Short Wave
NPRNew 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
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 1892 | Founded | 7 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | AstronomyLife SciencesScience | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Emily Kwong is pretty sure she lacks an inner monologue, while the inner monologue of producer Rachel Carlson won’t stop chatting. But how well can a person know their inner self? And what does science have to say about it? We dig in in this encore e... more
More than a century ago, all that people knew about European eels was that they lived in the rivers and streams for decades — until they swam out to the ocean and never returned. Eventually, tiny eels would show up and the cycle would start again. Wh... more
In our latest science news roundup: how nature adapts, for better or worse.
When faced with pests, plants may not be able to run away – but that doesn’t mean they’re defenseless. Some have thorns or spines, others have poisonous leaves or berries, ... more
Healthy forests help combat climate change, provide humans with drinking water and even improve mental and physical health. But it’s hard to imagine an entire forest in the middle of a big city. That’s where micro-forests come into play — public fore... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Hosts
Reviews
- Everyday science
I enjoy the science tidbits that I would otherwise never know about like the LA micro forest. Thank you Emily and team for reminding us of the importance and miracles of science and nature!
Apple Podcasts5Nickel Bridge Fan
United States6 days ago - Less politics more science
Their politics I can do without but the science is what keeps me coming back!
Apple Podcasts50626chrasUnited States11 days ago - Not always 100% on, but love it!
There are a few little bits I would tweak, but overall I really appreciate this podcast getting some important (& fun) info. to the public. Thank you!
Apple Podcasts5Shel LynnUnited States25 days ago - Pole position
•EPISODE 1235 “The Great Antarctic Food Web Puzzle”. Unlistenable. Why do Americans refuse to pronounce “Antarctica” correctly?
~
•EPISODE 1297 “When Eavesdropping Pays Off” in which a guest uses the non-word “nother” (twice in one sentence).
~
•EPISODE: “Why is NASA going to the moon again?” In which the host confuses “disinterest” (impartiality) with “uninterest” (Meh).
Apple Podcasts3(Gibberer)
Australia2 months ago - Fantastic Family Listen
I always learn something I never knew I needed to know on Short Wave. Fun questions, upbeat hosts, great pacing, and my kids are happy to have it on in the car, too!
Apple Podcasts5aaanyhoodlesUnited States2 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #8 | United States/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #2 | United States/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #13 | United States/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #2 |  Canada/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #4 |  United Kingdom/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #17 | Canada/Science |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | |
|---|---|
| Gender Skew | |
| Location | |
| Interests | |
| Professions | |
| Age Range | |
| Household Income | |
| Social Media Reach |
Frequently Asked Questions About Short Wave
What is Short Wave about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Short form science show delivering bite-sized explorations of new discoveries, puzzling questions, and the science behind headlines in under 15 minutes. Episodes mix interviews with researchers and journalists, accessible explanations, and a light, humorous tone to make complex topics approachable for a broad audience. Notable strengths include a diverse set of guest experts, clear takeaways, and a knack for connecting lab findings to everyday life and current events. The format tends to spotlight timely topics—from health and environment to space and technology—while maintaining a consistent, human-centered storytelling style that appeals to curious listeners who want credible context without heavy jargon.
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?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Short Wave, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for Short Wave?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Short Wave, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
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. Planet Money
4. Consider This from NPR
5. Science Friday
How many episodes of Short Wave are there?
Short Wave launched 7 years ago and published 1892 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.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Short Wave?
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. Sacha Pfeiffer
2. Josh Dudman
3. Clément Videronger
4. Adam Steinbrenner
5. Damian Ouellette
6. Catherine Pacherdouni
7. Michaeleen Doucleff
8. Natasha Dahl-Scholl
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.