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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes168Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Latest Episodes

Ahead of Thanksgiving, we do a deep dive into what we actually know about diet, and what we should and shouldn’t be eating. We talk with a nutrition and metabolism scientist about recent diet trends and how they affect our health, hear from several c... more

How do our dreams connect to health, and how could “dream engineering” help people get over nightmares? Researcher Michelle Carr writes about that in her new book “Nightmare Obscura: A Dream Engineer's Guide Through the Sleeping Mind.” We talk with C... more

Chatbots don’t have feelings of their own, but they’ve been stirring plenty of emotions in us humans. On this episode, we explore how AI is making us feel, and what those feelings say about us. We hear about using ChatGPT for DIY therapy, what kinds ... more

On this Veterans Day episode, we explore the invisible wounds of war — and the different paths veterans take to heal them. We talk with a Marine Corps vet about how ceramics helped him reconnect with civilian life, a retired Navy SEAL about his exper... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Michelle Carr
Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Addiction at University of Montreal
University of Montreal
Episode: How to 'Engineer' Your Dreams and End Nightmares
Murray Carpenter
Journalist and author
Author of "Sweet and Deadly"
Episode: Coca-Cola and a Secret Research Operation Meant to Exonerate Sugar
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’

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
#158
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#44
South Korea/Science
Apple Podcasts
#180
Singapore/Science
Apple Podcasts
#183
Colombia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#212
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#216
Japan/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to 'Engineer' Your Dreams and End Nightmares
Q: If I want to learn how to lucid dream or how to dream lucidly, what should I do?
Techniques such as the reality check method, which involves questioning whether you're dreaming during the day, can help induce lucid dreams.
How to 'Engineer' Your Dreams and End Nightmares
Q: What have you learned about causes or potential causes for nightmares?
The main cause of nightmares is experiencing stress or adversity in life, often related to post-traumatic stress disorder.
How to 'Engineer' Your Dreams and End Nightmares
Q: What is dream engineering?
Dream engineering involves methods to influence the content of dreams, such as presenting sensory stimulation during sleep or using visualization techniques.
How Veterans Find Healing After War
Q: What helped you gain a better understanding of your past?
Going through psychedelic therapy allowed me to engage with aspects of my life that I had buried within me.
How Veterans Find Healing After War
Q: What did you do after the therapy helped you?
I reached out to friends that were struggling and said I think I found something that may work.

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. Fresh Air
2. Radiolab
3. Hidden Brain
4. On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
5. Throughline

How many episodes of The Pulse are there?

The Pulse launched 12 years ago and published 168 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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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. Michelle Carr
2. Murray Carpenter
3. Judith Orloff
4. Nicole Curry
5. Liz Tan
6. David Fajgenbaum
7. Marc Berman
8. Kim Frank

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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