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Wonder Cabinet is an independent podcast from Anne Strainchamps and Steve Paulson, Peabody Award-winning creators of public radio's To The Best Of Our Knowledge. For 35 years, that show brought long-form conversations to 200+ stations nationwide; its interviews are now archived in the Library of Congress.

Episodes feature intimate, long-form conversations with scientists, philosophers, writers, a... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes708Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Wonder Cabinet

Latest Episodes

Can capitalism save the world it's destroying?

Rebecca Henderson thinks so. An economist at Harvard Business School and author of Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, she has advised some of the world's biggest corporations and argues that cap... more

T-Rex. Brontosaurus. Diplodocus. Just the names conjure something enormous — a sense of scale that dwarfs human history. Standing before dinosaur tracks in the Utah desert, or gazing up at a towering skeleton in a natural history museum, you feel it:... more

What if nature isn’t just alive—but divine? Pantheism, once branded heresy, is finding new adherents among those who don’t consider themselves religious but still sense something sacred and wondrous in the living world.

Mary-Jane Rubenstein, a schol... more

Imagine growing up believing that at the heart of existence is a Primordial Mother—and that She is the Earth.

For Dekila Chungyalpa, that idea is not metaphor. It’s inheritance.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the feminine divine appears as Prajnaparamita, or... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
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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

Caroline Winterer
Stanford historian
Stanford University
Episode: Caroline Winterer: Dinosaurs, Deep Time and the American Soul
Mary Jane Rubenstein
Philosophy and religion professor at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Episode: Mary-Jane Rubenstein: Pantheism and the Godness of Nature
Dekila Chungyalpa
Environmental scientist and conservationist; founder of the LOKA Initiative
Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Episode: Dekila Chungyalpa on the Sacred Feminine and the Living Earth
Manvir Singh
Anthropologist, UC Davis; contributor to The New Yorker
UC Davis; The New Yorker
Episode: Manvir Singh: Was Shamanism the First Religion?
David George Haskell
Biologist and author of How Flowers Made Our World; explores contemplative natural observation
Author and biologist
Episode: David George Haskell: Flowers and the Revolutionary Power of Beauty
Robert Macfarlane
Nature writer and explorer
Cambridge, England-based writer
Episode: Robert Macfarlane: The Soul of Rivers and the Rights of Nature
Renee Bergland
Emily Dickinson scholar and author of Natural Magic
Simmons University
Episode: Renee Bergland: The Enchanted Science of Emily Dickinson and Charles Darwin
George Saunders
Author and writer known for exploring existential themes.
Episode: George Saunders: Angels, Ghosts and the Moral Imagination
Rebecca Solnit
Writer and activist involved in environmental and human rights issues for over three decades.
Episode: Rebecca Solnit: Hope After the End

Hosts

Anne Strainchamps
Co-founder of To The Best Of Our Knowledge, host and producer, known for her thoughtful questions and deep engagement with guests on varied themes.
Steve Paulson
Co-founder of To The Best Of Our Knowledge, host of Luminous, and a prominent figure in discussing science and philosophy, particularly related to psychedelics.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Faaaaantastic!

    Wonderfully produced, incredibly interesting, always engaging, easy to access, stimulating…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gr2323
    United Statesa month ago
  • Medicine for the Heart!

    First time listening to this podcast, and the interview with David George Haskell was absolutely brilliant. Grateful for those who point us to more beauty and possibility amidst the sensation of chaos and darkness. Keep expanding my awareness so more can be included in this moment. Blessings for a successful endeavor. The world needs this medicine for the heart!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sil_mindful
    United Statesa month ago
  • My new favorite!

    What a delight. Stimulating, hopeful, inspiring!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eve in France
    United States2 months ago
  • Thoughtful, human and necessary

    Gratitude for this deep, serious and joyful set of conversations that share ideas, history and feeling to create community and a path forward.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kras2861
    United States2 months ago
  • Thank goodness

    Oh my goodness! What a wonderful surprise. I am so glad you’re back—I felt your absence!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lrkpotter
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the intellectual depth and unique perspectives offered, often highlighting the long-term impact the conversations have on their thinking.
The podcast is recognized for its high-quality production and commitment to exploring profound and sometimes challenging topics, creating a space for personal reflection.
Criticism includes occasional dissatisfaction with the heavy production elements, with some preferring a more straightforward format for the discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dekila Chungyalpa on the Sacred Feminine and the Living Earth
Q: What did you learn about working with Christian and evangelical communities, and how did that shape your approach to bridging science and religion?
She describes initial distrust from evangelical communities toward scientists, the importance of trust, and finding meeting points where disaster response and climate concerns align with faith-driven compassion, ultimately highlighting the value of respectful dialogue and shared goals.
Dekila Chungyalpa on the Sacred Feminine and the Living Earth
Q: Thank you. I'm talking with Dekila Chungyalpa, and I want to pick up her story with her experience of working in conservation science, which ultimately led her to found the LOKA Initiative. How did that path unfold?
Dekila explains the split between being a scientist by day and a practicing Buddhist by night, the challenge of integrating faith into science, and how personal burnout and climate anxiety pushed her toward faith-based collaboration, culminating in the LOKA Initiative to unite faith leaders and scientists for climate action.
Caroline Winterer: Dinosaurs, Deep Time and the American Soul
Q: Why did dinosaurs become part of our national identity in the United States?
Dinosaurs and deep time offered a way for Americans to imagine a history that predates European civilization, which in turn helped construct a sense of American distinctiveness, progress, and power, while also being co-opted to justify policies like westward expansion and the removal of Native peoples.
Renee Bergland: The Enchanted Science of Emily Dickinson and Charles Darwin
Q: What do you love about Darwin's writing?
Darwin writes beautiful sentences, combining simplicity with profound meaning, making his work accessible and resonant.
Renee Bergland: The Enchanted Science of Emily Dickinson and Charles Darwin
Q: What was it like at the Emily Dickinson Museum's studio sessions?
It was haunting and emotional, allowing the writer to connect deeply with Dickenson's creative space.

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 Wonder Cabinet

What is Wonder Cabinet about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast aims to explore the intricate and fascinating relationship between humanity and the natural world through deep, intimate conversations. Featuring a diverse array of guests including scientists, philosophers, writers, and artists, it seeks to challenge conventional understandings and embrace a more holistic approach to knowledge. Topics discussed range from quantum physics and black holes to ecological storytelling and the cultural significance of food, highlighting the interconnectedness of all life forms. The emphasis on wonder and curiosity reflects a commitment to reviving older ways of knowing and understanding reality, much in the spirit of historical cabinets of curiosities, while also addressing contemporary shifts in pe... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Wonder Cabinet?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Wonder Cabinet. 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 Wonder Cabinet and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Wonder Cabinet get?

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What are the audience demographics for Wonder Cabinet?

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How many subscribers and views does Wonder Cabinet have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Wonder Cabinet 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 Wonder Cabinet?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Wonder Cabinet:

1. Radiolab
2. Fresh Air
3. Science Friday
4. On the Media
5. This American Life

How many episodes of Wonder Cabinet are there?

Wonder Cabinet launched 14 years ago and published 708 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 Wonder Cabinet?

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 Wonder Cabinet?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Wonder Cabinet from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Wonder Cabinet?

Recent guests on Wonder Cabinet include:

1. Caroline Winterer
2. Mary Jane Rubenstein
3. Dekila Chungyalpa
4. Manvir Singh
5. David George Haskell
6. Robert Macfarlane
7. Renee Bergland
8. George Saunders

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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