Rephonic
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
Matthew Syed
Neuroscience
NASA

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes117Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Sideways

Latest Episodes

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

David McGurk had a childhood love of action figures. Something that he and Matthew Syed, and probably most of us, share. But David and his brother went a step further - they started making their own makeshift figures from soap and cheap glue.

But i... more

Matthew Syed introduces the new series of Sideways through the story of an incredible being that has no brain but exhibits intelligent qualities that challenge centuries of dominant thinking about what a 'mind' actually is. This is one of eight new e... more

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

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

Host

Matthew Syed
Host of Sideways

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 819 ratings
  • Thank you Matthew, this is podcasting at it's very best. Measured, authentic, insightful and relevant.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    mobfizz
    4 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 Kingdom9 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.

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.
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
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 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. Radical
5. The Food Programme

How many episodes of Sideways are there?

Sideways launched 5 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. 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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days