The Podbrain Guide

The best
science & tech podcasts,
read.

The 29 science & tech podcasts we'd actually recommend — with key takeaways from every episode already pulled out. 432 episodes distilled.

29
podcasts
432+
episodes with notes
5 min
avg read time
2026
updated weekly
Ranked by depth of coverage
01
RANK
a16z

a16z

93 episodes with notes

a16z is a venture capital firm that invests in software eating the world. Each week, we share videos on technology trends and advice for building companies. The views expressed here are those of the individual personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any a16z funds. PLEASE SEE MORE HERE: https://a16z.com/disclosures/

"Old media forces minimum controversy; new media rewards being interesting — 'the one rule of old media is don't be interesting. That's the worst thing you can d"

— from The New Rules of Media | Marc Andreessen & Ben Horowitz
02
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A daily news analysis show on all things artificial intelligence. NLW looks at AI from multiple angles, from the explosion of creativity brought on by new tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT to the potential disruptions to work and industries as we know them to the great philosophical, ethical and practical questions of advanced general intelligence, alignment and x-risk.

"Anthropic suspended access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 following a new US export control directive, triggering industry-wide realignment"

— from The 5-Minute AI Weekly Recap: Realignment Week
03
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Unchained

Unchained

89 episodes with notes

Crypto assets and blockchain technology are about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity to the Internet of Things. In this podcast, host Laura Shin, an independent journalist covering all things crypto, talks with industry pioneers about how crypto assets and blockchains will change the way we earn, spend and invest our money. Tune in to find out how Web 3.0, the decentralized web, will revolutionize our world. Disclosure: I'm a nocoiner.

"Kalshi's crypto prediction markets have grown 15x since the start of the year, generating $2-3 billion in monthly volume as the platform's second-largest catego"

— from Why Kalshi's John Wang Says Perps Are 'the Most Pure Trading Instrument'
04
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Empire

Empire

42 episodes with notes

Empire features interviews with top crypto founders to get the real stories that aren’t shared elsewhere. Empire is your look behind the curtain of the crypto industry. We release two episodes per week: guest interviews on Monday and a weekly roundup on Friday.

"Jordy Alexander reduced body fat from 26% to 14% over 8 months through 15-20K daily steps, lifting 3x/week, and clean diet — not peptides alone."

— from Anthropic's Fable Banned, Will Microstrategy Blow Up & Structuring A Portfolio in 2026
05
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StarTalk Radio

StarTalk Radio

41 episodes with notes

Science, pop culture, and comedy collide on StarTalk Radio! Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and Director of New York's Hayden Planetarium, and his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities, and scientific experts explore astronomy, physics, and everything else there is to know about life in the universe. New episodes premiere Tuesdays. Keep Looking Up! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

06
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Dwarkesh Patel

Dwarkesh Patel

25 episodes with notes

Deeply researched interviews

"Frontier AI models are trained on tens to hundreds of trillions of tokens — nearly a million-fold more data than a human absorbs from birth to adulthood (~200 m"

— from The data black hole at the center of AI
07
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Lex Fridman

Lex Fridman

18 episodes with notes

Lex Fridman Podcast and other videos.

"FFmpeg processes over 90% of video workflows online and offline, running on billions of devices simultaneously as the invisible backbone of YouTube, Netflix, an"

— from FFmpeg: The Incredible Technology Behind Video on the Internet
08
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DEBRIEFED with Chris Ramsay is a deep dive in to the mysterious world of UFO's, Psychic abilities, Non-Human Intelligence and so much more from The Area 52 YouTube channel. Join me as I post weekly podcasts about famous whistleblowers, government leaks and bring on the occasional guest to chat in the SCIF. For more, tune in to Area 52 Investigations on YouTube!

"Preston Dennett conducted hundreds of formal interviews and estimates 1 in 40-50 people have had onboard ET experiences, consistent with the 1991 Roper Poll fin"

— from UFO Researcher Details The STRANGEST Alien Encounters - Preston Dennett | DEBRIEFED ep 93
09
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Epicenter brings you in-depth conversations about the technical, economic and social implications of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. Every week, we interview business leaders, engineers academics and entrepreneurs, and bring you a diverse spectrum of opinions and points of view. Epicenter is hosted by Sebastien Couture, Brian Fabian Crain, Friederike Ernst, Meher Roy and Felix Lutsch. Since 2014, our episodes have been downloaded over 8 million times.

