I love this podcast! Easy to understand, keeps me interested. Keep it up!

So I listened to the episode on quantum computing and was just lost. This would be fine if I was a post grad or doctoral student, but I am not. So maybe not waste our time and just put that out front that you only want listeners who have a PhD. No wonder most people can’t stand eggheads…

Big ideas explained clearly. Love the clear vocals and good audio - obviously important for a podcast. This is unabashedly one of my new favorite cosmology podcasts. The 2 presenters speak clearly and simply about deep and complex topics proving relevant background. A must listen!

Dan and Shalma, thank you for creating Why This Universe. I am a non-scientist, with a life long interest in science, so I greatly appreciate your ability to explain complicated concepts in ways that are easy (fairly easy) to grasp, using mostly everyday language and providing analogies (e.g., coffee and cream) to explain complex concepts. Your conversational / question and answer format and sense of humor make the listening experience interesting and enjoyable. Thank you too for making clear the difference between known science and theory. Quantum mechanics theories I have always found difficult to accept, so your podcast that explained that the math works and the theories are just theories that many physicists don’t even concern themselves with, was a bit of a relief. Now I no longer feel like I have to learn how quantum mechanics works. Anyway, thanks for the great show.

Dan Hooper is mostly just a naysayer but he does little to explain anything except for his own opinions. Gimmie something that’s not not “umm… that sounds wrong to me..” Just site something, bring in some relevant research or state what the state of science thinks. He sounds bogus and full of himself. I’m out.

Like other reviewers, I really like the level this podcast pitches to, a touch of math when needed, cogent explanations of complex topics made lucid, and a touch of humor, also when needed. As a sci fi writer with a medical/scientific background who is self-studying astrophysics and qunatum mechanics, I find Shalma and Dan’s podcasts irresistible.

I get tired of most podcasts, but I’ve never been bored from an episode of Why This Universe. I’m an astrophysics major and I feel like this podcast is on the level I need. It’s very entertaining but most importantly, it helps me learn.

The hosts present mind-blowing concepts in a digestible way. This is just the podcast I’ve been looking for. Thanks so much for making this invaluable resource.

Sparkling minds who share a gift for shedding light on some of the beautiful mysteries of our universe.

Alien spirals in the sky? Lizard people running the government? Maybe! An easy listening physics podcast by two professional in the field? Definitely!

This podcast has taught me a lot about the universe. I am very tuned in to every single episode. ☺️

You should be ashamed of yourself. The whole point of science is to question everything, not to beaten into repetitive submission. What exactly has theoretical physics done for us? Wireless communication? Wow. We had that in the 30’s, and look how that has worked out for us. You high paid academics and the rich in your ivory towers are so disconnected from reality. You are a cancer to our society, an inert mass stealing nutrients from those who actually produce value, that will eventually kill us.

Love this podcast. My only issue is that there is only 58 of them lol make more! Please. Also, episode 58; pushed me to write a review. That stuff needed to be said and I think Dan said it well. No sick burns, just some real talk. Keep at it and excited to hear the next

Between something presented as understandable to the layman, and something tear-bringing boring to someone who knows anything about it. I’m not an astrophysicist—or even a physicist—but I have done some collegiate level study, and much more reading on some of these subjects. This podcast is gripping, informative, and not too technical to understand.

Few podcasts offer the tremendous opportunity to learn about something so fundamental to this universe yet also so hidden to most people. Dan Hooper and Shalma Wegsman offer a dynamic approach to learning some of the most interesting and mysterious physics concepts. What sets them apart is a clear podcast model that optimizes both interest and educational value. While Dan Hooper’s theoretical physics background provides a wealth of knowledge about black holes, quantum physics, and string theory, Shalma Wegsman has a unique ability to make the deepest insights into the universe more accessible to those without a physics background. If you didn’t fully grasp what Hooper is getting at, Wegsman is often right there to summarize his point in words a bit more palatable. Wegsman is also able to synthesize points via poignant questions that guide the discussion to interesting…event horizons. This podcast is an absolute gem. Our society is a better place because of it. Many thanks to you both for your continued efforts.

