Whimsical Wavelengths - A Science Podcast
Volcanologist & Geophysicist: Jeffrey Mark Zurek, PhD, PGeo | Science CommunicatorWinner of the 2026 Science Podcast of the Year (American Writing Awards) and the 2026 PopCon Podcast Award for Science and Technology, Whimsical Wavelengths is a science podcast hosted by volcanologist Dr. Jeffrey Zurek dedicated to the "how" and "why" of discovery.
Eschewing the trend of bite-sized science, the show offers a deep, honest look at how science actually works, focusing on messy data,... more
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 45 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ScienceEarth SciencesNatural Sciences | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Kilauea is one of the world's most studied volcanoes, but its deep plumbing still holds mysteries. In this episode, we dive into a "bottoms-up" view of Hawaii’s magmatic system with Gaetano Ferrante, exploring how pressure changes in the deep mantle ... more
We treat modern medicine as a given, but for centuries, humanity was blind to the invisible agents of disease. In this solo episode, Dr. Jeff Zurek takes off his volcanologist hat to tackle a listener request.
We start with the 14th-century Black De... more
For decades, the "field" has been treated as a character-building barrier in geosciences—a place for the rugged and the able-bodied. But what happens when we view the outdoors as a classroom rather than an obstacle? In S2EP16, Jeff Zurek welcomes Bre... more
What if Alien wasn't science fiction, but a documentary? 2026 Science Podcast of the Year winner Dr. Jeffrey Zurek sits down with Dr. Rebecca Millena (University of Rochester) to explore Strepsiptera, an enigmatic & bizarre insect order.
We untangle... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
- Fun, Educational, and Covers Many Bases
Smart, genuinely fun science podcast hosted by Dr. Jeff Zurek. It goes beyond headlines and gets into peer-reviewed research and the people behind it - which is the part I like best. There's a good mix of interviews, science history, and a few genuinely bad dad jokes peppered in. If you like learning how science actually gets figured out by the people who do the figuring, without it feeling like a lecture, this one’s worth subscribing to.
Apple Podcasts5GummysMomma
United States4 months ago - Family-friendly, science storytelling
We initially checked out this podcast while looking for a new family podcast to listen to and spark discussion while in the car for long commutes and roadtrips. It does work great for that - especially the more “historical” episodes.
But my middle schooler found the episodes so engaging and accessible that he asked to listen in his free time instead of waiting for the next long car ride. Not exactly my goal, but you can’t complain about an educational show your tween actually wants to enjoy!
Apple Podcasts5MsContinentJumperUnited States4 months ago - So entertaining!
This is one of those podcasts that I am so grateful I stumbled across. It’s full of the things I’ve always wondered about broken down in a way I can understand them AND make me laugh at the same time I’m learning about them. You will not regret adding this show to your playlist!
Apple Podcasts5Lynny2525United States4 months ago - Whimsical Wavelengths is hands-down my favorite science podcast right now!
Dr. Jeffrey Zurek has the perfect balance of real, cutting-edge research (often with the actual scientists who wrote the papers) and hilarious dad jokes that had me laughing out loud while learning about everything from pterosaurs to ice cream chemistry. It’s smart, entertaining, and never feels stuffy. New episodes every two weeks are always worth the wait. Highly recommend for anyone curious about science!
Apple Podcasts5Kayla HeitzUnited States5 months ago - Jeff jeff jeff
My old friend (i meant his age :p ) one of the kindest souls I know is finally doing what he’s always dreamed of, what he’s always been so passionate about. Every part of this podcast feels alive: thoughtful, engaging, and rich with science, all wrapped in Jeff’s signature humour and contagious excitement. I couldn’t be prouder, and I couldn’t enjoy it more.
Apple Podcasts5never gonna use it
Canada8 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #40 | Canada/Science/Earth Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #122 |  United Kingdom/Science/Earth Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #64 |  Germany/Science/Earth Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #92 |  Italy/Science/Earth Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #121 |  Australia/Science/Earth Sciences |
Apple Podcasts | #88 |  Belgium/Science/Earth Sciences |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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 Whimsical Wavelengths
What is Whimsical Wavelengths about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Listeners are drawn to deep-dix science storytelling that balances rigorous, peer-informed content with human elements and accessible humor. Episodes span volcanology, geophysics, planetary science, science history, and inclusive research culture, often featuring guests who bring hands-on fieldwork, data-driven methods, and museum or outreach perspectives. The show distinguishes itself by foregrounding the process of discovery—uncertainty, messy data, and evolving models—while maintaining engaging narratives and practical takeaways for listeners who want to understand how science actually happens and who makes it happen. The discipline-spanning guests and strong emphasis on field experience and mentorship likely attract early-to-mid career ... more
Where can I find podcast stats for Whimsical Wavelengths?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Whimsical Wavelengths. 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 Whimsical Wavelengths and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Whimsical Wavelengths get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Whimsical Wavelengths, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for Whimsical Wavelengths?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Whimsical Wavelengths, 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 Whimsical Wavelengths have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Whimsical Wavelengths 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 Whimsical Wavelengths?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Whimsical Wavelengths:
How many episodes of Whimsical Wavelengths are there?
Whimsical Wavelengths launched 2 years ago and published 45 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 Whimsical Wavelengths?
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 Whimsical Wavelengths?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Whimsical Wavelengths from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Whimsical Wavelengths?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Whimsical Wavelengths. 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 Whimsical Wavelengths?
Recent guests on Whimsical Wavelengths include:
1. Gaetano Ferranta
2. Brett Gilley
3. Rebecca Jean Millena
4. Andy Fisher
5. Frederick Jackson
6. Caitlin Ahrens
7. Veronica Woodruff
8. Glynn Williams-Jones
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.