As students of psychology, we are accustomed to poring through journal articles and course-approved textbooks to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the field. While these resources are the cornerstones of scientific research, there are myriad other ways to enhance our understanding of our chosen disciplines – namely through podcasts!

Although a relatively new arrival to the field of science, podcasts have been wholly embraced by the scientific community with many major journals such as Nature, Cell and PNAS, featuring podcast programmes tailored to interested members of the community. One of the reasons that podcasts are so successful is that they offer an alternative portal to the scientific world. Not only do they document and discuss current research findings by visiting labs and reporting from the field, but they also take the listener behind-the-scenes by interviewing leading scientific experts who work in a wide range of disciplines.

Furthermore, podcasts are particularly beneficial to aspiring researchers and clinicians as they cover a wide breadth of pertinent topics, which are communicated in a manner that is accessible to students.

We at JEPS have compiled a list of our favourite podcasts, for those of you who are interested in boosting your brains via a lively and enjoyable medium. The podcasts detailed below are suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students of psychology and neuroscience. In addition, each of these podcasts can be downloaded from the podcasts app on IOS and android devices or directly from the websites (all of which are listed below).

Radiolab

Radiolab is hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich and it is produced by WNYC. The show focusses on topics that are predominantly scientific and philosophical in nature, thus it is an enticing option for both students of psychology and neuroscience. What differentiates this podcast from many others is its distinctive production style. Interviews are interspersed with stories, thought experiments, and original music such that listeners of all ages and backgrounds remain engaged from start to finish. The programme succeeds in communicating often complicated and ambitious topics to a global audience, which makes it an ideal starting point for anyone looking for a smooth transition into the thought-provoking world of podcasts.

Sample Episodes:

Episode Length: Full Episodes (One Hour); Shorts (15 – 30 minutes)

Brain Science

The Brain Science Podcast is hosted by Ginger Campbell MD. During this time, the host interviews a leading expert about their work in a brain-related field, with topics ranging from brain plasticity, chemistry, imaging and cell biology to developmental and neurodegenerative disorders. This immersive and informative podcast caters for listeners of all backgrounds by summarising key ideas in the field as well as sharing recent discoveries from neuroscience research.

Sample episodes:

Episode Length: 40 minutes to one hour

Philosophy Bites

Philosophy Bites is hosted and produced by philosophers David Edmonds and Nigel Warburton. As students of psychology, we often become fixated on a particular research topic, which exists in a highly specialised field of study. While we may believe that other methods and disciplines are irrelevant to our particular research goals, this could not be further from the truth. It is for this reason that Philosophy Bites is essential listening for all students of psychology. This podcast highlights the importance of philosophical thinking for current day psychological research. In many ways, the topics discussed by the hosts provide an overarching context for the objectives and goals harboured by modern-day psychology.

Sample episodes:

Episode Length: 15 – 25 minutes (approximately)

Naked Neuroscience Enhanced

Naked Neuroscience Enhanced is a strand of the popular Cambridge University and BBC radio show Naked Scientists, hosted by Hannah Critchlow, PhD. The aim of this podcast is to disseminate neuroscience research findings in an engaging and lively manner to a global public audience. This podcast is highly interactive, which makes it invaluable to undergraduate students who are interested in better understanding how the brain and nervous system work. Often recorded on the road, the listeners are transported to all corners of the globe, from a brain bank in New Zealand to a yogic laughter clinic in Cambridge.

Sample Episodes

Episode Length: 30 minutes (on average)

Brain Matters

The Brain Matters Podcast is hosted by Matt Davis and Anthony Lacagnina. This podcast is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students, however as the topics are quite specialized, they may be of more interest to graduate students of neuroscience. What differentiates this podcast from both Brain Science and Naked Neuroscience Enhanced is that this program is hosted and produced by graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin. This angle is particularly beneficial to students as the hosts place a considerable emphasis on discussing the career trajectory of the interviewee, which provides a valuable insight into the challenges and rewards of life as a research scientist.

Sample episodes:

Episode Length: 40 minutes (on average)

All in the Mind

All in the Mind is hosted by psychologist Claudia Hammond and produced by the BBC. The aim of this podcast is to communicate psychological research to a global audience on current research in the field. Similar to the neuroscience-focused podcasts, All in the Mind features interviews with many leading researchers on topics ranging from mental health policies and media portrayals of mental health to body dysmorphic disorder and perinatal obsessive compulsive disorder. Although this podcast would be engaging for both undergraduate and graduate students of psychology and neuroscience, it would particularly appeal to students with an interest in clinical, counselling and health psychology.

Sample episodes:

Episode Length: 28 minutes (exactly)

Are there any other podcasts that we forgot to include and that you think deserve a mention? Please include any suggestions in the comments!

Maedbh King Maedbh King is a Junior Editor at JEPS and a first-year Masters candidate, studying cognitive neuroscience in the Brain and Mind Institute at Western University, Canada. She is interested in better understanding the role played by the cerebellum in both motor and cognitive abilities using neuroimaging techniques and statistical modelling. She is also an avid listener of podcasts, which keep her up-to-speed on the latest developments in the fields of neuroscience and psychology. More Posts