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 | 78 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Life SciencesScience | |||
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Latest Episodes
Black holes are one of the universe’s most exotic and elusive objects. When nothing, not even light, can escape their powerful gravitational grasp, taking a picture of one seems unimaginable. But an image of a black hole, or more accurately its shado... more
People may think of soil as just dirt, but it is anything but inert. Beneath your feet, a vast network of mycorrhizal fungi is hard at work, trading minerals with plant roots. This trading system helps enrich the soil, and it sequesters 13 billion to... more
We know all about how things exist in the three dimensions of length, width, and height. Physicists often talk about time as a fourth dimension, but what if there were a fourth spatial dimension — another direction entirely? How on earth would we pic... more
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
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- Racism
Somehow Eugene Cheng managed to comparisons of different people based on the color of their skin of into a discussion of math. Disgusting and a real stink on this entire channel. If I listen to more, will I get more racism? Talk like this has no place in a science podcast and that lady has absolutely no place teaching children.
Apple Podcasts1OSX User 9999
United States24 days ago - What is the target audience?
I keep wishing I could like this podcast, but I almost always leave an episode disappointed. I’ve got a degree in math, I follow lots of other science podcasts, but most episodes it’s really hard to follow these, especially the ones hosted by Steve Strogatz. It seems like something for a graduate seminar maybe? There’s just very little effort to explain anything in a way that mere mortals could understand.
Apple Podcasts3douglasw7United Statesa month ago - 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 Podcasts5ShoweroperaUnited States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States2 months ago
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #5 | United States/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #34 | United States/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #2 |  United Kingdom/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #5 |  Canada/Science/Life Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #30 | Canada/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #44 | United Kingdom/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. Why This Universe?
3. Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
4. Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe
5. Physics World Weekly Podcast
How many episodes of The Joy of Why are there?
The Joy of Why launched 5 years ago and published 78 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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What guests have appeared on The Joy of Why?
Recent guests on The Joy of Why include:
1. Toby Kiers
2. Maggie Miller
3. Jonathan Halliwell
4. Akshay Venkatesh
5. Ravi Vakil
6. Alex Kontorovich
7. Melanie Mitchell
8. Ishmail Abdus-Saboor
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