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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
Terminal Lucidity
Near-Death Experience
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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes193Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Latest Episodes

Politicians are eyeing Greenland as an important strategic location, perfectly situated between Europe and North America. President Donald Trump has said he remains highly interested in acquiring or controlling Greenland as a national security and ec... more

Have you ever looked in the toilet bowl and wondered, ‘Is that normal?’ Well, you’re not alone — and according to neurogastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha, it’s time to talk about poop. 

Pasricha says understanding what’s normal about your bowel move... more

We often think of perfectionism as a virtue; a kind of shorthand for high standards, a solid work ethic, and attention to detail.

But in reality, perfectionism can be a paralyzing force — like sand wedged in the gears of our minds. It slows us down,... more

From Kevlar to windshield wipers, pulsars to dark matter and radioactivity, women are responsible for countless scientific discoveries and inventions that changed the world — and yet, many of them remain overlooked, forgotten, or ignored.

On this ep... 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

Trisha Pasricha
Neuro-gastroenterologist, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Episode: Why We Need to Talk About Poop
Gordon Flett
Professor emeritus, Psychology, York University
York University
Episode: The Problem with Being Perfect: How Unrealistic Standards Hurt Our Minds and Bodies
Jennifer Wallace
Journalist and author
The Mattering Movement (co-founder)
Episode: The Problem with Being Perfect: How Unrealistic Standards Hurt Our Minds and Bodies
Gitanjali Trevorrow-Seymour
Consultant and executive coach
High Definition U
Episode: The Problem with Being Perfect: How Unrealistic Standards Hurt Our Minds and Bodies
Joshua Roman
Cellist
Cellist, Washington state/Seattle Symphony
Episode: The Problem with Being Perfect: How Unrealistic Standards Hurt Our Minds and Bodies
Katie Hafner
Journalist and host of Lost Women of Science, Layers of Brilliance
Lost Women of Science, Layers of Brilliance
Episode: Unearthing the Hidden Stories of Women Scientists
Shohini Ghose
Quantum physicist and author of Her Space, Her Time
Wilfrid Laurier University; Author
Episode: Unearthing the Hidden Stories of Women Scientists
Lynn (Vincent Schaefer)
Katharine Blodgett's coworker and fellow GE researcher
General Electric
Episode: Unearthing the Hidden Stories of Women Scientists
Laura Mauldin
Sociologist; author of In Sickness and in Health, Love Stories from the Frontlines of America's Caregiving Crisis
University of Connecticut; author
Episode: When Love Becomes Caregiving: How Illness Changes Relationships

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 374 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
#133
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#172
Saudi Arabia/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
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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?

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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. Hidden Brain
3. Think from KERA
4. Radiolab
5. TED Radio Hour

How many episodes of The Pulse are there?

The Pulse launched 12 years ago and published 193 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. Trisha Pasricha
2. Gordon Flett
3. Jennifer Wallace
4. Gitanjali Trevorrow-Seymour
5. Joshua Roman
6. Katie Hafner
7. Shohini Ghose
8. Lynn (Vincent Schaefer)

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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