Hidden Brain
by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
Is this your podcast?Shankar Vedantam is a seasoned science journalist and the host of Hidden Brain, a highly acclaimed podcast known for its exploration of the human mind and behavior. With a focus on how psychological insights can improve everyday life, Vedan…
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
- psychology and mental health
- creativity and problem solving
Podcast Focus
- understanding the human mind
- exploring social behaviors
Publishing Consistency
- 10 years active
- weekly episode cadence
Platform Reach
- available on major podcast platforms
- widely distributed in the US
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 31 chart positions in 31 markets.
By chart position
- 🇺🇸US · Science#11M to 3M
- 🇨🇦CA · Social Sciences#11M to 3M
- 🇦🇺AU · Social Sciences#11M to 3M
- 🇩🇪DE · Social Sciences#21M to 3M
- 🇰🇷KR · Social Sciences#1300K to 800K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
2.2M to 6.5M🎙 Daily cadence·604 episodes·Last published yesterday - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
7.3M to 22M🇺🇸14%🇨🇦14%🇦🇺14%+28 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
2.2M to 6.5M1.9M real followers tracked across platforms
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 21 epsHosts
Recent guests
Recent episodes
You Are Not Ordinary
Jul 27, 2026
Unknown duration
How to Combat Pain
Jul 20, 2026
50m 24s
Changing Our Mental Maps
Jul 13, 2026
1h 34m 01s
Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 2
Jul 6, 2026
1h 33m 08s
Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1
Jun 29, 2026
50m 05s
Social Links & Contact
Official channels & resources
Official Website
Login
RSS Feed
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/27/26 |  You Are Not Ordinary | Stories about unlikely heroes have captivated people for thousands of years. This week, social scientist Ben Rogers explores why the "hero's journey" resonates so deeply, and how the stories we tell about our own lives can shape our sense of purpose. He explains why seeing ourselves as the protagonists of our own stories may help us face challenges with greater confidence. Then, on Your Questions Answered, psychologist Jay Van Bavel returns to respond to your comments and questions about group identities. | — | ||||||
| 7/20/26 | painpsychology+3 | Rachel Zoffness | Hidden Brain | — | painpsychology+4 | — | 50m 24s | ||
| 7/13/26 | mental mapspsychology+4 | Norman Farb | Hidden Brain | — | mental mapspsychology+5 | — | 1h 34m 01s | ||
| 7/6/26 | spiritualitypsychology+3 | Lisa Miller | — | — | spiritual brainpsychology+5 | — | 1h 33m 08s | ||
| 6/29/26 | spiritualitytranscendence+3 | Lisa Miller | — | — | spiritual brainpsychology+3 | — | 50m 05s | ||
| 6/22/26 | negativity biaspsychology+3 | Alison LedgerwoodDavid Pizarro | Hidden Brain | — | negativity biaspsychology+5 | — | 1h 28m 44s | ||
| 6/15/26 | kindnesspsychology+3 | Amit Kumar | Hidden Brain | — | kindnesspsychology+3 | — | 1h 27m 43s | ||
| 6/8/26 | identityself-perception+3 | Eric OliverScott Barry Kaufman | Hidden Brain | — | identityself+5 | — | 1h 37m 28s | ||
| 6/1/26 | creativitypsychology+3 | Ap Dijksterhuis | — | — | creativityinspiration+3 | — | 52m 47s | ||
| 5/25/26 | cultureanthropology+3 | Joseph Henrich | Hidden BrainShankar Vedantam | — | cultureanthropology+3 | — | 51m 51s | ||
Want analysis for the episodes below?Free for Pro Submit a request, we'll have your selected episodes analyzed within an hour. Free, at no cost to you, for Pro users. | |||||||||
| 5/18/26 | empathypsychology+3 | Jamil ZakiLeslie John | Hidden Brain | — | empathypsychologist+5 | — | 1h 28m 39s | ||
| 5/11/26 | The Cowboy Philosopher | In 2009, an old man died in a California nursing home. His obituary included not just his given name, but a long list of the pseudonyms he’d been known to use. In this classic 2019 episode, we trace the life of Riley Shepard, a hillbilly musician, writer, small-time con man and, perhaps, a genius. Then, on Your Questions Answered, psychologist Leslie John returns to answer your questions about when to share a secret, and when to keep it to yourself. | — | ||||||
| 5/4/26 | radical acceptancebehavioral science+3 | Dave EvansSarah Schnitker | — | — | acceptancebehavioral science+3 | — | 1h 30m 05s | ||
| 4/27/26 | design thinkingmeaning in life+3 | Dave Evans | Hidden Brain | — | meaningimpact+3 | — | 51m 06s | ||
| 4/20/26 | loverelationships+3 | Sonja LyubomirskyGreg Walton | — | — | lovefeeling loved+3 | — | 1h 33m 11s | ||
| 4/13/26 | political changenonviolence+3 | Erica ChenowethRanjay Gulati | — | — | powerviolence+5 | — | 1h 30m 33s | ||
| 4/6/26 | psychology of moneyfinancial decisions+4 | John DinsmoreBobby Parmar | — | — | financial decisionspsychology+4 | — | 1h 40m 26s | ||
| 3/30/26 | lyingtruth+3 | Emma Levine | Hidden Brain | — | lietruth+5 | — | 51m 48s | ||
| 3/23/26 | group identitypsychology+3 | Jay Van BavelColtan Scrivner | Hidden BrainShankar Vedantam | — | group thinkpsychology+3 | — | 1h 27m 56s | ||
