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The Pulse

WHYY
Mental Health
Climate Change
Social Media
Neuroscience
Women's Health
Circadian Rhythms
Health
Facebook
Sleep
Menopause
Artificial Intelligence
Covid-19
Legionnaires' Disease
Healthcare
Shame
Ultra-Processed Foods
Latino Health Care
Attraction
Fear
Youtube

Go on an adventure into unexpected corners of the health and science world each week with award-winning host Maiken Scott. The Pulse takes you behind the doors of operating rooms, into the lab with some of the world's foremost scientists, and back in time to explore life-changing innovations. The Pulse delivers stories in ways that matter to you, and answers questions you never knew you had.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes200Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Latest Episodes

Think about the last time you were really happy — where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? And, most importantly, how can you recreate that feeling?

Happiness can feel like lightning in a bottle — beautiful in the moment, but hard to ... more

On this episode, we explore the world of color — from how we perceive it, to our efforts to describe and differentiate its many shades. We talk with a lexicographer about efforts to standardize synthetic colors, and how we describe them, and investig... more

When disaster strikes and the chips are down, who makes it out alive? On this episode, we explore what it takes to survive a crisis. We hear the incredible story of a 17-year-old girl, who after surviving a plane crash, faced a harrowing journey thou... more

How do you sum up the experience of motherhood, and all of the changes it brings, both big and small? It’s a transformation that affects everything — hormones, body image, relationships, feelings, money, career — even the answers to larger, existenti... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Kory Stamper
Author and lexicographer
Merriam-Webster
Episode: The Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It
IH. Godlove
Chief color scientist and editor
DuPont
Episode: The Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It
Margaret Godlove
Chemist and lab assistant in color standardization
DuPont
Episode: The Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It
David Brainard
Psychologist studying visual perception of color
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: The Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It
Cricket Matthews
Creative writer and synesthesia experiencer
Independent
Episode: The Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It
Nichole Currie
Producer and host contributor
WHYY
Episode: The Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It
Amanda Ripley
Journalist and author of The Unthinkable
Author, The Unthinkable
Episode: What It Takes to Survive a Disaster
John Geiger
Shipwreck hunter, journalist and CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Episode: What It Takes to Survive a Disaster
Ellen Cochrane
Writer and author of Follow the Water, The Unthinkable subject matter contributor
Author, Follow the Water
Episode: What It Takes to Survive a Disaster

Host

Maiken Scott
Host of the show, guiding narrative and interviews with a focus on science, health, and culture.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 376 ratings
  • Great stories, bad host

    There are lot of excellent stories but it’s very hard to listen to the host’s monotonous drone for 50 min straight. She saps the life out of every topic, no matter how fascinating.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    EnidaV
    Canada2 years ago
  • Illegally fired its talent and lost

    The Pluse and WHYY illegally fired one of their staff for having his own stand up show. Then they wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars of listener’s donated funds on lawyers to fight this. Well, WHYY and The Pulse lost! Amazingly disappointing that an NPR member station would spend its funds fighting its own employees union.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ted Post
    United States2 years ago
  • It really good

    Great podcast just not for me sorry 😕

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    goooi(gtgh
    Canada2 years ago
  • Gem

    Of all the podcasts I subscribe to (mostly public radio shows, but not exclusively), “The Pulse” is the one I find consistently interesting and worth hearing to the episode’s end. The subject matter is fresh, even unexpected at times, and well produced. The host, Maiken Scott, is easy to listen to. Other podcast producers, who seem to think just throwing a couple talkers before a microphone to improvise, would do well to study this one to see how it’s done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zelda1954
    United States3 years ago
  • Evolved in the wrong direction

    I started listening years ago, the topics are always interesting, showing things under various lights. It’s been almost a year that the quality has declined. Each story told to illustrate a topic drags on for 10-15 min before getting to the point, not bringing anything interesting to the table while doing so. Each episode has become a drag. Sad, as this show used to be so interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Slsf78
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners critique the pacing and host delivery, calling for tighter episode structure.
Listeners praise the show's breadth and storytelling quality, especially for science and health topics.
Many value the on-site reporting and diverse guest mix for depth and credibility.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#98
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#197
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#123
Singapore/Science
Apple Podcasts
#146
Norway/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Healing with Psychedelics: Veterans, PTSD, and the Science of Mind-Altering Drugs
Q: What is the potential of psychedelics to help veterans with PTSD?
Psychedelics may help by enabling patients to access and reframe traumatic memories in a guided setting, with integration and supportive relationships playing a critical role in lasting healing.
40 Years After Chernobyl: What Caused the Disaster — and How It Changed Nuclear Energy
Q: What was your first trip to Chernobyl and what did you see?
I visited the exclusion zone in 2006, during the 20th anniversary, and found a post-apocalyptic, snowbound landscape where nature was reclaiming the area, yet remnants of life and Soviet-era infrastructure remained in eerie juxtaposition.
So Many Cravings, So Few Rewards: Understanding How Dopamine Works
Q: Why do we keep scrolling and snacking even when it doesn't make us feel good?
Because our brains are wired to seek rewards through a separate wanting/motivation system that can be hijacked by ultrafast, bottomless stimuli; the reward itself may not satisfy, but the pursuit remains compelling.
When Love Becomes Caregiving: How Illness Changes Relationships
Q: How did caregiving affect intimacy and the romantic relationship?
Intimacy often dwindled or shifted into non-sexual roles; partners faced stigma, guilt, and renegotiated commitments, leading some to seek new understandings of connection while others struggled with the changes.
Will My Doctor Be a Bot? AI and the Future of Medicine
Q: Given how quickly the technology is improving and changing, what do you think we will see in the next couple of years that will become commonplace?
AI-enabled tools, like AI scribes that assist doctors, will become commonplace in health systems within the next two years.

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 The Pulse

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

The show explores science, health, and human behavior through carefully reported, narrative-driven episodes. It frequently pairs investigative journalism with expert insights, spotlighting topics like disaster psychology, motherhood and brain science, psychedelics in treatment, nuclear energy, dopamine and technology, and climate dynamics. Across episodes, memorable guests include researchers, policymakers, authors, and clinicians, while the host guides conversations with clear curiosity and a knack for translating complex science into accessible storytelling. Listeners can expect thoughtful, multi-perspective explorations that blend personal stories with rigorous research, often featuring on-site reporting and practical takeaways. A stando... more

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How many listeners does The Pulse get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Pulse?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Pulse:

1. Hidden Brain
2. Radiolab
3. Fresh Air
4. Throughline
5. Think from KERA

How many episodes of The Pulse are there?

The Pulse launched 12 years ago and published 200 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 Pulse?

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What guests have appeared on The Pulse?

Recent guests on The Pulse include:

1. Kory Stamper
2. IH. Godlove
3. Margaret Godlove
4. David Brainard
5. Cricket Matthews
6. Nichole Currie
7. Amanda Ripley
8. John Geiger

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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