The material ranges from brilliant to meh, but serious issues with audio splicing. Can the audio engineer give the episodes a listen before airing?

Shankar covers a diverse range of topics, always brings in insightful experts in their field, and the conversations are enlightening. Shankar and his team consistently deliver excellent content!

You’re really going to make an episode about depression that tells you you’re probably depressed because you’re life is going downhill, but don’t worry you’re better off for it and if you want to hear how to get better give us some money to get behind the paywall? Thanks so much for the help guys, really appreciated that.

HB always gives me something new to think about. I love Shankar’s voice and storytelling style.

Hidden Brain used to be one of my very favorite podcasts, with Shankar Vedantam’s excellent questions guiding guests through intricate story-telling paths to reveal great truths. Unfortunately recently each episode seems to now be two, unrelated episodes smashed into one, making each one ridiculously long, and disjointed. Yes, it’s clear that the second half is a returning guest from a previous episode, but the fact that it’s attached to another, completely different episode is just confusing and frustrating. Each still a great show, but the current format of the episodes is long and frustrating, knocking my rating down from 5 stars to 4!

I am hoping this podcast goes on for at least another 80 years!

At first, I didn’t feel like I got that much but the more I listen to episodes the more I learned and am mind blown

Love the stories and guests, but what’s up with the volume of the ads?

Used to listen many years ago and loved it. Tried returning recently and.. they still have good topic selections but the discussions feel like linkdin posts and it’s insufferable.

It will be yours too.

I’ve given this podcast countless chances over months. Is it well researched? Yes. Interesting subject matter? Yes. Engaging host? Yes. Yet, it never quite feels robust and satiating. It always leaves me feeling like something is missing or that somehow it’s forced. I tried but with all due respect, something is lacking and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I’m afraid I can’t suffer through another episode.

I regret paying for a subscription that I thought was ad-free for all episodes. It only applies to a handful of them. No happy with this and wish I could get my money back. Don’t get the subscription.

Love Shankar!

Best series of podcasts whether you’re looking for ways to improve yourself, your community, or your organization; whether you’re a leader looking to build a more positive and effective team, or a member looking to use your interactions with others to create a more supportive environment in spite of less effective seniors; Hidden Brain will generate ideas through Shankar’s effective storytelling and discussion with some of the most respected innovators and experts in their fields. I can’t stress enough how much this podcast has helped in my personal relationships, my work as a military officer, and my hope for our future in turbulent times.

Interesting content, but who has the time to listen to a single 1.5+ hr podcast??

Interesting material, but this guy’s voice is horrendous and hard to listen to.

I love this podcast! I listen to it when I’m walking. Nearly every episode gives me something to think about. I support the show with a small monthly payment and it’s worth every penny. Thanks, Shankar and team!

im sorry but i’ve been listening to this since it began , I love it. Because it actually talked about science and with actual evidence and examples now they just say “ the science of “ and literally start chatting , it really hurts , i honestly hate it now.

I’ve been listening for years! Highly recommend it

Not many podcasts come across as fully researched and honest as this one. Shankar is an outstanding host who poses questions that drum up additional curiosity in a topic not for attention or to dupe his guests but because he is a truly interested in getting closer to the truth. Keep it up in 2026 please!

Thoughtful conversation, great listening.

Always great to listen to - always informative and thought-provoking.

Never posted a review for a podcast before, but I was compelled to after finishing the series with Dr. Lembke on addiction. Very informative and thought provoking. Just being aware of the concepts presented are enough to make you think more about your behavior and how your brain really is doing work that your conscious mind can’t readily grasp. This show is always interesting, but this series went beyond interesting into what I feel is required listening. Huge thanks to the entire team behind Hidden Brain.

So irresponsible. Don’t be a sellout

Loved the last episode on addiction. Would be really curious about a similar conversation exploring ultra endurance sports and that pain/reward pathway. Can it be as nefarious as an addiction? Or does it have salvaging qualities?

Hi! This podcast is great for all ages 11 and up. it’s got a lot of great information but could be boring for younger users. Overall great show look forward to every episode! ps. This is future me and here is Jimmy 🤠 /|\ 🐕‍🦺 / \🧳 Jimmy loves to travel and he wants to go around to every podcast so don’t just keep him here! Bring him to all your pods!!!

Hidden Brain is always interesting and often very enlightening.

I love the content of these episodes but they unfold at a glacial pace. It's like they're breaking things down for 10 year olds. As a reasonably intelligent adult, it just feels to me like it takes FOREVER to get to the substance of the episode.