""I think that agentic AI in coming on chain is probably the biggest innovation that we've seen in the 12 years I've been in it" - John"

— from Agentic AI Takes Crypto to the Next Level?
10
RANK
Bell Curve

Bell Curve

3 episodes with notes

Bell Curve breaks down the most important themes in crypto for people who, like us, are confined to the middle of the bell curve. Each season explores a different thesis that we'll test and refine through debate with crypto's best. If you're a crypto native, degen or investooor, this podcast is for you. Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3R1D1D9 Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3pQTfmD Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3cpKZXH Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ Join the Bell Curve Telegram group: https://t.me/+nzyxAvQ0Xxc3YTEx

"Anthropic's Fable model is inaccessible in Canada and other regions, and a team of Amazon researchers jailbroke it quickly after launch, exposing real limits of"

— from The Resurgence of Decentralized AI | Roundup
12
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Rowan Cheung

Rowan Cheung

1 episodes with notes

Interviews with the world's leading AI experts to help you understand, stay ahead, and apply AI into your life, work, and business.

"Sam highlights the launch of Apps in ChatGPT, emphasizing its potential as a new distribution platform for developers."

— from Sam Altman on Zero-Person AI Companies, Sora, AGI Breakthroughs, and more
13
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Stanford Digital Economy Lab

Stanford Digital Economy Lab

1 episodes with notes

Forward-thinking research group at Stanford University examining the impact of the digital economy on the future of work, productivity, and society.

"Tomás Pollo argues that geography historically shaped nations, but technology is now redefining governance."

— from Seminar Series with Tomás Pueyo: The End of Nation-States
14
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In-depth conversations with leaders in ML, AI and Data (MAD), hosted by Matt Turck, Partner at FirstMark, an early stage venture capital firm based in New York (see FirstMark.com). In addition to our weekly podcast series, we host a monthly in-person event in New York, Data Driven NYC. The event is free and open to everyone. If you'd like to attend, please follow FirstMark on Eventbrite (link below). Events are free and open to everyone.

""We are seeing this very consistent improvement over many many years where every say like you know 3 4 months is able to like do a task that is twice as long as"

— from Are We Misreading the AI Exponential? Julian Schrittwieser on Move 37 & Scaling RL (Anthropic)
16
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web3 with a16z crypto

web3 with a16z crypto

1 episodes with notes

"web3 with a16z" is a show about the next generation of the internet, and about how builders and users — whether artists, coders, creators, developers, companies, organizations, or communities — now have the ability to not just "read" (web1) + "write" (web2) but "own" (web3) pieces of the internet, unlocking a new wave of creativity and entrepreneurship. Brought to you by a16z crypto, this show is the definitive resource for understanding and going deeper on all things crypto and web3. From discussing the latest and leading trends to sharing research, data readouts, and insights from top scientists and makers in the space, this is a show with a variety of formats and topics listeners can pick and choose from. It is hosted by the longtime showrunner of (and original team behind) the popular a16z Podcast. Learn more at a16zcrypto.com. *** Posts should not be considered investment advice or an advertisement for investment services. Reposts of third party content are not attributable to a16z; see disclosures for more information: https://a16z.com/disclosures/.

"Network tokens enable decoupled pricing and growth spending through 'buy and burn' revenue capture while separately minting tokens for growth investments"

— from Eddy Deep Dive
Recent episodes with key takeaways
17
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Peter H. Diamandis

Peter H. Diamandis

1 episodes with notes

Tracking the future of technology and how it impacts humanity. Named by Fortune as one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Peter H. Diamandis, MD, is a founder, investor, advisor, and best-selling author. Join Peter on his mission to uplift humanity through technology. Follow Peter on X - https://x.com/PeterDiamandis

"We're living through the singularity right now - 'We're in the singularity' with AI and robotics creating a 'supersonic tsunami' of change"

— from Elon Musk on AGI Timeline, US vs China, Job Markets, Clean Energy & Humanoid Robots | 220
18
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Tesla

Tesla

1 episodes with notes

Electric vehicles, giant batteries & solar, AI & robotics. Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.

"Tesla shareholders approved Elon Musk's 2025 CEO performance award with over 75% voting in favor, representing a significant vote of confidence"

— from 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting | Tesla
Recent episodes with key takeaways
21
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Valar Atomics

Valar Atomics

0 episodes with notes

we make oil and gas out of thin air with atomic energy Follow us at Valar Atomics on these platforms: X: https://x.com/valaratomics Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valaratomics?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@valar.atomics?_t=8qjs6PvtUAE&_r=1 Visit us on our website: https://www.valaratomics.com/

22
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Get ready to have your tech world rocked every week with Steven Scott and Shaun Preece on Double Tap! These guys are the ultimate duo - mixing humor, passion, and top-notch expertise to keep you in the loop with the latest in assistive tech for blind an low-vision users around the world. You can listen on AMI-audio in Canada (www.amiplus.ca) or subscribe to the Podcast or just watch the daily show right here on YouTube. Don't just keep up with the tech world, lead it with Double Tap!

