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Short Wave

NPR
Greater Honey Guide
Honey Hunting
Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Climate Change
Naked Mole Rats
NPR
Hadza
Gray Wolves
Tomatoes
Clownfish
Migratory Species
Bees
Racism
Appendix
Radiation
Skywalker Gibbons
In Vitro Fertilization
Domestic Violence
Kenya
Tanzania

New discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines — in just under 15 minutes. It's science for everyone, using a lot of creativity and a little humor. Join hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber for science on a different wavelength.If you're hooked, try Short Wave Plus. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/shortwave

PublishesDailyEpisodes1807Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesScienceAstronomy

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Artwork for Short Wave

Latest Episodes

Ever gotten a scarlet, hot face after drinking alcohol or know someone who has? Many people felt it as they celebrate the holidays with loved ones, sipping mulled wine, cocktails or champagne. That's because this condition, commonly called "Asian flu... more

Written by Jo Lambert, ‘Hold The Hope’ is now being used as suicide prevention training material by the UK’s National Health Service Mental Health Trust. Emily Kwong speaks with Rhitu Chatterjee about the inner strength of those who live with suicida... more

Dogs are man’s best friend. And it’s no secret that we at Short Wave love cats (Regina has four)! Both of these iconic pets have been domesticated – evolved and adapted to live alongside humans – for millennia. And a recent study suggests that the co... more

You may have heard of Ozempic, and other GLP-1 drugs. They’re everywhere. And they typically involve weekly injections — which can have a sticker price of over a thousand dollars a month. And insurance coverage has been tricky to navigate for a lot o... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Raffaela Lesch
Zoologist and assistant professor of biology
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Episode: No, Raccoons Aren’t Pet-Ready (Yet)
Christina Shutt
Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Episode: The Indicator: Take A Penny, Leave A Penny, Get Rid Of The Penny
Robert Wechsler
Artist who focuses on the US penny
Episode: The Indicator: Take A Penny, Leave A Penny, Get Rid Of The Penny
Ed Moy
Former Director of the US Mint
Episode: The Indicator: Take A Penny, Leave A Penny, Get Rid Of The Penny
Sophie Hermans
Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth of the Netherlands
Dutch Government
Episode: "A Very, Very Big Deal." Countries Take On Fossil Fuels
Irene Vélez Torres
Colombia's Environment Minister
Colombian Government
Episode: "A Very, Very Big Deal." Countries Take On Fossil Fuels
Andres Gomez
Works with the Colombian government on climate initiatives
Colombian Government
Episode: "A Very, Very Big Deal." Countries Take On Fossil Fuels
Jessica Greene
Political Science Professor at University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Episode: "A Very, Very Big Deal." Countries Take On Fossil Fuels
Nikki Rice
Climate and Energy Director at the Center for International Environmental Law
Center for International Environmental Law
Episode: "A Very, Very Big Deal." Countries Take On Fossil Fuels

Hosts

Emily Kwong
Host and co-host with experience in science communication, bringing a humorous and engaging approach to various scientific topics.
Regina Barber
Co-host and member of the science communication team, focusing on making science relevant and enjoyable for the audience.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 8.8k ratings
  • Great shows! But Regina’s kindergarten delivery is annoying.

    Terrific writing, terrific guests! Thank you! However, Regina Barber’s condescending demeanor and frequent exclamations of “Oh!” “Wow!” “Really?!” sounds like she’s addressing an audience of very young children. Please don’t.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Saurolophus
    United States17 days ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts!

    I’ve learned so much by listening to this treasure trove of science!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Plrz
    United States17 days ago
  • Family science time

    There aren’t many podcasts (or music choices) I can find that two teenagers and adults all want to listen to - except shortwave. Instead of sitting on their phones in the back of the car, everyone listens and comments, it’s actual family time and we love the topics and hosts. That’s worth all npr+ subscriptions right there!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jefairba
    United States21 days ago
  • Great, quick show

    Love all the science and interesting topics. Always seem to learn something.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WPooka
    United States24 days ago
  • Great quick hits

    Lovely overviews of a broad variety of science topics, including those you didn’t know existed. It’s great that they get experts from around the world too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JAG59
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

The hosts are described as well-informed, engaging, and able to break down complex scientific concepts into digestible chunks.
The podcast is praised for covering a wide range of relevant topics that resonate with current events and societal interests.
Listeners appreciate the concise and informative format that offers a daily dose of science.
Feedback indicates a preference for the incorporation of humor and creativity into the discussion.
Overall, listeners express satisfaction with the show's consistency and quality, making it a staple in their podcast rotation.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

No, Raccoons Aren’t Pet-Ready (Yet)
Q: What question did your team want to answer?
They wanted to know if urbanization could kickstart a domestication event in raccoons and assess whether to invest more in exploring this further.
"A Very, Very Big Deal." Countries Take On Fossil Fuels
Q: How does the Santa Marta conference intend to be different?
It aims to develop a roadmap for equitable transition away from fossil fuels, addressing subsidies for fossil fuel industries and the future of jobs in these sectors.
"A Very, Very Big Deal." Countries Take On Fossil Fuels
Q: What was on the table at this year's UN climate conference called COP 30?
Discussions focused on the need for countries to transition away from fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Is The Quantum Future Here?
Q: What does this have to do with quantum computing? How does that fit together?
Quantum computers can use the behaviors of quantum physics to solve complex problems faster than traditional computers.
Is The Quantum Future Here?
Q: Can you remind me what quantum physics is?
Quantum is the physics of the smallest things, electrons, photons, other subatomic particles, which behave in ways that are different from larger objects.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Short Wave

What is Short Wave about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content across episodes focuses on a wide array of scientific topics ranging from the impact of technology on daily life to the natural world and health. The discussions are designed to be digestible and engaging, making complex subjects accessible to a general audience. Each episode typically features expert guests who bring their insights into diverse scientific inquiries, from AI data centers and climate change to the psychological aspects of everyday phenomena like disagreement and nightmares. The unique format allows for brief, informative explorations of scientific mysteries and discoveries, appealing to listeners who appreciate learning something new in a short time frame.

Where can I find podcast stats for Short Wave?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Short Wave. 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 Short Wave and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Short Wave get?

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What are the audience demographics for Short Wave?

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How many subscribers and views does Short Wave have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Short Wave 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 Short Wave?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Short Wave:

1. The Indicator from Planet Money
2. Throughline
3. Consider This from NPR
4. Planet Money
5. Science Friday

How many episodes of Short Wave are there?

Short Wave launched 6 years ago and published 1807 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 Short Wave?

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 Short Wave?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Short Wave from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Short Wave. 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 Short Wave?

Recent guests on Short Wave include:

1. Raffaela Lesch
2. Christina Shutt
3. Robert Wechsler
4. Ed Moy
5. Sophie Hermans
6. Irene Vélez Torres
7. Andres Gomez
8. Jessica Greene

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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