Title says it all… try making a podcast out of that, Shank.

Something in every episode. I’m always looking at the titles of each episode and thinking? Will this be interesting and what’s amazing is it seems like every episode has something meaningful and useful

I look forward to this show every week. The topics are varied and I get something out of each one. Thank you very much.

Shankar has such a calming voice and intellect that has changed my life. The subjects he broaches and the people he interviews has helped myself and others with their emotional intelligence giving us the words to voice our emotions and neurological developments throughout our lives. I feel like I am a better person for myself, those I lead, and others around me. Thank you!

Please Shankar, we need Finding the Poetry in the Plumbing added to gen pop. I’m a broke college student and this may be the podcast that changes my life. I’m not a subscriber but a very long time listener. Please, may we have that podcast? It was so good on my ride home over the radio no wonder why it is reserved for premium members! Thanks Shankar!

Well presented, inspiring stories and research. Helps gain perspective from various people on the show.

There are interruptions every 5 minutes. Too much and destroys the flow.

It would be great if you separated Your Questions Answered, and all other extra stuff from the primary podcast

I used to love this podcast but we don’t need another podcast on relationships love and marriage and getting ahead in business. Noooooo!

Lots of black and white thinking in the Stoicism episode, no nuance considered at all really. Example: the speaker implies that if you are upset about something that happens to you, you are “behaving like a child throwing a tantrum”, and that an adult is supposed to be composed and think critically when terrible things happen. I think most people would disagree with this; you’re allowed to be sad if your dog gets hit by a car, if your SO leaves you.. thinking critically can come later. Both serve a purpose, and one process surely does not work for everyone, having no emotional expressions almost certainly will not work for most people. TLDR, overly simplistic, black and white thinking.

Pointless stories instead of just explaining the topic

I love the thought provoking themes that seem to be able to capture all of us in one aspect or another. It spans across all types of beliefs and gets to the heart of us all, our complicated brains, and our humanity. Thank you for your work.

Listening to Hidden Brain is a gift. It’s like receiving the therapy that we all need, but can’t afford to get.

Excellent interviews, well researched content plus outstanding story telling!

I haven't listened to Hidden Brain in a while. Listened to How Our Brains Work last night. Wow, it hit the spot. The guest Mary Helen is a hoot. Her cart before the horse principle, that we should stop dumping education into the cart without emotionally engaging the horse...boom! That's an insight I'll be thinking about for a while.

Yes, sometimes sound like they are in a tin can, makes it hard to listen to. For those with small attention spans like me, I am more likely to just find the next podcast. Leaving this feedback here in the spirit of hopefully being constructive. Because it’s a great show content wise.

2.5 stars rounded up for what’s been a decent show for years. I would give a 3.5-4 otherwise. Reason: you’re suddenly using AI art for the episodes. It’s creepy, looks cheap and shows a lack of concern for the real world impact AI is having on illustrators and designers who have to work for a living. Why on earth would you choose to do this? Better not to use it at all. I’m unsubscribing until you change this.

Paid for a subscription to escape all the annoying ads. However subscription is only ad-free for bonus episodes. LAME!!! I will be canceling.

This podcast is like free therapy. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the reasons I kept my sanity when my life was falling apart. I’ve learned so much about being human, why we do what we do, and how to do better. I repeat episodes all the time, and feel like I get new perspectives each time. I’m always recommending this series. Make sure to subscribe and support Hidden Brain, it’s worth it. Thank you so much to Shankar and your team for making such an interesting and entertaining show.

Shankar Vedantam hosts a truly unique and insightful series; I love it! Unfortunately, the commercials are off-putting, especially the ones read by Shankar himself; they sully his credibility. CAVEAT EMPTOR: I paid for a subscription with the expectation that the commercials would stop, but they did not. Sadly, you pay to hear commercials. Other podcasts nix commercials with a subscription, why not Hidden Brain? And what’s the deal with the low brow AI art? Really?

i’ve always loved the show, started listening long ago on NPR. I think I understand the general reason why NPR is now nothing but ads and why the show is close behind, but I already paid money to get the Apple subscription that includes podcast. I’m not sure why I have to pay even more money to listen to this particular show or any of the other others. There’s a reason cable TV essentially went out of business….

Now it seems geared toward men who are already successful becoming more “fulfilled.” Doesn’t really resonate with me and makes me feel small.