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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    • Oct 9, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • daily NEW EPISODES
    • 3m AVG DURATION
    • 1,940 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 2517: Rebecca Clarke

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 3:51


    Episode: 2517 Rebecca Clarke: Violist, Composer, Woman.  Today, a woman in conflict.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2978: Matisse’s Verve

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 3:46


    Episode: 2978 Henri Matisse cuts paper to design a cover for the art magazine Verve.  Today we look at heroism through cut paper.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3333: Lawrence Morely and Seafloor Spreading

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2025 3:54


    Episode: 3333 Lawrence Morely and Seafloor Spreading.  Today, a question of priority.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3332: Dynamo

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2025 3:54


    Episode: 3332 From DC Dynamo to AC Alternator.  Today, the dynamo.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1453: Two Huygens and John Donne

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2025 3:40


    Episode: 1453 Christiaan and Constantijn Huygens, and John Donne.  Today, a tale of two Huygens and John Donne.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1451: Inventing the Library

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2025 3:41


    Episode: 1451 Inventing the free public lending library: socialism in books.  Today, we invent the library.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3331: What Is a Photo?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 3:47


    Episode: 3331 Some thoughts about photography and reality.  Today, Let's take pictures.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2513: Our Teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2513 The Importance of Teachers in Shaping our Lives.  Today, remembering our teachers.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2905: The Gift of Imagination

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 3:50


    Episode: 2905 Imagination's Contributions to Science and Technology, Developmental Psychology and Imagination.  Today, the gift of imagination.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1450: Searching for Cleopatra

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2025 3:42


    Episode: 1450 In which we learn too much about Cleopatra and the Pharos Lighthouse.  Today, we look for Cleopatra.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1449: Image and Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2025 3:38


    Episode: 1449 Another look at image and reality: Fake Triceratops and manuscript books.  Today, more on images and reality.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1448: Guillotin/Guillotine

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2025 3:39


    Episode: 1448 The Guillotine and the democratization of death.  Today, heads will roll.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1447: Eighteenth-Century Factory Maintenance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2025 3:36


    Episode: 1447 18th-C factory maintenance: messier than Diderot showed us.  Today, a question of image and reality.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2510: Reason in All Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2510 Reason in all things: Augustine, Galileo, Collins, The Human Genome, and God.  Today, Augustine, Galileo, and the human genome.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2488: Creator vs. Revisor

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2025 3:48


    Episode: 2488 Revision: An Essential Component of the Creative Process.  Today, creator vs. revisor.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2823: Hypnotic Crimes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2025 3:51


    Episode: 2823 Gilles de la Tourette and Hypnotic Crimes.  Today, hypnotic crimes.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1444: ThrustSSC : 763 MPH

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2025 3:38


    Episode: 1444 In which ThrustSSC passes the sound barrier on land.  Today, a very fast car.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1443: Praising the Famous

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2025 3:34


    Episode: 1443 Some thoughts on fame and fortune in technology.  Today, thoughts on fame and fortune.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1442: Walter Chrysler and the texture of fame

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2025 3:39


    Episode: 1442 Walter Chrysler and the texture of fame.  Today, an odd glimpse of the texture of fame.

    The Engines of our Ingenuity 1441: Secret New York

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2025 3:42


    Episode: 1441 The secret places that define a city.  Today, we look for the secret places that complete a city.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2507: The Unsung Engineer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2507 The Unsung Engineer: The Mechanical Arts in Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie.  Today, celebrating the mechanical arts.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3330: Castle Drogo

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 3330 Building 20th century Castle Drogo Designed by Edwin Lutyens.  Today, building a twentieth-century Castle.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2816: Beginning Volcanology

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2025 3:50


    Episode: 2816 Sir William Hamilton and the Beginnings of Volcanology.  Today, the beginnings of volcanology.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1440: Steam Engines in England

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2025 3:39


    Episode: 1440 Steam engines in England during the 18th century.  Today, a look at steam engines in 18th-century England.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1439: A Capital Ship on an Ocean Trip

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2025 3:44


    Episode: 1439 A capital ship on an ocean trip: a reflection on battleships.  Today, let's talk about battleships.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1438: The XP-75

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2025 3:48


    Episode: 1438 The story of a failed airplane design -- the XP-75.  Today, we try to build a perfect airplane.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1436: Adding It Up in 1910

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2025 3:46


    Episode: 1436 Adding it up in 1910: A book grapples with the coming 20th century.  Today, a world prepares to be transformed.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2503: Rod Serling

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025 3:51


    Episode: 2503 Story-Teller Rod Serling and the Twilight Zone.  Today, a story — submitted for your approval.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2684: Will Computers Replace Scientists?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2684 Will Computers Replace Scientists?  Today, will computers replace scientists?

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2873: Encounter of the Third Kind

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 3:51


    Episode: 2873 The Search for Extraterrestrial Life; Drake Equation Explained; Aliens from Other Planets.  Today, an encounter of the third kind.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1435: Rudolph Diesel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2025 3:46


    Episode: 1435 Rudolf Diesel, his engine, and a look at invention.  Today, meet Rudolf Diesel.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1434: Systems, Complexity, and Simplicity

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2025 3:43


    Episode: 1434 Reflections on systems, complexity, and modern life.  Today, let's see what happens when our technologies join forces.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1432: Decisiveness

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2025 3:48


    Episode: 1432 Thoughts in dispraise of decisiveness.  Today, let's not decide.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1431: Dogs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2025 3:38


    Episode: 1431 In which dogs humanize us.  Today, some sidelights on the history of dogs.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2501: Nietzsche, Strauss, and Kubrick

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 3:53


    Episode: 2501 Nietzsche, Strauss, Kubrick, and a Trilogy of Metaphor.  Today, a story — in three parts.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2790: Vaccine Scares

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 3:50


    Episode: 2790 The Dynamics of Vaccine Scares.  Today, let's talk about vaccine scares.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2714: Hub Motors

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2025 3:49


    Episode: 2714 Hub Motors, aka In-Wheel Motors and their applications in electric vehicles.  Today, re-inventing...wheels.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1430: A Concern About Genius

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 3:45


    Episode: 1430 A concern about the complexity and danger of genius.  Today, I find genius puzzling.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1429: Russian Air Records

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2025 3:43


    Episode: 1429 Joseph Stalin and Russian aircraft records in the 1930s.  Today, Joseph Stalin tries to set flight distance records.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1428: Men and Self-Destruction

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2025 3:45


    Episode: 1428 Why do men self-destruct and die sooner than women?  Today, men self-destruct.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1427: Dominique de Menil

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025 3:45


    Episode: 1427 Dominique de Menil, a creative legacy.  Today, I learn something at a fancy benefit dinner.

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