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The Pulse

WHYY
Mental Health
Climate Change
Social Media
Neuroscience
Women's Health
Circadian Rhythms
Health
Sleep
Facebook
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes202Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Latest Episodes

On this episode, we explore the lingering effects of medical crises, both physical and emotional, and what true healing really means. We hear about one doctor’s journey to reconnecting with her body — and her pain — after nearly dying, what researche... more

We often talk about the biological and emotional transformation of motherhood, but what happens to men’s brains when they become fathers?

On this episode, host Maiken Scott chats with psychologist and researcher Darby Saxbe to explore her new book, ... more

Music can transport us to a different time and place — but how does that happen? We explore how music affects our brains — from its ability to tap into our memories and imaginations, to “musical daydreaming” and how it helps us understand both the wo... more

On this episode, we look at the intersection of health, medicine, and the law. We explore how the upcoming rescheduling of marijuana may impact research on the drug, hear the story of a doctor who faced manslaughter charges in the 1970s for providing... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Elizabeth Margulis
Music cognition researcher, directs the Music Cognition Lab at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: How Music Shapes Memory, Emotion, and Imagination
Daniel Levitin
Neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist, and musician; author of I Heard There Was a Secret Chord
Independent/research & writing
Episode: How Music Shapes Memory, Emotion, and Imagination
Britt Carpenter
Recovery advocate and executive director of Philly Unknown Project
Philly Unknown Project
Episode: When Healthcare Meets the Law: Abortion, Cannabis, and Corporate Medicine
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

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
    Canada3 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
#94
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#212
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#131
Ukraine/Science
Apple Podcasts
#196
Finland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#232
Hong Kong/Science
Apple Podcasts
#249
Poland/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Engineering Happiness into Our Daily Lives
Q: What are some things we can do to be happier, starting tomorrow?
Begin with self-care (sleep, physical activity), then strengthen cognitive and emotional health through positive thinking and cognitive behavioral strategies, and finally nurture relationships and presence to cultivate happiness daily.
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.

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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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. Radiolab
3. Throughline
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. On the Media

How many episodes of The Pulse are there?

The Pulse launched 13 years ago and published 202 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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What guests have appeared on The Pulse?

Recent guests on The Pulse include:

1. Elizabeth Margulis
2. Daniel Levitin
3. Britt Carpenter
4. Kory Stamper
5. IH. Godlove
6. Margaret Godlove
7. David Brainard
8. Cricket Matthews

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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