23
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Oscar Ramos

Oscar Ramos

0 episodes with notes

My Channel is about Crypto, DeFi, and Web3. MAJOR CRYPTO BONUSES and REWARDS💲👇💲 500x Leverage BUY CRYPTO on BTCC: $10,055 BONUS (NO KYC) https://www.btcc.com/market-promotion/bonus2/OscarRamos BTCC for USA, Canada, and Europe!! 🔑My Industry Leading MOST Powerful Crypto Indicator (30 day risk-free) https://luxalgo.com/?rfsn=7881084.0d1017 ✅ Join Oscar Ramos PRIVATE Patreon and Discord Server! https://www.patreon.com/oscarmoney

24
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Shell Game

Shell Game

0 episodes with notes

<p>A podcast about things that are not what they seem, hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff. Season 2 tells the story of enterprise and entrepreneurship in the AI age. Or: how Evan tried to build a real startup, run by fake people.&nbsp;</p> <p>This season, Evan confronts head-on the assertion from tech entrepreneurs and VCs that we&rsquo;re on the precipice of AI remaking the workforce. That we should expect not just AI colleagues working alongside us, but also &mdash; by Sam Altman&rsquo;s telling, at least &mdash; the dawn of a billion-dollar company with only one human involved. Evan learns what it would take to create such a company &hellip; by doing it: Launching a real startup with five AI employees. Over the course of eight episodes, he explores what AI agents tell us about the work we do, the meaning we find in it, and the world that their makers say we&rsquo;ll all be living in soon enough.</p> <p>Shell Game was named one of the best podcasts of 2024 by Apple, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Vulture, The Information, and The Economist. It's "riveting," says The New Yorker, "awesome" says The Verge, and "slightly terrifying," says The Globe and Mail.&nbsp;</p> <p>New episodes are published on Wednesdays.</p> <p><a href="https://www.shellgame.co?utm_medium=podcast">www.shellgame.co</a></p>

25
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ExtinctZoo

ExtinctZoo

0 episodes with notes

Welcome to ExtinctZoo! If you are interested in Dinosaurs, Paleontology, or just anything that is extinct (and I mean anything), then you have come to the right place. I strive to provide simple, but meaningful information about the world and its inhabitants thousands to millions, and billions, of years ago. I really hope you enjoy the content and stick around 🦖 If you want to contact me send me an email at [email protected] :) For sponsorship inquiries reach out to [email protected]

26
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Marcus House

Marcus House

0 episodes with notes

Hey hey! My name is Marcus House and I like space stuff. I hope to help you like space stuff too assuming you don't already. Eight years before I was born, Apollo 17 returned from the moon (1972). I sadly missed the most exciting adventure humans have ever experienced. Since I was young I've dreamed of being able to witness the next big milestone. We've seen no further manned missions outside Low Earth Orbit in my years, but this is about to change with SpaceX and Blue Origin pushing humanity back into the new space race alongside NASA. Other wonderful new companies such as Rocketlab are increasing the excitement with smaller payloads as well. This is an amazing time to be alive and I want to share all I can with you. Historically I'm a huge fan of Kerbal Space Program (KSP) which is where my Youtube channel started. KSP2 is around the corner, so we may well get back into that at some point soon as well. Follow me on Twitter - https://twitter.com/MarcusHouse

29
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The Randall Carlson

The Randall Carlson

0 episodes with notes

Welcome. Here, we explore the profound mysteries of our world—where science, symbolism, and ancient wisdom converge. I'm Randall Carlson, and for over five decades I've studied the hidden patterns of nature, the cataclysms that have shaped our past, and the sacred architecture that encodes timeless truths. This channel is a portal into that exploration. You'll find episodes of Squaring the Circle, where I delve into the geometry of the cosmos, the rhythms of Earth, and the deep-time perspective often missing from modern discourse. You'll also discover The Big Picture with Becket Fusik, where we engage in wide-ranging conversations about humanity’s forgotten legacy and the cycles that govern civilization itself. If you’re drawn to the mysteries of the past, the elegance of sacred geometry, and the possibility of a greater pattern unfolding through time—then you’re in the right place.

What they read

Books these shows recommend.