Some listeners complain about ads and pacing in certain formats.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ask Me Anything | October 2026
Q: As AI claims solved some Millennium Prize problems, do you think AI limits the ability of researchers to do original math or physics, and is external data the bottleneck for AI progress?
I don't think AI will remove the need for human insight, but it will change how researchers work; the most reliable advances come from collaboration between AI systems and humans who guide, verify, and interpret results rather than outsourcing thinking entirely.
Mindscape Ask Me Anything, Sean Carroll | September 2026
Q: What is your stance on whether eternal inflation and multiverse models offer testable scientific predictions given the measure problem and related issues?
Eternal inflation and multiverse models can be scientifically meaningful to the extent they make predictions that are testable or that yield probabilistic expectations about observable features (like a small, nonzero cosmological constant). The measure problem and other complications mean the predictions can be subtle and not straightforward to falsify, but that does not render them irrelevant; it calls for careful, transparent modeling and acknowledgment of limits in predictivity.
Mindscape Ask Me Anything, Sean Carroll | September 2026
Q: In the context of anthropic reasoning, how should we treat priors when comparing universes with different propensities to support life?
Treat priors as a crucial, explicit part of the Bayesian calculation. If two theories predict different fractions of hospitable regions but start with equal priors, scientists should prefer the theory that predicts more observers, because it provides a higher prior probability for observing a universe like ours. However, priors must be chosen carefully, as they set the baseline for explaining why we see what we do and to avoid simply begging the question in favor of one model over another.
367 | Jared Diamond on the Course of History and the Role of leaders
Q: Do leaders matter enough to change the course of history in a meaningful way?
Yes, they can matter, but their impact is highly contingent on time and place; some leaders are uniquely qualified and can alter outcomes, while in many cases larger structures and environments dominate.
365 | Vitor Cardoso on Why Black Holes Are Special
Q: Aren't axions a dark matter candidate that could interact with black holes, and what does that imply for observations?
Axions could form clouds around spinning black holes and potentially affect spectra; however, zero detection so far means any such effects would be subtle or require specific mass ranges and environments to reveal themselves.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

A thoughtful, longform interview show that blends science, philosophy, and culture through conversations with leading researchers, authors, and thinkers. Episodes often center on big ideas—from cosmology and quantum foundations to brain science, urban systems, and the philosophy of mind—while also exploring how science fits into society, technology, and education. The host steers deep-dive discussions with guests who bring rigorous expertise and wide-ranging perspectives, making complex topics accessible and engaging for curious listeners who enjoy critical thinking and interdisciplinary dialogue. The series stands out for its sustained, exploratory format, willingness to tackle controversial or speculative questions, and the way it connect... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Why This Universe?
2. The Quanta Podcast
3. The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss
4. Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
5. The Joy of Why

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this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 448 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. Gregg Caruso
2. Elizabeth Alexander
3. Jared Diamond
4. Jim Al-Khalili
5. Vitor Cardoso
6. Stuart Firestein
7. Chandra Sripada
8. Luis Bettencourt

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