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Short Wave

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1819Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesScienceAstronomy

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Artwork for Short Wave

Latest Episodes

Wanna know where tech is headed this year? MIT Technology Review has answers. They compile an annual list called "10 Breakthrough Technologies". Today, host Regina G. Barber speaks with executive editor Amy Nordrum about the list, and they get into e... more

There’s this idea that something happens in the human brain when we turn 25. Suddenly, we can rent a car without fees. Make rational decisions. We may even regret some of our past… indiscretions. All because we’re developed…right? Well, a recent pape... more

In the mid-1980s, scientists published a startling finding–a giant hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. That’s the protective shield that blocks large amounts of harmful UV radiation. And without it, the rate of cancer, cataracts and crop failure... more

Microbes are little alchemists that perform all manner of chemical reactions. A team of microbiologists co-founded a non-profit to try to harness those abilities to solve some of the world’s big problems — from carbon capture to helping coral reefs t... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

James Henrickson
Environmental microbiologist at Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Episode: These little microbes may help solve our big problems
Braden Tierney
Microbiologist at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Episode: These little microbes may help solve our big problems
Yasemin Saplakoglu
Science writer at Quanta Magazine
Quanta Magazine
Episode: The trouble of zero
Kimberly Nicholas
Co-author of The Climate Mitigation Gap and professor of sustainability science
Lund University
Episode: Climate Anxiety Is Altering Family Planning
Alessandra Rahm
Journalist
Episode: Climate Anxiety Is Altering Family Planning
Elizabeth Bechard
Parent climate advocate and author
Moms Clean Air Force
Episode: Climate Anxiety Is Altering Family Planning
Jade Sasser
Associate professor of gender and sexuality studies and society environment and health equity
UC Riverside
Episode: Climate Anxiety Is Altering Family Planning
Jo Lambert
Caregiver and poet who focuses on suicide prevention through her work.
UK's National Health Service Mental Health Trust
Episode: Why Suicide Prevention is 'Everyone's Business'
Raffaela Lesch
Zoologist and assistant professor of biology
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Episode: No, Raccoons Aren’t Pet-Ready (Yet)

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 Statesa month ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Plrz
    United Statesa month 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 Statesa month ago
  • Great, quick show

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WPooka
    United Statesa month 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 States2 months 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.

Why Suicide Prevention is 'Everyone's Business'
Q: What does this kind of validation sound like?
Validation involves acknowledging someone's pain and expressing care and commitment to their wellbeing.
Why Suicide Prevention is 'Everyone's Business'
Q: How would you say are the most important lessons the song has to teach?
The song stresses the importance of emotional safety for the person in crisis and encourages active support from caregivers.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

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. Planet Money
3. Throughline
4. Consider This from NPR
5. Science Friday

How many episodes of Short Wave are there?

Short Wave launched 6 years ago and published 1819 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. James Henrickson
2. Braden Tierney
3. Yasemin Saplakoglu
4. Kimberly Nicholas
5. Alessandra Rahm
6. Elizabeth Bechard
7. Jade Sasser
8. Jo Lambert

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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