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The Pulse

WHYY
Facebook
Mental Health
Social Media
Ultra-Processed Foods
Exercise
Privacy
Fitness Culture
Misinformation
Political Polarization
Attraction
Addiction
Lima Beans
Near-Death Experience
Terminal Lucidity
Awe
Neuroscience
Patient Advocacy
Community Support
Climate Change
Gene Therapy

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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes188Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for The Pulse

Latest Episodes

Over 60 million Americans — or one in four adults — currently serve as family caregivers for partners, parents, or other loved ones with illness or disability. But despite how common this experience is, it can often feel extremely isolating for the c... more

The signs are all there — the perfectly packed gym bag is collecting dust in your closet, the kitchen pantry has quietly been refilled with junk food, and your early morning alarms are losing their battle with the snooze button. The goals you set at ... more

When Alexander Graham Bell made the first-ever phone call on March 10, 1876, he never could have dreamed how the telephone would evolve — not to mention the many ways it would end up changing the way we live, work, and communicate.

This week, on the... more

Do animals feel love, anger, or empathy? Researchers have long dismissed such ideas as anthropomorphism, arguing that attributing human emotions to animals was unscientific.

But as we learn more about animal sentience, that’s starting to change — an... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Robert Wachter
Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
Episode: Will My Doctor Be a Bot? AI and the Future of Medicine
Frank Verstraete
Professor of quantum physics and co-author of a book on the subject.
University of Cambridge
Episode: Finding Your Match: The Science of Love and Attraction
Celine Broeckaert
A playwright and film producer who worked with Frank on a book about quantum physics.
Episode: Finding Your Match: The Science of Love and Attraction
Jenn Salib Huber
Registered dietitian and author of *Eat to Thrive During Menopause*
Episode: From Soy to Carbs: How Food can Ease Menopause Symptoms
Eric Zillmer
Psychologist and director of the Happiness Lab at Drexel University
Drexel University
Episode: Engineering Happiness into our Daily Lives
Matt Johnson
Neuroscientist at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: Engineering Happiness into our Daily Lives
Daniel Coyle
Author of 'Flourish, The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment' and a researcher on success and community
Episode: Engineering Happiness into our Daily Lives
Susannah Cahalan
Investigative reporter known for her book 'Brain on Fire' about her personal journey through mental illness and her investigation into the Rosenhan experiment.
Episode: Searching for the Truth — and Finding Unexpected Answers
Neil Shea
A contributing writer for National Geographic and author of Frostlines
National Geographic
Episode: Inside the Hidden Wonders of the Shrinking Arctic

Host

Maiken Scott
Award-winning host known for engaging storytelling and a deep understanding of health and science topics, drawing insights from experts in various fields.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 373 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 users express concerns over vocal delivery by hosts, which affects their overall listening experience, highlighting the importance of speaker dynamics.
Listeners appreciate the well-researched topics presented engagingly and find them informative, indicating a solid production quality.
Many listeners comment on the podcast's ability to draw connections between personal and larger societal issues, making it relatable and educational.
The diverse and sometimes unexpected topics keep audiences curious and invested, fostering a strong engagement with the series.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#182
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#224
New Zealand/Science
Apple Podcasts
#240
Colombia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Will My Doctor Be a Bot? AI and the Future of Medicine
Q: Where do you see some potential problems and issues?
We need to ensure a human is involved in the AI decision-making process, as humans are not good at remaining vigilant when trusting technology.
Will My Doctor Be a Bot? AI and the Future of Medicine
Q: What are some lessons that you think could be applied from implementing electronic health records?
We need to be skeptical and understand the tools can have unanticipated consequences, so we must test them thoroughly in our own environments before full implementation.
Revenge Feels Great — But the Cost is High
Q: How did your revenge-seeking behavior look like an addiction?
James described it as having fantastic feelings after revenge followed by short-lived satisfaction; he experienced compulsive behavior even though he knew it harmed himself and his loved ones.
Challenger at 40: How the Disaster Shaped the Future of NASA
Q: What changed at NASA in the wake of this tragedy?
One major change was that from that point on, an astronaut was always included in the final decision to launch, among other procedural updates that aimed to enhance safety.

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?

A weekly exploration into the intersection of health and science, providing listeners with fresh perspectives on complex topics. Episodes feature engaging discussions with experts ranging from medical professionals to researchers, covering diverse subjects such as animal emotions, the effects of alcohol, health disparities, and the role of AI in healthcare. Unique storytelling approaches, such as breaking down episodes into themed mini-stories, help to maintain listener interest while delivering valuable insights. The podcast is likely to appeal to those curious about scientific advancements and health issues that impact everyday life, both personally and worldwide.

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?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Pulse, 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 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. Science Friday
2. Throughline
3. Hidden Brain
4. Radiolab
5. On the Media

How many episodes of The Pulse are there?

The Pulse launched 12 years ago and published 188 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?

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 The Pulse?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Pulse from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Pulse?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Pulse. 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 The Pulse?

Recent guests on The Pulse include:

1. Robert Wachter
2. Frank Verstraete
3. Celine Broeckaert
4. Jenn Salib Huber
5. Eric Zillmer
6. Matt Johnson
7. Daniel Coyle
8. Susannah Cahalan

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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