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Artwork for Sideways

Sideways

BBC Radio 4
Attention Economy
Social Media
Distraction
Digital Media
Crisis Of Attention
Technology
Artificial Intelligence
Information Overload
Democracy
War
Space Exploration
Grudges
Naming and Identity
Youth Attention Span
Women's Roles
Forgiveness
Mental Health
NASA
Matthew Syed
Neuroscience

Best-selling author Matthew Syed explores the ideas that shape our lives with stories of seeing the world differently.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes117Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Sideways

Latest Episodes

It’s a cold morning in Euston Station in London and professional violinist Min Kym is about to get on a train to Manchester to play a concert. With her is her 300 year old, £1.2 million Stradivarius, one of the most valuable and precious types of vio... more

At some point in our lives, all of us will face difficult news. That was the case for Canadian academic Kate Bowler. She was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, at just 35. When the news hits, the support she receives is overwhelmingly positive. ... more

Matthew Syed follows the extraordinary journey of a French scientist who found signs of learning, problem-solving and remembering - in a blob of slime. Not the Ghostbusters kind, but in a slime mould. It's a single celled, brainless organism that has... more

Rob Broderick aka ‘Abandoman’ grew up surrounded by classic comedies like Laurel and Hardy, and with a teacher mother who inspired his fascination with wordplay. When Rob discovers freestyle rap as a teenager, all these influences coalesce to inspire... more

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Recent Guests

Kate Bowler
Historian of American Christianity; cancer survivor and author
Duke University
Episode: Good Vibes Only
Audrey Dussutour
Researcher in animal cognition, CNRS Toulouse
French National Centre for Scientific Research
Episode: Brainless
Pamela Lyon
Pioneer of basal cognition
University affiliations discussed
Episode: Brainless
Michael Levin
Developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University
Tufts University
Episode: Brainless
George Lewis
Composer, technologist, and professor
Columbia University
Episode: Stick to the Script
Rob Broderick
Stand-up comedian and improviser known as Abandoman
Abandoman
Episode: Stick to the Script
Charles Limb
Neuroscientist and ear surgeon focusing on improvisation
University of California, San Francisco
Episode: Stick to the Script
Keith Sawyer
Creativity researcher and professor of psychology
University of North Carolina
Episode: Stick to the Script
David McGurk
Creator of pocket-sized figures and subject of the episode
Episode: Small Giants

Host

Matthew Syed
Host of Sideways

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 822 ratings
  • Thank you Matthew, this is podcasting at it's very best. Measured, authentic, insightful and relevant.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    mobfizz
    5 months ago
  • Unfollow all podcasts from the transphobic BBC

    I am unfollowing all BBC podcasts in protest of their decision to force Robin Ince from the Infinite Monkey Cage podcast for his support of transgender individuals.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    markpa
    United States7 months ago
  • Very Good

    Absolutely bloody brilliant. Keep up the good work please.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChefGM83
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Fave since it started

    I love everything about this pod. Matthew’s voice, the philosophy, the subjects, the guests, the pace & the sound design. Just wish it was more prolific!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lynchpin laze
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • 👍

    Podcast Addict
    5
    miguelC
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful host with a knack for provocative ideas and careful storytelling.
A broad range of topics keeps the show fresh and engaging.
High-quality guests and nuanced discussions keep me thinking between episodes.
Music at times is polarizing; some listeners wish for a different sound but content remains strong.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Good Vibes Only
Q: Why do we feel compelled to confront other people's pain with positivity?
Bowler explains this is rooted in historical and cultural expectations around wellness and the belief that positivity can manage suffering, but also notes the downsides when this pressure masks real emotions and needs.
The Scientist and the Miracle
Q: How did you find the experience of seeking healing through prayer?
Joshua felt a tremendous sense of peace after prayer meetings, despite the skepticism he held as a scientist.
The Scientist and the Miracle
Q: What did you do after your diagnosis?
Joshua and Candy explored various treatments and sought spiritual healing through prayer and gatherings.
Limitless Love
Q: Is there truly a limit to the number of people human beings can realistically love?
Gennadiy believes that love comes from spending time together, and with sufficient investment, the capacity to love can grow, dispelling the myth that there is a biological limit to love.
Grudge Match
Q: How do we know when it's time to let it go?
We have to be careful that we don't become so enamored with the grudge that it becomes part of our identity.

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 Sideways

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

Thoughtful, idea-driven conversations spanning psychology, philosophy, culture, and science, anchored by a steady host who invites guests from academia, creative industries, and public discourse. Episodes often explore talent, forgiveness, absurdity in systems, consciousness, body autonomy, secrecy, and peace, blending personal narratives with expert analysis. The show stands out for its narrative storytelling, rigorous curiosity, and willingness to tackle big questions with nuance, making it appealing to listeners who enjoy long-form, reflective storytelling and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Where can I find podcast stats for Sideways?

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

How many listeners does Sideways get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Sideways, 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 Sideways?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Sideways, 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 Sideways have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sideways 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 Sideways?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sideways:

1. More or Less
2. Sliced Bread
3. Thinking Allowed
4. Radical
5. Desert Island Discs

How many episodes of Sideways are there?

Sideways launched 6 years ago and published 117 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 Sideways?

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 Sideways?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sideways 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 Sideways?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sideways. 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 Sideways?

Recent guests on Sideways include:

1. Kate Bowler
2. Audrey Dussutour
3. Pamela Lyon
4. Michael Levin
5. George Lewis
6. Rob Broderick
7. Charles Limb
8. Keith Sawyer

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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