Big Brains: All Episodes

Translating groundbreaking research into digestible brain food. Produced out at the University of Chicago. Honored by CASE for the past four years as the best podcast in higher ed; winner of the PRNEWS's Platinum Award, Communicators Award and Adweek's "best branded podcast." 

Big Brains podcst

Episode List

Can we predict the unpredictable? with J. Doyne Farmer (Ep. 147)

Using complexity economics and chaos theory, scholar leverages big data to forecast everything from the stock market to roulette

Unlocking the Secrets of ‘SuperAgers,’ with Emily Rogalski (Ep. 146)

Neurologist explains why some 80-year-olds with exceptional memories are defying aging

Nobel laureate explains what makes countries fail or succeed, with James A. Robinson (Ep. 145)

Economist examines global inequality and what drives prosperity and poverty

Why can’t scientists agree on the age of the universe? with Wendy Freedman (Ep. 144)

A renowned cosmologist explains conflicting research around the Hubble constant and the Standard Model of physics

What are we getting wrong about young voters?, with Cathy Cohen (Ep. 143)

GenForward survey examines Gen Z’s and millennials’ views on the issues, candidates in the 2024 election

Why are more women saying no to having kids?, with Peggy O'Donnell Heffington (Ep. 142)

Book examines the complicated history of motherhood and choosing to be childfree

How homeownership shaped race in America, with Adrienne Brown (Ep. 141)

Book goes beyond the history of discriminatory practices to show how homeownership changed our perceptions of race

Fighting back against AI piracy, with Ben Zhao and Heather Zheng (Ep. 140)

Creators of Glaze and Nightshade copyright protection tools are helping artists fight back against generative AI

Feeling stuck? Here’s how to achieve a breakthrough, with Adam Alter (Ep. 139)

Scholar shares research on the tools to help overcome difficulties—from a job to a relationship

What makes something memorable (or forgettable?) with Wilma Bainbridge (Ep. 138)

Psychologist discusses the Mandela effect and a new AI tool to predict what we remember—from art to people’s faces