The Joy of Why
Steven Strogatz, Janna Levin and Quanta Magazine“The Joy of Why” is a Quanta Magazine podcast about curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. The mathematician and author Steven Strogatz and the cosmologist and author Janna Levin take turns interviewing leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. New episodes are released every other Wednesday.
Quanta Magazine is a Pulitzer Prize–winning, editorially ind... more
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 75 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Life SciencesScience | |||
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Latest Episodes
Quantum mechanics may be one of the most precisely tested paradigms in science, but there’s still no universally accepted interpretation of what it tells us about reality. How do we get from the wave-like behavior of quantum systems to the solid, mac... more
Mathematicians are witnessing a profound shift in their field. AI systems are now producing proofs, spotting connections between distant fields, and, in a few cases, solving problems that had stumped mathematicians for decades. The pace of progress o... more
When an LLM answers a question, is it reasoning like humans, or just producing text that looks like reasoning? The distinction isn’t just philosophical, this determines what we can trust AI to do, how closely we need to supervise it, and ultimately w... more
Pain and pleasure seem like simple facts of life, but they are far from it. Neuroscientists still cannot say why physical pain differs from psychological pain, for instance, nor why a loved one’s touch soothes while a stranger’s touch repels.
To exp... more
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Reviews
- Thoughtful and engaging
I love how the episodes usually begin and end with a conversation between Janna and Steve. It helps me process the fascinating interview sandwiched between.
Apple Podcasts5Showeropera
United States16 days ago - AI
The biggest issue for AI is they don’t have feelings. I think humans are mostly feeling creatures even though we think we’re thinking creatures. Love the show!
Apple Podcasts5MJMJMJMJM12345United Statesa month ago - Misinformation
The host draws a line between math and science. It is a science, and I would encourage inquisitive minds avoid this podcast.
Apple Podcasts1FiggansUnited Statesa month ago - mid
gets boring after 2 episode
Apple Podcasts1no nickname girl1800United States2 months ago - not just a pretty title
if you are curious, but, like me, don't have much knowledge of things scientific, this podcast will satisfy and intrigue you: the hosts are very quick to come up with analogies which synthetise and clarify what the specialist interviewee is on about—great fun!
Apple Podcasts5Diversifolia
Italy2 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #8 | United States/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #34 | United States/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #3 |  United Kingdom/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #7 |  Canada/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #32 | United Kingdom/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #44 | Canada/Science |
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Joy of Why
What is The Joy of Why about and what kind of topics does it cover?
The show blends deep-dive science with accessible conversation across math, physics, biology, and cosmology. Episodes pair seasoned mathematicians with leading researchers to unpack big questions—artificial intelligence, the nature of reality, the biology of touch and pain, cosmic expansion, exomoons, and cutting-edge topics in algebra, CRISPR, and traffic flow. A throughline is curiosity-driven inquiry that balances rigorous explanation with broad context, often highlighting interdisciplinary connections and the limits of current knowledge. Notably, the program frequently features high-profile guests and fosters thoughtful, human-centered discussions that make complex ideas feel relevant to everyday life and future possibilities.
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How many listeners does The Joy of Why get?
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What are the audience demographics for The Joy of Why?
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How many subscribers and views does The Joy of Why have?
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Which podcasts are similar to The Joy of Why?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Joy of Why:
1. The Quanta Podcast
2. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
3. Why This Universe?
4. Physics World Weekly Podcast
5. The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss
How many episodes of The Joy of Why are there?
The Joy of Why launched 5 years ago and published 75 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 The Joy of Why?
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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Joy of Why?
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What guests have appeared on The Joy of Why?
Recent guests on The Joy of Why include:
1. Akshay Venkatesh
2. Ravi Vakil
3. Alex Kontorovich
4. Melanie Mitchell
5. Ishmail Abdus-Saboor
6. Adam Riess
7. David Kipping
8. Jennifer Doudna
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.