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

Providing basic health insurance for every American, with Katherine Baicker (Ep. 114)

Economist proposes redesign of U.S. system to create universal coverage in an affordable way

The hidden truths about sexuality and gender in the medieval world, with Roland Betancourt (Ep. 113)

Scholar of Byzantine era uncovers the lost history about queer and trans lives in the Middle Ages

How bioelectricity could regrow limbs and organs, with Michael Levin (Ep. 112)

Biologist’s innovative research on how cells rebuild themselves could be the future of regenerative medicine

A Nobelist’s controversial approach to solving inequality, with James Heckman (Ep. 111)

Economist examines how investments in early childhood help kids flourish

How the food industry created today’s obesity crisis, with Marion Nestle (Ep. 110)

Scholar and critic discusses how politics in food and processed foods is impacting our health

Why your gut health is so important, with Cathryn Nagler and Eric Pamer (Ep. 109)

Scientists discuss what we now know about building your microbiome, food allergies and probiotics

Why Mourning Is Essential to Our Well-Being, with Jonathan Lear (Ep. 108)

Philosopher discusses how mourning helps us find meaning

The overlooked history of Black cinema, with Jacqueline Stewart (Ep. 84)

Academy Museum’s artistic leader examines how films help contextualize Black history

The scientific secret to a happy life, with Marc Schulz (Ep. 107)

‘The Good Life’ co-author discusses the world’s longest study on happiness

Unraveling sleep’s greatest mysteries: The Day Tomorrow Began (Ep. 106)

Explore how UChicago pioneered research on sleep and its effects on the body—and the questions still puzzling scientists