| 3/16/26 | depressionpsychology+3 | Jonathan Rottenberg | — | — | depressionlow mood+3 | — | 53m 07s | ||
| 3/9/26 | disgustpsychology+3 | David Pizarro | — | — | disgustemotion+5 | — | 1h 37m 18s | ||
| 3/2/26 | charismaleadership+3 | Molly WorthenAntonio Pascual-Leone | — | — | charismaleadership+5 | — | 1h 34m 16s | ||
| 2/23/26 | lonelinessdepression+3 | Gordon FlettMarc Berman | Hidden Brain | — | invisibilityloneliness+4 | — | 1h 27m 47s | ||
| 2/16/26 | Why You're Smarter Than You Think | From the time we're schoolchildren, we're ranked and sorted based on how smart we are. But what if our assumptions about intelligence limit our potential? This week, we revisit a favorite 2022 conversation with cognitive scientist Scott Barry Kaufman, who proposes a more expansive notion of what it means to be "smart." Then, in the latest installment of Your Questions Answered, psychologist James Cordova answers listener questions on accepting our romantic partners as they are. | — | ||||||
| 2/9/26 | Coming Clean | Last week, we talked with psychologist Leslie John about the costs of keeping secrets. Today, Leslie returns with a look at the psychological power of self-disclosure. She says the moments of oversharing that we often consider "TMI" can actually strengthen our relationships. Then, in the second half of the show, listeners share their thoughts and questions about the expectations we put on modern marriages. Psychologist Eli Finkel returns for the latest installment of our series "Your Questions Answered." | — | ||||||
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Distribution & Reach
About the show, platforms, and key insights.
Distribution & Reach
About the show, platforms, and key insights.
Shankar Vedantam is a seasoned science journalist and the host of Hidden Brain, a highly acclaimed podcast known for its exploration of the human mind and behavior. With a focus on how psychological insights can improve everyday life, Vedantam brings a rich background in journalism and storytelling to the table, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience. Hidden Brain stands out for its engaging format that combines storytelling with scientific research, addressing questions about creativity, relationships, and personal growth. The podcast delves into various topics within the realms of science, social interactions, and the arts, making it a valuable resource for listeners seeking to better understand themselves and the motivations of others. The audience of Hidden Brain consists of individuals interested in psychology and personal development, including those looking to enhance their creativity and relationships. With over 250,000 listeners, the podcast provides valuable insights and actionable advice, making it a go-to source for anyone seeking to navigate the complexities of human behavior and thought.
By the numbers
- Total followers: 1.9M
- Total plays: 213M
- Total reviews: 42K
Platforms
TuneIn
- Followers: 100K
Castbox
- Followers: 1.1M
- Plays: 20M
- Reviews: 1.3K
YouTube
- Subscribers: 610K
- Views: 194M
- Videos: 2.6K
Podcast App
- Followers: 44K
- Reviews: 41K
Find them online
Audience
professionals
Key insights
What the show covers
- understanding the human mind
- exploring social behaviors
- addressing personal challenges
- science-based storytelling
Audience interests
- psychology and mental health
- creativity and problem solving
- relationships and social dynamics
- science and research insights
Platform reach
- available on major podcast platforms
- widely distributed in the US
- growing global audience
- no specific platforms detected
Publishing consistency
- 10 years active
- weekly episode cadence
- over 600 episodes produced
- reliable content schedule
Chart history for Hidden Brain
Peaked at #1 in United States, top 10 in 50 of 50 tracked markets, currently #1 in United States.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| United States | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| Canada | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| Australia | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| BE | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| Finland | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| IS | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| IS | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| IL | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| AE | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| SA | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| South Korea | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| India | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| SG | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| SG | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| HK | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| HK | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| PH | — | #1 | #1 | — |
| PH | — | #1 | #1 | — |
Chart Positions
50 placements across 31 markets.
Chart Positions
50 placements across 31 markets.