The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Rachel Feltman

podcasts@studio71us.com

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Booking Overview

This Popular Science show shares “weirdest” science and tech facts in a fun, accessible way—sometimes featuring guest voices alongside the host’s research. For PR teams, it’s a strong fit for communicators who can translate complex topics (science, health, tech history) into compelling, curiosity-driven narratives.

Metrics

Episodes: 231

Frequency: Irregular

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Estimated listeners: 10k-100k

Gender skew: Neutral

Location: USA

YouTube: 138.0k subscribers

Instagram: 1.8k followers

Contact Information

podcasts@studio71us.com

For verified host and producer emails, sign up to view.

Host

Rachel Feltman - The show is produced by Popular Science and includes Rachel Feltman as an on-air contributor who shares science and tech facts, with links to her TikTok/newsletter/Patreon mentioned in episode text.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Communicators with credible knowledge in science/tech/health plus the ability to make a “weirdest fact” narrative engaging (e.g., writers, researchers, creators, historians or subject-matter experts).
Required Achievements:  
Published writing or media work related to science/health/technology or historical topics, Public-facing credibility (books, articles, or notable content in relevant domains)

Recent Guest Discussions

Moiya McTier - Creativity—why It Might Be Crumbling And How One Measures It.

Pattie Gonia - Underground Fungi Networks And Mutual Aid.

Priyanka Wali - Cells Taken Secretly And Unethically, And How They Changed Human Health.

Hari Kondabolu - Cells Taken Secretly And Unethically, And How They Changed Human Health.

Sara Kiley - Joseph Pilates And Related History.

Recent Topics

Science, Technology, History, Health, Biology

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week
:

Fallout Shelter Fads, The Library of Cocaine, Mosquito Nepobaby

July 01, 2026

Ben Bradford, host of the podcast Are We Doomed?, joins the show to talk about when buying fallout shelter goods was all the rage. Plus, Laura tells us how she's related to mosquito royalty, and Rachel explains why the Library of Congress is holding onto Freud's "friend's" cocaine. Check out Ben's show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-we-doomed/id1893359212 The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our ...

Creativity is Crumbling, Sarcophagus Juice Sourdough, Mycelium Mutual Aid

June 17, 2026

Pattie Gonia joins the show to talk about how secret networks of underground fungi are basically like nature's mutual aid. Plus, Moiya McTier returns to discuss creativity, why it might be crumbling, and how one measures it (spoiler: it is NOT easy). And Rachel explains how scientists used yeast from a melting mummy to bake a loaf of sourdough. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Marie Antoinette Wearing Braces, Secret Immortal Cells, Chasing the Tooth Worm

June 03, 2026

Hari Kondabolu and Priyanka Wali join the show to talk about cells taken secretly and unethically... but ended up changing human health forever. Then, Rachel divulges a plethora of facts about dental care of yesteryear, from how Marie Antoinette wore braces (yes, seriously), to how Neanderthals drilled for cavities. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular Science. Share your weirdest facts and stories with us in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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