Information Theory

The Information Theory Podcast•podcasters.spotify.com

Science

An independent podcast featuring high-entropy conversations with scientists, writers, and academics.

Last refreshed: November 13th, 2025 at 4:02 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

David Moser Full Episode – Why Chinese is So Damn Hard

David Moser is a scholar of linguistics at Capital Normal University in Beijing and the author of A Billion Voices: China’s Search for a Common Language. 0:00 - Introduction 5:28 - The Challenge of Translating Gödel, Escher, Bach 21:14 - Cultural and Economic Changes in China in the 1980s 31:37 - Why Chinese is So Damn Hard 38:56 - The Core of Language is not the Writing System 44:04 - The Political Fiction of a Unified Chinese Language 54:20 - Can We Just Get Rid of the Chinese Characters? 1:02...

Sep 23, 2025•1 hr 39 min

Avi Loeb — Is there Scientific Evidence for Extraterrestrial Life?

Professor Avi Loeb is a theoretical physicist who was the longest-serving chair of Harvard University's Department of Astronomy.In this episode, we talk about the possible extraterrestrial origins of Oumuamua, the eventual fate of our solar system, and how mainstream academia suppresses risk-taking and innovation. 0:00 Introduction 1:46 The Discovery of Oumuamua 8:05 Light Sails and Space Trash: An Artificial Origin for Oumuamua? 12:53 Do Extraordinary Claims require Extraordinary Evidence? 21:1...

May 30, 2025•1 hr 18 min

Stephen Hsu — Education of a Theoretical Physicist

Stephen Hsu is a theoretical physicist, technology entrepreneur, blogger, and podcaster. We talk about his education as a physicist, how research funding decisions are made in academia, and the replication crisis in science.

Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 19 min

Life Among the Pirahã — Daniel Everett

Daniel Everett is a linguist and anthropologist whose work has challenged long-standing beliefs about human language and cognition. In 1977, Dan journeyed deep into the Amazon rainforest as a Christian missionary to live among an indigenous tribe of hunter-gatherers known as the Pirahã. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including "Don't Sleep, There are Snakes" and "How Language Began". Outline 0:00 Episode highlight 1:43 First arrival in the Amazon 4:00 Unique attributes of the Pirah...

Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 4 min

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