Engines of Our Ingenuity

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The story of technological progress is one of drama and intrigue, sudden insight and plain hard work. Let’s explore technology’s spectacular failures and many magnificent success stories.

Houston Public Media

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    • Jan 4, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • daily NEW EPISODES
    • 3m AVG DURATION
    • 2,028 EPISODES

    4.8 from 162 ratings Listeners of Engines of Our Ingenuity that love the show mention: engines, invention, engineering, houston, literature, dr, science, bravo, art, subjects, history, short, human, program, every day, minutes, highly recommended, engaging, thank, interesting.


    Ivy Insights

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity is an incredible podcast that has captivated me for the past three years. I cannot get enough of it and find myself listening to it in the car with my young children, exposing them to the wonders of engineering and the creative minds behind innovative ideas. This show holds a special place in my heart as I remember listening to it every day on my way to elementary school. It brings back great memories and instills a sense of curiosity and wonder in both children and adults.

    One of the best aspects of The Engines of Our Ingenuity is its tremendous breadth in selection of topics. Each episode covers a wide range of subjects related to science, engineering, history, philosophy, and human mechanics. It is highly recommended to anyone with a curious mind, regardless of their background in engineering or science. The concise format makes it approachable and engaging for non-engineers/non-scientists like myself.

    The worst aspect of this podcast is that it is no longer available for download as a podcast. The decision to block out podcast listeners by only providing M3U files is puzzling and inconvenient for those who enjoyed streaming episodes while traveling or catching up on missed episodes. It would be much more user-friendly if the podcast was available for download again.

    In conclusion, The Engines of Our Ingenuity is a well-written, insightful, and captivating podcast that delves into the intersection of science and our everyday lives through the lens of engineering. Dr. John Lienhard has created a legacy through this series, leaving a lasting impact on his listeners by sparking their curiosity and appreciation for innovation. Despite the inconvenience of not being available as a traditional podcast anymore, this show remains highly recommended for anyone seeking knowledge and inspiration from the world of engineering.



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    Latest episodes from Engines of Our Ingenuity

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1500: A Landmark: 1500/2000

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2026 3:43


    Episode: 1500 1500th episode and 2000 AD: A poor time to summarize.  Today, we reach a landmark.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1499: Domesticating Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2026 3:43


    Episode: 1499 Domestic animals: A tricky marriage between human and beast.  Today, we try to domesticate a wild animal.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1563: Toys

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 3:44


    Episode: 1563 Looking back at the impact of toys.  Sorting through a box the other day, I found old toys -- a lead soldier, a stuffed dog, a set of blocks.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1760: The Christmas Lectures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2026 3:45


    Episode: 1760 The Christmas Lectures: Michael Faraday's Gift to children.  Today, the Christmas Lectures.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3348: Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 3:45


    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3037: Carol of the Bells

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 4:14


    Episode: 3037 Carol of the Bells.  Today, a Christmas carol.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3347: Circus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 3:51


    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1498: Thoughts on Jumping

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2025 3:41


    Episode: 1498 How the In which we try to jump as high as a flea.  Today, can you jump as high as a flea?

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1497: The Double-Bitted Axe

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2025 3:40


    Episode: 1497 The rise of Paul Bunyan's radical double-bitted axe.  Today, we learn to use a new axe.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1496: Mrs. Greenhow, Confederate Spy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2025 3:39


    Episode: 1496 Mrs. Greenhow, the first great Confederate spy.  Today, we meet a Confederate spy.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2548: Informs

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2025 3:48


    Episode: 2548 INFORMS and the mathematics of problem solving.  Today, strange bedfellows.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2817: Creativity

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2817 Where do creative ideas come from?  Today, let's talk about creativity.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2834: Wombs and Witchcraft

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 3:51


    Episode: 2834 Wombs and Witchcraft: Edward Jorden's Suffocation of the Mother (1603).  Today, wombs and witchcraft.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1495: The Chauffer Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 3:38


