Thanks to our growing base of listeners, the Templeton Ideas Podcast has just reached 200,000 downloads. We are grateful for all the time, attention, and enthusiasm from our audience that this milestone represents. (If that audience includes you, please write a review on the show to help us share it more widely.) 

It comes on the heels of the Templeton Ideas podcast’s recognition by the dotCOMM and Davey awards, which reflect an appreciation for the stories of the people exploring some of the world’s most profound topics.

Launched in March 2023, the Templeton Ideas podcast is a biweekly interview show about the most awe-inspiring ideas in our world, and the people who investigate them. 

Hosted by Thomas Burnett, the Foundation’s Assistant Director of Communications, and produced by Samantha Cocove, the Digital Communications Associate, the podcast has released 46 episodes. 

Notable guests include David Brooks, Gretchen Rubin, Jim Al-Khalili, and Tyler Cowen.  

In honor of this milestone, we wanted to share our top five most listened-to conversations. Our complete list of episodes is available on Apple, Spotify, and Castbox where you can subscribe to hear new episodes as they are released.

Sara Walker (Origins of Life)

Sara joins the podcast to explain how the search for alien life is related to the origins of life and whether we are more likely to find microbes on other planets or intelligent life.

Yujin Nagasawa (The Problem of Evil)

Yujin joins the podcast to explain just why the problem of evil is so perplexing, not just for people who believe in God, but also for people who don’t.

Gretchen Rubin (Happiness) 

In this special episode from the archive, Gretchen joins the podcast to discuss how she became a writer, the books and spiritual teachers that have inspired her, and how a case of pink eye led her to investigate the human senses.

Shannon Vallor (Artificial Intelligence)

Shannon joins the podcast to discuss artificial intelligence, both what it is and what it could be if we step back and rethink what technology is for.

Ann Merchant (Science & Entertainment)

Ann joins the podcast to explain how Dune screenwriter Jon Spaihts and other film creators have integrated scientific inspiration with creative storytelling.