I’ve had a life long interest in astronomy and cosmology, indeed all of science. As a retired chemical engineer I finally have time to catch up on some of the amazing scientific advances in recent decades. I’ve found this podcast to be one of the best at helping me catch up. I think the most amazing thing I’ve begun to appreciate is the the close connections and interactions between particle physics and cosmology which this podcast does a great job at doing. It’s remarkable to consider ideas that span the spatial dimensions from the very smallest to the very largest. The podcast topics also range from experimental to some of the strangest theoretical ideas. The hosts deliver the content in an engaging and understandable manner. Thanks for the effort and keep these coming.

By far the most informative podcast about physics I’ve come across. Why is this one of the best? Most other physics podcasts only touch on the concepts, you can go between them and routinely hear all of the same topics (ex. How general relativity isn’t comparable with quantum mechanics… ext.). This podcast is different. They cover such a wide range of topics and go into the technical details. This is awesome if you’re really interested in physics and you’ve heard most of the general theories and topics. I hope this podcast persists well into the future.

To future podcast lister. If you read this, and listen, after enjoyed the show you must comment and 5 stars. Give ‘em a reward for the hard work they put into the episode.

I love the dynamics of this podcast and you both make it so interesting to follow. Thank you!

Shalma (female host) has a speech pattern that is most annoying. She has the habit of producing a rising inflection as if she is asking a question -even when she isn't. Also she doesn't seem to talk into the microphone, her voice sometimes goes into whisper mode and I can't even her what she is saying. She is terrible as a host, not a professional. But Dan is fantastic!! Great voice, speaks clearly and projects his thoughts cleanly, concisely. Just have Dan and this is a 5 star show for sure!!

One of the best explanations of QFT and why the theory developed the way it did. Overall the theoretical physics discussions in this podcast have been insightful and unique in the way it’s presented.

Bends my brain in a way that feels so good! And I love the dynamic of the hosts; sort of a teacher/student office hours vibe, although they both clearly know what they’re talking about. I hope people are listening to this podcast, because I really want it to continue!

I love this.

Shalma needs speech therapy and Dan Hooper is a waste of space. He has a hideous odor problem in real life.

It's hard to believe that someone intelligent enough to study physics at the graduate level can't string together a sentence without saying 'like' every other word. Maybe they thought she would appeal to a younger audience or the average lay person, but I find that along with her vocal fry unlistenable.

Social justice and science make a really bad podcast. I gave up. I’ll look for a real science podcast.

I’m more a Physics Frontiers listener- but they have a very irregular posting schedule. I’d like more GR in my ideal fantasy podcast but this one is well done, interesting, and thought provoking, which is what good science should do! Keep up the excellent work. Make lots of more shows so I have something to listen to, please! While Jorge and Daniel Explain the Universe is good, I feel they’re less rigorous and more commercial. And Sean Carrol is great, but spends a lot of time outside physics. You’re the best of the most consistent podcasters. Don’t ever stop!

I love this show and I’m in awe at all the work you put into it! I’m a fan of physics podcasts and this is one of the best. Just one comment: is it possible to turn down the music (or avoid it completely) for long segments when someone’s speaking? The high volume is very distracting and the bass and percussions of the jazzy music make it hard to follow the speech. Thank you again!

Radiation doc here. Find myself really looking forward to your podcasts. Great explanations of topics, I really didn’t fundamentally understand, when I took physics.

The hosts discuss cutting-edge topics with well laid out explanations and descriptions.

This is a wonderful podcast that brings very advanced topics to interested listeners. Dan and Shalma have a fantastic ability to describe complicated topics where you can truly understand why they are important.

Dan and Shalma provide an astonishing amount of information so concisely! I cannot recommend this show enough!

Dan and Shalma are fun and insightful!

If you listen to other podcasts on popular science, you find that after a year or two you hear ideas repeated many times, and learning something new becomes less frequent. This podcast probes astronomical concepts at a basic enough level to understand if you’re scientifically literate but deeper than you hear in most popular podcasts. It’s exciting to hear these concepts taken to the next level after skimming the surface so many times.

This podcast is now part of my regular rotation Thanks to the hosts’ incisive commentary and outstanding analysis that is easy to understand but hard to forget. Keep up the great work guys...the Universe is depending on you!

Dan and Shalma break down topics in a way that's interesting for all levels of physics enthusiasts!

As a casual fan of physics with no real aptitude for the hardcore science and mathematics I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast. Dan has a way in his books and now podcast of speaking about very complex topics in an entertaining and engaging way for non-physicists. Highly recommend for anyone that wants a glimpse into the mechanics of our universe.