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Each week we bring you a new, in-depth exploration of the space where science and society collide. We’re committed to the idea that making an effort to understand the world around you though science and critical thinking can benefit everyone—and lead to better decisions. We want to find out what’s true, what’s left to discover, and why it all matters.
Cadence is a podcast about music: how it affects your brain, your life, and the community in which you live. Join our host, cognitive neuroscientist and classically trained opera singer Indre Viskontas while we talk to scientists, musicians, musicologists, and composers to find answers to some of the biggest questions still surrounding the intersection of music and science. How much can we learn about the mind with music as the lens?
This is a show for curious parents to explore pathways to greater potential, both for themselves and their children. Each episode we'll explore topics with respected guests that relate to character development, creativity and well-being.
In today's up to date episode, Adam Bristol is back to highlight three scientific papers that have caught his eye lately. The first two are about our evolutionary history of life on this planet, filling in some of the holes in the fossil record, and making some unexpected discoveries along the way. The third paper has us looking at potential biosec…
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Inside the Race to the Coronavirus Vaccine with Brendan Borrell
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In early 2020, experts predicted the development of the COVID-19 vaccine would take 12 to 18 months. Fast forward to today and there are at least five vaccines approved by the World Health Organization. Joining Indre today is Brendan Borrell, a health scientist and business journalist who’s written for The Atlantic, National Geographic, Wired, and …
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Moving Your Way Through Cancer with Dr. Kathryn Schmitz
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The topic of cancer is one that has been addressed more than once before on Inquiring Minds, and today Indre visits it once again, this time looking at the impact that exercise can have on those undergoing cancer treatment. Joining her for this revelatory discussion is Dr. Kathryn Schmitz, whose many, many accomplishments include holding the positi…
Indre continues to pursue her fascination with the neural basis of consciousness in this week’s episode. In her never ending quest to understand how the biology of the brain gives rise to every experience we’ve ever had, ever will have, and everything in between, she has picked the brains of a number of experts in the field over the years. Today is…
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Updates from the Microscopic to the Astronomic
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It seems like it’s been a couple months since the last ‘up to date’ segment of the podcast, so Adam Bristol is back to share just what exactly has been on his mind lately. From genetically modified mosquitoes to NASA knocking asteroids off course, it turns out there’s quite a lot occupying his thoughts. Not to be outdone, Indre counters with some p…
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A Matter of Life, Death or Maybe Somewhere in Between with John and Lois Crowe
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If there’s one thing we can probably all agree on, it’s that water is a necessary component for life, right? Well, here to muddy up that argument is the adorable tardigrade which, it turns out, can survive extreme drying or dehydration, and can be revived by simply adding water. Much of what is known about these remarkable creatures comes courtesy …
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The Sound Mind with Neuroscientist Nina Kraus
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Nina Kraus, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist who has done groundbreaking research on sound and hearing for more than three decades. She's the Hugh Knowles Professor of Neurobiology, Communication Sciences, and Otolaryngology at Northwestern University, and she has been a frequent guest on Indre’s other podcast, Cadence: What Music Tells Us About the Mind…
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Managing Our Criminal Nature with Mary Roach
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Who among us hasn’t, at some point, wondered just what exactly a bear manager or a danger tree feller blaster does? Well, Mary Roach, America’s funniest science writer, TED 20 Most Watched list member, and increasingly frequent guest on this podcast has, and now she’s written a book for our collective enlightenment. In today’s episode, Mary discuss…
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Unwrapping the Gifts of Good Anxiety with Wendy Suzuki
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No one would be surprised to hear that anxiety has become a staple of modern life, particularly over the past year and a half, but what may surprise some is that anxiety is a necessary component in our lives that can be managed and kept at a level which actually optimizes our performance. On today’s podcast, Indre is joined by the legendary Dr. Wen…
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Science and True Crime With Author Sam Kean
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Indre welcomes back Sam Kean, the New York Times bestselling author of The Icepick Surgeon, The Bastard Brigade, Caesar's Last Breath, The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, and more. Sam has won many awards for his writing, and he's been featured on Radiolab, All Things Considered, and of course, Inquiring Minds. His own podcast, The Disappearing …
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Investigating The Memory Thief with Lauren Aguirre
