Instant Genius
Our Media
Whether you’re curious about getting healthy, the Big Bang or the science of cooking, find out everything you need to know with Instant Genius. The team behind BBC Science Focus Magazine talk to world-leading experts to bring you a bite-sized masterclass on a new subject each week.
New episodes are released every Monday and Friday and you can subscribe to Instant Genius on Apple Podcasts to access all new episodes ad-free and all old episodes of Instant Genius Extra.
Watch full episodes of Instant Genius on BBC Science Focus Magazine's YouTube channel.
New episodes are released every Monday and Friday and you can subscribe to Instant Genius on Apple Podcasts to access all new episodes ad-free and all old episodes of Instant Genius Extra.
Watch full episodes of Instant Genius on BBC Science Focus Magazine's YouTube channel.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 38min
Why connecting with others is vital for our mental health
Dr Joanna Cheek, psychiatrist, psychotherapist and UBC clinical professor and author, explores how modern stressors trigger our brain’s alarm systems. She discusses the jar model of vulnerability, emotions as adaptive alarms, the need for collective care alongside self-care, and practical strategies to rebalance threat and reward and strengthen connection.
Feb 23, 2026 • 31min
How metabolism really affects your health, weight and wellbeing
Javier Gonzalez, Professor of Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Bath, explores how metabolism links to body composition and energy use. He discusses resting metabolic rate, why metabolism can change with muscle mass and age, and how diet, sleep, stress and exercise influence metabolic health. He also covers calorie cutting, alcohol effects, meal timing and modest boosts from caffeine and spice.
Feb 20, 2026 • 32min
What faces reveal about us and the societies we live in
Dr Faye Bound-Alberti, historian and founder of the Centre for Technology and the Body at King’s College London, explores how faces shaped art, beauty ideals and social scrutiny. She traces classical proportion to modern social media, reviews the rise of cosmetic and reconstructive practices, and warns about biases in facial recognition and the future of face-driven culture.
Feb 16, 2026 • 31min
How our planet connects to the Solar System around it
Dr Dagomar Degroot, environmental historian at Georgetown and author of Ripples on the Cosmic Ocean, explores Earth's deep connections to the Solar System. He highlights orbital cycles, ice-age shifts and abrupt climate shocks. He compares climates on Venus, Mars and Titan and dramatizes how cosmic discoveries reshaped human thinking about our planet.
Feb 13, 2026 • 29min
How AI could help us create life from scratch
Adrian Woolfson, researcher in synthetic genome design and author of On the Future of Species, explores generative biology and how AI reads and writes life’s code. He discusses AI-driven genome design, DNA printing, current work on synthetic microbes, medical uses for genetic diseases, and ethical safeguards for designing new organisms.
Feb 9, 2026 • 41min
What happens in our brains and bodies when we fall in love
Dr Justin Garcia, an evolutionary biologist and Kinsey Institute researcher who wrote The Intimate Animal, explains how human pair bonding evolved. He explores brain chemistry of love, the trio of lust, attraction and attachment, and how dating apps and modern expectations reshape relationships. He also talks about using novelty and arousal to spark lasting passion.
21 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 34min
Why gradual change is the true driving force of innovation
Albert Fox-Cahn, visiting professor and author of Move Slow and Upgrade, champions incremental innovation. He explains the upgrader mindset of steady, evidence-based improvements. Conversations cover how hype and FOMO drive risky tech bets, AI’s gradual development, real harms from rushed features, and when upgrades genuinely require bigger change.
Feb 2, 2026 • 37min
Why we need to rethink our concept of evil
Dr Julia Shaw, psychologist and bestselling author at University College London, challenges how we think about evil. She explains why labeling people as evil distances us from understanding and how circumstances can make anyone capable of harm. Discussions cover psychopathy, intrusive thoughts versus actions, why true crime fascinates us, and how dehumanizing language fuels political danger.
9 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 34min
The hidden ways the Internet and social media are shaping healthcare
Deborah Cohen, an award-winning medical broadcaster and author of Bad Influence, explores how the internet and social media have turned health into a commercial playground. She discusses the pandemic-fueled boom in consumer health, celebrity and influencer sway over medical choices, the rise of online pharmacies and risky self-diagnosis, and practical red flags for evaluating online health advice.
27 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 37min
How to break free from the negative cycle of overthinking
Dr Jessamy Hibberd, clinical psychologist and best-selling author of The Overthinking Cure, explores why our minds loop into negative thinking. She discusses evolutionary roots of worry, common rumination traps like self-criticism and social comparison, and how avoidance and narrowed attention keep us stuck. Practical topics include mindfulness, journaling, and building confidence through action.
