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The Pulse

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes164Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for The Pulse

Latest Episodes

Coca-Cola is launching a cane sugar version of its classic soda in the U.S. after President Donald Trump urged a switch from high fructose corn syrup. The effort supports the administration's “Make America Healthy Again” initiative — but many experts... more

Ghosts seem far out of the realm of science. But small groups of investigators remain committed to proving — or disproving — the existence of paranormal phenomena. On this episode, we find out what motivates these investigators, and we’ll hear about ... more

If it feels like urgent care centers are everywhere these days — that’s because they are. Over the past decade, they’ve exploded in popularity, offering a quick and convenient alternative to long waits at the ER, and even longer waits to see your pri... more

What if treatments or even cures for devastating rare diseases already existed — and were just waiting to be discovered? On this podcast extra, we dive into the extraordinary journey of physician and researcher David Fajgenbaum, cofounder of Every Cu... 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

Judith Orloff
Psychiatrist and author with a background in paranormal studies
University of California, Los Angeles
Episode: Searching for Ghosts: The Quest to Prove the Paranormal
Nicole Curry
Researcher and reporter
Episode: Searching for Ghosts: The Quest to Prove the Paranormal
Liz Tan
Health and science reporter
Episode: Searching for Ghosts: The Quest to Prove the Paranormal
David Fajgenbaum
Physician and co-founder of Every Cure
Episode: How David Fajgenbaum Found His Own Treatment & Launched Every Cure
Marc Berman
Psychologist and director of the Environmental Neuroscience Lab at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: Finding Focus in the Age of Distraction
Kim Frank
Writer documenting her journey with elephants in India
Episode: The Search for the Golden Toad and Other Adventures in the Wild
Tracy Yukich Lane
Season 8 contestant on The Biggest Loser and featured in the documentary Fit for TV
Reality TV
Episode: Lessons on Weight Loss from ‘The Biggest Loser’
Kevin Hall
Nutrition and metabolism researcher, co-author of Food Intelligence
National Institutes of Health
Episode: Lessons on Weight Loss from ‘The Biggest Loser’
Bridgette Davis
Sister of Rita Davis who explores the impact of her death from lupus
Episode: Different Patients, Different Outcomes

Host

Maiken Scott
Host of a program focused on health and science, known for her engaging storytelling and ability to present complex topics in accessible ways.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 365 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
    Canadaa year 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 States2 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.

The podcast is often commended for its production quality and insightful discussions on health and science issues.
Some feedback indicates a desire for more concise storytelling without losing the depth of content.
Listeners love the variety of topics and personal narratives that make complex issues relatable.
There are concerns about the host's monotone delivery detracting from engaging content.
Listeners appreciate the quality of stories, with many describing them as interesting and worth hearing to the end.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#123
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#184
Israel/Science
Apple Podcasts
#209
Japan/Science
Apple Podcasts
#219
Taiwan/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Searching for Ghosts: The Quest to Prove the Paranormal
Q: What drives people to look for ghosts?
Many people in the paranormal investigation community are motivated by a desire to find evidence of life after death, often stemming from personal experiences or the loss of loved ones.
Finding Focus in the Age of Distraction
Q: If you really want to work on this issue of attention, and you want to take your findings into account, how do you start? What do you do?
First, notice the signs of directed attention fatigue and immerse yourself in an environment that activates involuntary attention while not placing demands on directed attention. Go for a walk in nature, or look at pictures of nature if that's not possible.
The Science and Beauty of Muscles
Q: Why should the medical community emphasize weightlifting?
Exercise, especially strength training, should be prescribed by doctors, as it has numerous physiological and mental health benefits that can aid recovery and general well-being.
The Science and Beauty of Muscles
Q: What are some of the misconceptions about strength training?
Historically, the belief was that building mass could damage mental or spiritual health, leading to the mythical notions about weights being dangerous or for certain body types.
The Science of Attraction and Dating
Q: Is immediate attraction a chemical reaction or an established pattern?
It's likely a combination of both, involving chemical catalysts and patterns formed by past experiences.

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?

Each episode offers an engaging exploration of intriguing health and science themes, presenting new and unexpected insights that resonate with listeners. Topics range from historical explorations of health-related phenomena, such as the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, to modern challenges faced by students and farm workers. Noteworthy narratives delve into personal experiences, shedding light on broader societal issues like productivity redefined, the effects of shame on health, and the evolving understanding of friendships in maintaining well-being. Unique storytelling techniques, including personal anecdotes intertwined with expert insights, create an immersive experience that captivates audiences while delivering valuable knowledge.

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. Hidden Brain
2. KERA's Think
3. Radiolab
4. Fresh Air
5. This American Life

How many episodes of The Pulse are there?

The Pulse launched 12 years ago and published 164 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. Judith Orloff
2. Nicole Curry
3. Liz Tan
4. David Fajgenbaum
5. Marc Berman
6. Kim Frank
7. Tracy Yukich Lane
8. Kevin Hall

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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