Search Engine

1,122

We try to make sense of the world, one question at a time. No question too big, no question too small. Hosted by PJ Vogt, edited by Sruthi Pinnamaneni.***Named one of the best podcasts by Vulture, Time, The Economist, & Vogue. (OK, in 2023, but still...)***

Recent Episodes
  • Search Engine x What We Spend
    May 30, 2025 – 49:35
  • How to stop being so phone addicted (without self-discipline or meditation)
    May 16, 2025 – 52:21
  • The Dave and Buster's Anomaly
    May 9, 2025 – 50:51
  • Why the national debt might finally matter
    Apr 25, 2025 – 50:36
  • Why can’t we just turn the empty offices into apartments? (classic)
    Apr 18, 2025 – 52:05
  • What are teenagers actually seeing on their phones?
    Apr 11, 2025 – 51:53
  • The Russian Cake Switcheroo
    Apr 4, 2025 – 46:02
  • Planet Money: The Memecoin Casino
    Mar 28, 2025 – 37:58
  • Viruses in the Air
    Mar 21, 2025 – 45:48
  • The Puzzle of the All-American BBQ Scrubber
    Mar 14, 2025 – 01:03:22
  • DOGE and the Mystery of the State Department Teslas
    Mar 7, 2025 – 53:40
  • Does anyone actually like their job? (classic)
    Feb 28, 2025 – 47:54
  • Can you cure picky eating?
    Feb 21, 2025 – 44:09
  • What should we do about teens using AI to do their homework?
    Feb 14, 2025 – 01:00:59
  • What happens when a cemetery goes out of business?
    Feb 7, 2025 – 55:37
  • What’s it like to fly when you’re fat?
    Jan 24, 2025 – 51:35
  • The New Zuckerberg
    Jan 18, 2025 – 01:16:38
  • Is it ok to just work all the time?
    Jan 10, 2025 – 01:09:36
  • Why is the pool at Buckingham Palace a secret?
    Dec 27, 2024 – 01:14:18
  • When do you know it’s time to stop drinking? (classic)
    Dec 20, 2024 – 01:03:37
  • What if ayahuasca made you stop podcasting?
    Dec 13, 2024 – 01:00:45
  • Who buys luggage at the airport luggage store?
    Dec 6, 2024 – 52:47
  • What is jawmaxxing?
    Nov 22, 2024 – 54:51
  • The White Subaru Hell Loop
    Nov 15, 2024 – 53:27
  • How did the first democracy die?
    Nov 8, 2024 – 43:28
  • How do you sit quietly in the middle of a storm?
    Nov 1, 2024 – 01:08:34
  • Should we be worried about OpenAI?
    Oct 25, 2024 – 59:06
  • Why is it so hard to tax billionaires? (Part 2)
    Oct 18, 2024 – 45:47
  • Why is it so hard to tax billionaires? (Part 1)
    Oct 18, 2024 – 52:24
  • Death, Sex & Money x Search Engine
    Oct 10, 2024 – 51:29
  • The Mystery of the Vape Shop Kratom
    Oct 4, 2024 – 01:07:01
  • Is everyone pretending to understand inflation (or just me)?
    Sep 20, 2024 – 56:09
  • A stubborn lunatic’s guide to making great art
    Sep 13, 2024 – 59:27
  • Can I microdose veganism?
    Sep 6, 2024 – 57:25
  • What's the best phone to do crimes on?
    Aug 16, 2024 – 01:04:55
  • Is there a sane way to follow this election?
    Aug 9, 2024 – 01:04:05
  • The End
    Aug 2, 2024 – 56:06
  • The Kidnapping of Ape #8398
    Jul 26, 2024 – 41:09
  • Genesis
    Jul 19, 2024 – 01:08:50
  • The Bidding War
    Jul 12, 2024 – 51:18
  • Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain? (Part 2)
    Jun 26, 2024 – 01:13:34
  • Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain? (Part 1)
    Jun 21, 2024 – 55:18
  • What does it feel like to believe in God?
    Jun 14, 2024 – 01:07:06
  • How much glue should you put in your pizza?
    May 31, 2024 – 45:44
  • How do we survive the media apocalypse? (Part 2)
    May 22, 2024 – 01:04:22
  • Should this creepy search engine exist?
    May 10, 2024 – 01:00:56
  • What do trigger warnings actually do?
    May 3, 2024 – 59:29
  • Where's my flying car?
    Apr 19, 2024 – 55:40
  • Do political yard signs actually do anything?
    Apr 12, 2024 – 37:09
  • Why are there so many illegal weed stores in New York City? (Part 2)
    Apr 5, 2024 – 01:08:42
Recent Reviews
  • fsuwanderlust
    Tangerine
    Tangerine
  • Weeewewweeee
    Great show
    Love this show
  • modern applications
    The best podcast? Yes
    Search Engine answers questions I didn't even realize I had. Some themes seem to be: our relationship with technology, the music industry, drug safety, crumbling American society, animals in urban areas. But don't worry! It's fun and interesting. Give it a try.
  • ricardo_nw
    Fun and interesting
    This show is great journalism. Very fun. Very interesting.
  • Deb in Oakland
    So glad to find this
    Funny, insightful, interesting. Love this podcast!
  • HistoricalAverage
    Yeah this one’s legit
    Wow wowo wow. I first learned about this one through a Planet Money feature about Tether and its usefulness in enabling text message scams and how those scams are powering human trafficking in Cambodia. Excellent journalism that deserves the large following and patient audience prerequisite of excellent journalism!
  • IlliniGuy1234
    Awesome
    Love the show. Thank you
  • Luuuu97?
    Great!
    This podcast is great but god I miss reply all!!!! Your goofy friendship with Alex Goldman beautiful and helped get me through covid
  • RobOfBobs
    🍊
    Tangerine
  • Soccer31Star
    Amazing 🤩
    I found out about this podcast via a planet money episode, and I fell in love with search engines excellent reporting
  • jordano2017
    Tangerine
    :)
  • dinonugget4
    Love the show but you missed a key app
    You should mention the freedom app in your next episode – – and it absolutely saved me while writing my dissertation and sounds much more advanced and effective than either the brick or the other app that you mentioned. It’s not super pricey and in my opinion extremely well worth the investment so definitely merits a shout out. At least for a non-software engineer like me, it is also impossible to get around, unlike Screen Time controls
