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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
Grudges
Space Exploration
Naming and Identity
Youth Attention Span
Women's Roles
Forgiveness
Mental Health
Neuroscience
First Love
NASA

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes116Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Sideways

Latest Episodes

From a very young age, Holly Mathieson showed remarkable ability at the piano. With the support of her concert pianist grandmother, she nurtured a rare talent for music, and later explored ballet and choral singing as well. A path toward excellence i... more

Almost twenty years ago, an armed man stormed a small Amish school in Pennsylvania. It was a horrific attack in which he shot at ten girls. He then turned the gun on himself. The attack claimed the lives of five young girls and severely injured five ... more

A morning routine. A cup of tea brewing. Toast almost ready. It’s Monday, and a young man is getting ready to leave for work, when there’s a knock at the door. Two police officers stand outside with news that will change his life - he’s under arrest.... more

Every week, podcaster Curt Jaimungal immerses himself in big ideas and complex theories to prepare for long, in-depth interviews with some of the world’s leading thinkers on his show Theories of Everything. His guests are wide-ranging - renowned phys... more

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Recent Guests

Holly Mathieson
Conductor turned software developer
Episode: 86. The Talent Trap
Pippa Grange
British psychologist specializing in performance and leadership
Former athlete, works with high performers
Episode: 86. The Talent Trap
Marie Roberts
Survivor of Nickel Mines tragedy, later Marie Monville
Amish community, author
Episode: 85. The Hands of Forgiveness
Dan Monville
Marie's husband after remarriage
Private individual
Episode: 85. The Hands of Forgiveness
Mathijs Bal
Psychologist and professor of management
University of Lincoln
Episode: 84. Absurdity on Toast
Nina Holm Vohnsen
Anthropology professor
University of Aarhus
Episode: 84. Absurdity on Toast
Noam Chomsky
Renowned linguist and philosopher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (implied by Chomsky's position)
Episode: 83. Dangerous Ideas
Rupert Spira
Philosopher, teacher, interviewee on consciousness
Independent philosopher
Episode: 83. Dangerous Ideas
Ian McGilchrist
Author and psychiatrist, expert on brain hemispheres
Imperial College London / co-author of The Master and His Emissary
Episode: 83. Dangerous Ideas

Host

Matthew Syed
Host of Sideways; author and public thinker known for exploring how we see the world differently.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 812 ratings
  • Thank you Matthew, this is podcasting at it's very best. Measured, authentic, insightful and relevant.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    mobfizz
    a month 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 States4 months ago
  • Very Good

    Absolutely bloody brilliant. Keep up the good work please.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChefGM83
    United Kingdom6 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.

Guest lineup consistently offers deep ideas and strong analyses.
Thought-provoking and well produced with thoughtful storytelling.
Production design and host delivery are frequently praised for clarity and pace.
Some listeners wish for more frequent episodes and a broader set of topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

79. 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.
79. 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.
72. 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.
57. 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.
64. The Masks We Wear
Q: Can you talk about the significance of the masks you wore during your competitions?
The masks represented more than just intimidation; they were a way for me to express my identity and emotions, showcasing the complexities I felt inside.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sideways

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

Sideways explores big ideas through storytelling, integrating personal memoirs with expert commentary across philosophy, psychology, culture, and science. Recent episodes thread together topics like giftedness and talent culture, forgiveness after tragedy, and the absurdities of everyday systems, often blending narrative with scholarly analysis. A notable strength is the ability to pair intimate human stories with rigorous context, producing thought-provoking conversations that appeal to curious, high-education audiences seeking deeper explanations of how ideas shape life and society.

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 three 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. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
4. The Life Scientific
5. Comedy of the Week

How many episodes of Sideways are there?

Sideways launched 5 years ago and published 116 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. Holly Mathieson
2. Pippa Grange
3. Marie Roberts
4. Dan Monville
5. Mathijs Bal
6. Nina Holm Vohnsen
7. Noam Chomsky
8. Rupert Spira

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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