Why This Universe?
Why This Universe? is hosted by theoretical physicist Dan Hooper and co-host Shalma Wegsman, covering dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics and other major physics topics. The show has 116 episodes, published roughly every 28 days, with a median length of about 38 minutes. Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, implying a rate of $40 to $200 per host-read mid-roll.
A high-rated physics show with an engaged, science-literate audience
- 414 Apple Podcasts ratings with a 4.6 average signal a loyal listener base.
- Episodes run about 38 minutes, long enough for a full host-read segment.
- Affiliation with The University of Chicago Podcast Network adds institutional credibility.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- interview, co-hosted banter, listener Q&A
- Tone
- educational, conversational
- Language
- English
- Production
- Clean, edited audio
- Typical length
- 30 to 40 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- University of Chicago Podcast Network
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- Yes
The description cites membership in The University of Chicago Podcast Network, and a Patreon funding link (patreon.com/whythisuniverse) is listed in the feed; no sponsor mentions appear in the last 20 episode titles.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Episode titles cover physics, cosmology and quantum topics with no flagged content, and the explicit flag is 0.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.shalmawegsman.com/why-this-universe |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1523312400 |
| RSS feed | rss.buzzsprout.com/1162613.rss |
Benchmark score: 65 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 101 — How Will AI Change Physics? (Ft. Yoni Kahn) | 2026-10-12 | 56 min |
| 100 - What is Light? A Journey from Ancient Philosophy to Quantum Phys | 2026-08-24 | 37 min |
| 99 - The 7 Most Exciting Developments in Physics Today + a WTU Update | 2026-08-03 | 36 min |
| 98 - An Improbable Quantum Ghost Story (Ft. David Kaplan) | 2026-01-19 | 41 min |
| 97 - The Schrödinger Equation: The Heart of Quantum Mechanics | 2025-12-22 | 30 min |
| 96 - The Making of Particle Fever (Ft. David Kaplan) | 2025-11-24 | 53 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 7 days ago, a new one about every 28 days.
The biggest ideas in physics, broken down. Join theoretical physicist Dan Hooper and co-host Shalma Wegsman as they answer your questions about dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics, and more. Part of The University of Chicago Podcast Network.
About Why This Universe?
Why This Universe? is a physics podcast hosted by theoretical physicist Dan Hooper and co-host Shalma Wegsman, according to the show feed and the website shalmawegsman.com. Each episode breaks down major physics topics such as dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics and cosmology, often with guest scientists and listener questions. The show has 116 episodes, with new releases about every 28 days and a median runtime of roughly 38 minutes.
Apple Podcasts lists 414 ratings with a 4.6 average. Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, which is an estimate and not a published figure. Listeners are likely adults interested in science, mostly in English-speaking countries. The show is part of The University of Chicago Podcast Network and is funded through Patreon. No sponsors were found in recent episodes.
Based on an estimated audience of 2,000 to 8,000 downloads, a host-read mid-roll would cost roughly $40 to $200 per episode. This suits science education, academic and consumer technology brands that want to reach an engaged, science-literate audience.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Why This Universe? can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about Why This Universe?
How much does Why This Universe? charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll is roughly $40 to $200. The rate is an estimate derived from Apple Podcasts rating counts and show signals, not a published price.
What is Why This Universe? about?
Why This Universe? is a physics podcast hosted by Dan Hooper and Shalma Wegsman. It covers dark matter, black holes, quantum mechanics, cosmology and listener questions, often with guest scientists.
How do I contact Why This Universe? about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can also be booked through Starbooked.
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