    Episode: 1495 The new technological elite: chauffeurs then, computer experts today.  Today, we learn to drive our own cars -- and manage our own computers.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1494: X-Ray Hair Removal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2025 3:38


    Episode: 1494 The strange persistence of X-ray hair removal.  Today, we kill ourselves to remove hair.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1492: Necessity in the Siege of Paris

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2025 3:36


    Episode: 1492 Necessity and invention during the 1870 siege of Paris.  Today, necessity, invention, and the Siege of Paris.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1491: Orpheus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 3:41


    Episode: 1491 In which business schools study a leaderless orchestra.  Today, we have no leader.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2547: Charging Interest

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2547 Changing views on charging interest throughout history.  Today, interest.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2674: The Royal Navy Surgeon

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 3:50


    Episode: 2674 The Royal Navy Surgeon; Taking Medicine to Sea in the Age of Sail.  Today, the Royal Navy Surgeon.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1490: Germs

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 3:34


    Episode: 1490 Germs, John Snow, and the Broad Street Well.  Today, we talk about germs.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1489 Helicopter

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2025 3:34


    Episode: 1489 Inventing the helicopter: harder than it looked.  Today, we invent the helicopter.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1488: The Roeblings

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2025 3:33


    Episode: 1488 John, Washington, & Emily Roebling, and the Brooklyn Bridge.  Today, a family gives us the Brooklyn Bridge.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1492: Necessity in the Siege of Paris

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2025 3:36


    Episode: 1492 Necessity and invention during the 1870 siege of Paris.  Today, necessity, invention, and the Siege of Paris.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1487: Telephone Use

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 3:39


    Episode: 1487 Teaching the American public to use the telephone.  Today, would you buy the first telephone?

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2545: Milton Bradley

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 3:42


    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2617: Facebooking

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2617 Facebook, social networking website, or new medium?  Today, Facebooking.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2829: Cesare Lombroso

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 3:50


    Episode: 2829 Cesare Lombroso and his Museum.  Today, a head in a jar.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1485: Ship of Gold

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 3:42


    Episode: 1485 Ship of gold in the Deep Blue Sea: an impossible treasure recovery.  Today, we hunt treasure.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1484: Georg Cantor

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2025 3:39


    Episode: 1484 Georg Cantor, the man who counted beyond infinity.  Today, we wonder about counting to infinity.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1483: Gibbs and Visualization

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2025 3:41


    Episode: 1483 In which J. Willard Gibbs pictures gear teeth.  Today, a glimpse into the mind of J. Willard Gibbs.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1481: Photography: The Salad Days

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 3:40


    Episode: 1481 A revealing view of photography's early days.  Today, where was photography headed in 1854?

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2542: Hippodamus of Miletus

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2542 Hippodamus of Miletus and Urban Design.  Today, a grid for the ages.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3346: Mary Proctor

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 3:47


    Episode: 3346 In which Mary Proctor uses myth to help children understand reality.  Today, astronomy for children.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3345: Tacheometry

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 3:50


    Episode: 3345 In which I learn that an old book is not about tachometry but tacheometry instead.  Today, a set of misunderstandings.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3342: Bernardo Zamagna

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 3342 Bernardo Zamagna designs a lighter-than-air ship that physics could not quite support.  Today, let us fly with Bernardo Zamagna.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1480: Streamline

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2025 3:38


    Episode: 1480 Streamlining and the American public.  Today, we talk about streamlining.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1479: Great-Grandchildren

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2025 3:41


    Episode: 1479 The riddle of more grandparents than people.  Today, you and I are kin.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1478: Statue of Liberty

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2025 3:45


    Episode: 1478 A sneak preview of the Statue of Liberty.  Today, a sneak preview of the Statue of Liberty.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2538: Cheese

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 3:48


    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3343: Frank Rosenblatt’s Perceptron

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 3:50


    Episode: 3343  Frank Rosenblatt's perceptron and the quest to design machines that can learn.  Today, the origin of learning in artificial neural networks.

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