The Pulse
WHYYGo 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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 216 | Founded | 13 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ScienceHealth & Fitness | |||
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Latest Episodes
A judge declared a mistrial in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy after jurors said they were deadlocked over whether she should be held criminally responsible for strangling her three children in January 2023: Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, who was... more
On this episode, a look back at our search for life on Mars. We hear about the Viking mission to Mars — the first to land a craft on the Red Planet — and the controversy over what it discovered, what drove a national obsession with the “Martian civil... more
Journalist Jon Ronson's new book starts with a series of panicked text messages from his son — who had been lured to a massive, gothic-looking castle in Connecticut. A female friend had been invited to a party by a wealthy older man from Tinder. But ... more
Sometimes, modern life can feel like an endless cacophony of distractions. We spend our days being inundated with noise and traffic, news and emails, obligations and hectic schedules. Many of us long to escape to nature or the wilderness — someplace ... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- 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 Podcasts4EnidaV
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 Podcasts1Ted Post
United States3 years ago - It really good
Great podcast just not for me sorry 😕
Apple Podcasts4goooi(gtghCanada3 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 Podcasts5Zelda1954United 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 Podcasts2Slsf78United States3 years ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #76 | United States/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #96 |  Japan/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #141 |  Ireland/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #191 |  South Africa/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #200 |  South Korea/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #212 |  Austria/Science |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Pulse
What is The Pulse about and what kind of topics does it cover?
The show explores a wide spectrum of science, health, and human stories through tightly produced, topic-driven episodes. It frequently blends personal narratives—survivor journeys, patient experiences, and everyday health challenges—with expert analysis from clinicians, researchers, and journalists. Notable strengths include its willingness to tackle controversial or complex topics (such as antidepressant tapering, pain management, and forensic science) and to connect cutting-edge research with practical implications for listeners. A distinctive trait is its ability to animate diverse angles—biomedical science, psychology, public health, history, and culture—while maintaining accessible storytelling and a clear throughline across mini-stori... more
Where can I find podcast stats for The Pulse?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Pulse. 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 The Pulse and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Pulse get?
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What are the audience demographics for The Pulse?
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How many subscribers and views does The Pulse have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Pulse 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 The Pulse?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Pulse:
1. Hidden Brain
2. Fresh Air
3. Short Wave
4. Science Friday
5. Think from KERA
How many episodes of The Pulse are there?
The Pulse launched 13 years ago and published 216 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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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Pulse?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Pulse 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.
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What guests have appeared on The Pulse?
Recent guests on The Pulse include:
1. Jon Ronson
2. Cal Flyn
3. Nate Hegyi
4. Christine Webb
5. Heather Browning
6. Xana Clay
7. Stephanie Poindexter
8. Melanie Kaplan
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.