  • Leandra's butthole
    Howdy hi
    Tangerine 🧡
  • Shelbele13
    The best podcast. Period.
    Always fresh and interesting. New topics that I would never think to ask, researched and presented in the most entertaining way. Always waiting for the next episode!
  • WDavis86
    My favorite podcast
    Tangerine 🍊
  • AD3814
    Austen
    Tangerine
  • Ace Summers
    Tangerine 🍊
    That’s about it
  • Niraj from Cleveland
    Tangerine
    I listen to 35+ pods and this is the only one that I consistently look forward to each episode. PJ and team have a way of featuring the most topical conversation and question that no one else seems to be asking. I’m always recommending episodes to friends.
  • Tsedege
    Tangerine!!
    You’re the best!!
  • jmwinkler
    Engrossing Deep Dives
    Every week, PJ plumbs to the very bottom of questions nagging questions you didn’t quite realize were bugging you. It’s like spending a weekend on a scavenger hunt with a school chum you haven’t seen in years. Not to be missed.
  • Crazy Babcia
    Tangerine
    Tangerine
  • Magpie Jinx
    tangerine
    T A N G E R I N E Thanks for all the great episodes!
  • OkayJeffrey
    Citrus Fruit
    Cuties & Clementines
  • pomodoro72
    Fruit?
    Tangerine
  • 🩻🪩🕥
    Tangerine
    🍊
  • csj97229
    Excellent podcast
    PJ Vogt has a talent for making even the most obscure topic interesting to a wide audience. He asks insightful questions, presents details intelligently, and does it all without coming across as pretentious or preachy. Highly recommended!
  • Totes432
    Thoughtful, funny and a must listen.
    The best! Everything that’s good about podcast. Love love love
  • yogamamaOKC
    Hey, PJ-
    Tangerine
  • Ras Twaka
    Tangerine
    Tangerine
  • Fazer Dave
    Wide variety
    I dig the broad range of topics covered. Often, it’s not something I thought would be interesting, but turns out it is.
  • TMommy4
    Tangerine
    Tangerine
  • KateandFry
    Doesn’t have the reply all magic
    The topics and investigations are mildly interesting. PJ on his own isn’t as fun/smart/interesting as the duo was. One-person pods are a bit one dimensional.
  • irka55
    Tangerine
    Love the idea of the show and how you follow and interesting idea through a journalistic lens.
  • picknikkay
    Great Questions, Better Answers
    Followed my favorite host, PJ, from Reply All to Search Engine. Every episode is interesting and brings up great discussions with my partner and I! 100% recommend
  • GinGin10
    Well researched
    It's nice to find a podcast that prioritizes researching the interesting little stories they present.
  • Angryrugbyman
    My favorite podcast
    I was so sad when reply all ended. But search engine fills the void. It’s funny, intelligent and a joy to listen. So glad this is here.
  • Tiff2344
    Favorite show of mine
    This is honestly my favorite podcast. PJ reports like my brain works.
  • MrPink468
    Journalism at its best
    This show and particularly PJ Vogt reminds us all why journalism is important, can be interesting, and bring us together while still being incredibly fun. If you like thorough answers to peculiar but important questions there is nothing better.
  • oldzeb22
    I love it!!
    This is a great podcast, I recommend it all the time. PJ covers questions from the mundane, to the profound. His guests are funny, thoughtful, and always interesting. Love it!
  • Doria N.
    Yay! You’re Back!!!!
    I’m so glad I found you again…I was an avid listener of Reply All and was disheartened by the programming changes that were made to that show- I stopped listening as soon as you departed. Welcome back to my airwaves- I missed you and this show is like a return home to the great pioneering podcasts of yore❤️
  • Zach Rating Man
    5 Stars!
    Great show where every topic is interesting and you always learn something about something!
  • Tyrael320
    Love this podcast
    I am not very big into podcasts overall, but Search Engine is one of the few that I am always looking forward to listening to as new episodes are released. I loved Reply All and I like that this show can be a bit similar in ways, while still having its own identity. Definitely recommend checking it out, if you’re not already a listener.
  • pizzuh1
    PJ is the goat
    Long time listener of Reply All, and glad he’s back with Search Engine. Great stories and great journalism
  • Lizzyfc
    My go to
    When I get in the car and have a drive ahead of me the absolute first thing I do is open Podcasts and look for a new episode of Search Engine. It’s my go to for light, funny, informative and smart. More episodes please PJ and team! More Berghain!
  • Elleshyman
    Love it
    Great podcast - especially love the episodes where they focus on solving a specific mystery
  • EffMayson
    Love this show!
    I listen to a lot of podcasts every week but I always seem to be mentioning whatever story of the week is on Search Engine to my friends more than any other show. Keep up the great work!
  • mi mi the great
    very well informed
    love the topics
  • ruthieroars125
    so much fun
    my fiance and i listen while we clean the house
  • CERollings
    The best
    Honestly, my favourite podcast on the internet.
  • pease porridge
    Great show
    Great show and host
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