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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes196Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Latest Episodes

How do you sum up the experience of motherhood, and all of the changes it brings, both big and small? It’s a transformation that affects everything — hormones, body image, relationships, feelings, money, career — even the answers to larger, existenti... more

For decades, psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA were regarded as dangerous drugs of abuse — but that’s started changing as research increasingly reveals their ability to help treat serious mental health issues. On this episode, we listen bac... more

Forty years ago, news was only beginning to emerge that an accident had occurred — one that could put millions of people at risk. A reactor at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, then part of the Soviet Union, had exploded, releasing a plume of radioactiv... more

Science writer Michaeleen Doucleff was sitting on a beautiful beach with her daughter, but she couldn’t relax. She kept reaching for her phone, checking it over and over. She was frustrated but couldn’t stop. Why was she doing this? In her new book, ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Marcus Capone
Former Navy SEAL, cofounder of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)
Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)
Episode: Healing with Psychedelics: Veterans, PTSD, and the Science of Mind-Altering Drugs
Amber Capone
Marcus Capone's spouse and collaborator in advocacy
Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)
Episode: Healing with Psychedelics: Veterans, PTSD, and the Science of Mind-Altering Drugs
Joanna Kempner
Sociologist researching health, stigma, and access; author
Rutgers University
Episode: Healing with Psychedelics: Veterans, PTSD, and the Science of Mind-Altering Drugs
Adam Higginbotham
Journalist, author of Midnight in Chernobyl
Author, Midnight in Chernobyl
Episode: 40 Years After Chernobyl: What Caused the Disaster — and How It Changed Nuclear Energy
Dave Marcheski
Community Relations Manager at Constellation Energy (tour guide for Three Mile Island segment)
Constellation Energy
Episode: 40 Years After Chernobyl: What Caused the Disaster — and How It Changed Nuclear Energy
Tim Judson
Executive Director, Nuclear Information and Resource Service
NIRS
Episode: 40 Years After Chernobyl: What Caused the Disaster — and How It Changed Nuclear Energy
Eric Epstein
Nuclear safety advocate; founder of Three Mile Island Alert
Three Mile Island Alert
Episode: 40 Years After Chernobyl: What Caused the Disaster — and How It Changed Nuclear Energy
Jessica Lovering
Policy researcher and climate/energy expert
Carnegie Clean Energy? (context suggests her profile)
Episode: 40 Years After Chernobyl: What Caused the Disaster — and How It Changed Nuclear Energy
Alan Yu
Journalist for NPR/Associated with NPR coverage
NPR
Episode: 40 Years After Chernobyl: What Caused the Disaster — and How It Changed Nuclear Energy

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 375 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
#155
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#230
Italy/Science
Apple Podcasts
#46
Chile/Science
Apple Podcasts
#115
South Africa/Science
Apple Podcasts
#142
Finland/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Location
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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?

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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. Fresh Air
2. Short Wave
3. Think from KERA
4. Hidden Brain
5. Throughline

How many episodes of The Pulse are there?

The Pulse launched 12 years ago and published 196 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?

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What guests have appeared on The Pulse?

Recent guests on The Pulse include:

1. Marcus Capone
2. Amber Capone
3. Joanna Kempner
4. Adam Higginbotham
5. Dave Marcheski
6. Tim Judson
7. Eric Epstein
8. Jessica Lovering

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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