Big Brains: All Episodes

Translating groundbreaking research into digestible brain food. Big Brains, little bites. Produced out at the University of Chicago. Winner of CASE "Grand Gold" award in 2022, Gold award in 2021, and named Adweek's "Best Branded Podcast" in 2020.

Big Brains podcst

Episode List

The Science of Conspiracy Theories and Political Polarization with Eric Oliver (Ep. 25)

A UChicago political science professor explains how the same force that drives conspiracy theories is intensifying political polarization in our country. 

A Modern Medical Miracle with Drs. Valluvan Jeevanandam and Talia Baker (Ep. 24)

A unbelievable coincidence pushes two transplant doctors to attempt a medical feat no one has ever attempted.

An Archaeological Riddle In the Sahara with Paul Sereno (Ep. 23)

A UChicago paleontologist puts aside dinosaur hunting when he discovers a never-before-seen ancient society.

Tiny Creatures, Big Discoveries with Nipam Patel (Ep. 22)

Developmental biologist Nipam Patel explains the importance of studying organisms and the research happening at the Marine Biological Laboratory.

The Hidden Dangers of Artificial Intelligence with Ben Zhao (Ep. 21)

A computer scientist at UChicago explains how artificial intelligence can break crucial systems and be broken itself.

Lessons From Our Country’s Largest School Closing with Eve L. Ewing (Ep. 20)

Eve Ewing explains how race, history and ‘institutional mourning’ intersect in the largest mass public school closing in U.S. history.

Simple Solutions to Address Social Issues with Harold Pollack (Ep. 19)

Prof. Harold Pollack promotes ‘evidence-based optimism’ to tackle our most complex social issues—from finances to crime to health care.

What We’re Getting Wrong About Millennials with Cathy Cohen (Ep.18)

A leading scholar on race and politics says some of our assumptions about millennials are all wrong.

What Ripples in Space-Time Tell Us About the Universe with Daniel Holz (Ep. 17)

UChicago cosmologist discusses discovery of gravitational waves and colliding black holes.

Rise of the White Power Movement with Kathleen Belew (Ep. 16)

Kathleen Belew traces the history of white supremacy, from Vietnam through the Oklahoma City bombing