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Of all the side effects of opioid use that exist, one that is only recently starting to get the attention it deserves is that of becoming amnestic. That doesn’t mean that this effect hasn’t been on the radar of some researchers over the years, though. As far back as 2016, Neurology Specialist, Dr. Jed Barash, brought some case studies to Indre’s at…
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How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes with Melinda Wenner Moyer
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One undeniable side effect of the pandemic is that a lot of parents have spent far more time than they ever expected with their kids, and more often than not were left questioning their own parenting decisions frequently along the way. Given that, Melinda Wenner Moyer’s new book, How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes, could not be more timely as it…
As Adam wisely notes, ‘Science forges ahead’, making it high time for another ‘up to date’ segment of Inquiring Minds where he and Indre examine some recent instances of science in the news that they find particularly interesting. From tutoring parrots to migratory bird seed spreaders to the sheer beauty of Adam’s kombucha-infused microbiome, you’r…
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Opening Up the World of Quarantine with Nicola Twilley
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In the summer of 2019 - long before the world heard of COVID - author, researcher extraordinaire, and ‘Gastropod’ co-host, Nicola Tilley and her husband and co-author, Geoff Manaugh, told a rapt audience, “You and everyone around you is going to be quarantined, is going to experience quarantine in your lifetimes.” They had just presented their exte…
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Building Up Your Mental Health Immunity with Andy Norman
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Among COVID-19’s many side effects are two that seem to be in direct conflict – on the one hand we’ve all become armchair epidemiologists, and on the other, conspiracy theories are at an all time high. In the common search for answers regarding the virus, some have put all their faith in the certainties of science while others are just as committed…
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Generating the Element of Harmonic Surprise with David Rosen
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Over the years, music producers have tried to predict what audiences want to hear while at the same time advances in science and technology have taught us a lot about what happens in the brain when we listen to music that we love. Now, David Rosen, CEO and Co-founder of Secret Chord Labs, has brought these two fields together to explore the potenti…
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Thinking about Thinking about Yourself with Iris Berent
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What are your thoughts regarding the relationship between the mind and the brain? For that matter, what are your thoughts? Iris Berent has definitely done some deep thinking on these questions, unearthing the stories we tell ourselves about what we know and who we are as well as the impact these stories can have. She shares her thoughts here today …
When was the last time you thought about geometry? Unless you're an architect or a kindergarten teacher, you probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about shapes. But mathematician Jordan Ellenberg wants to bring geometry back, and show us not just how shapes can measure the world, but how they can explain it. Support the show: https://www.patr…
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‘The Untapped Science of Less’ with Leidy Klotz
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Joining Indre on the podcast today is University of Virginia Professor, Leidy Klotz. A former professional soccer player, Leidy has gone on to pursue his interest in studying how we transform things from how they are to how we want them to be, and has written for a number of prominent publications including The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, …
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Mom Genes: Abigail Tucker on the Science of Motherhood
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We all know how babies are made, but science is only now exploring how mothers are. Abigail Tucker discusses her latest book, exploring the factors that shape the behaviors of mothers and other caregivers. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
Andy Weir, science fiction writer and author of The Martian, joins us to talk about his new book Project Hail Mary: A Novel. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Indre Viskontas
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The future artificial intelligence may lead to
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We talk to writer and technologist Gary Bengier about AI and his new science fiction novel Unfettered Journey. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Indre Viskontas
We talk to president and CEO of Lumina Foundation Jamie Merisotis about his new book Human Work in the Age of Smart Machines. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Indre Viskontas
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A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence
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We talk to neuroscientist and computer pioneer Jeff Hawkins about his new book A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Indre Viskontas
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Where did artificial intelligence come from?
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We talk to New York Times reporter and author Cade Metz about his new book Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/inquiringminds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Indre Viskontas
