The Joy of Why

Publicly listed emails

quanta@simonsfoundation.org

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What Does the Fourth Dimension Actually Look Like?

October 01, 2026

We know all about how things exist in the three dimensions of length, width, and height. Physicists often talk about time as a fourth dimension, but what if there were a fourth spatial dimension — another direction entirely? How on earth would we picture that?Mathematicians use topology to visualize abstract spaces in higher dimensions. Maggie Miller at the University of Texas at Austin explores what happens when knots encounter an extra dimension. Familiar tangled loops behave in unexpectedl...

Where Does the Quantum World End and Ours Begin?

September 17, 2026

Quantum mechanics may be one of the most precisely tested paradigms in science, but there’s still no universally accepted interpretation of what it tells us about reality. How do we get from the wave-like behavior of quantum systems to the solid, macroscopic world of objects and the universe at large?Jonathan Halliwell, a professor of theoretical physics at Imperial College London, has spent his career probing the foundations of quantum theory. In this episode, he tells Steven Strogatz why de...

Live from ICM 2026: What Is Math For in the Age of AI?

September 03, 2026

Mathematicians are witnessing a profound shift in their field. AI systems are now producing proofs, spotting connections between distant fields, and, in a few cases, solving problems that had stumped mathematicians for decades. The pace of progress over the past several months has raised challenging questions: What can AI systems actually do? And what happens to the more human, creative aspects of the field once machines can match – or exceed – people at problem-solving?In this special live e...

Science Quickly · High booking difficulty · 10,000 - 100,000 listeners

How do I get in touch with The Joy of Why?

The Joy of Why is hosted by Steven Strogatz and Janna Levin. Its publicly listed email is quanta@simonsfoundation.org. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for The Joy of Why?

The publicly listed email for The Joy of Why: quanta@simonsfoundation.org.

How many listeners does The Joy of Why have?

Podseeker estimates The Joy of Why reaches 10,000 to 100,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for The Joy of Why?

The Joy of Why typically books well-known public figures. Typical guest background: Leading researchers, senior university professors, institute scientists, major scientific award recipients, or recognized authorities with original contributions in mathematics, physics, cosmology, neuroscience, computer science, or related fields. Common among recent guests: Nobel Prize or other major scientific awards; Leadership at prominent universities, research institutes, or professional societies; Influential original research. Recent guests include Jonathan Halliwell, Alex Kontorovich, and Ravi Vakil.

How hard is it to get booked on The Joy of Why?

Very high. It mostly books well-known names.

What topics does The Joy of Why cover?

Recent episodes cover Science, Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Cosmology, and Artificial Intelligence. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.