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
  • 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
  • Why are there so many illegal weed stores in New York City? (Part 1)
    Mar 29, 2024 – 52:19
  • A big announcement from Search Engine plus, "What's in your cocaine?"
    Mar 22, 2024 – 13:51
  • How do we survive the media apocalypse?
    Mar 15, 2024 – 01:02:37
  • Who's behind these scammy text messages we've all been getting?
    Mar 8, 2024 – 01:11:52
  • How do you make an addictive video game?
    Mar 1, 2024 – 53:43
Recent Reviews
  • kopithesheepie
    Thank you for asking the right Q and chasing down the answers!
    Love how interesting each and every episode is. I love the guests that PJ brings on and love the format of the reporting. Also, listening to PJ is always so fun!
  • Mylittleponymt
    I’d probably love any podcast hosted by PJ
    Similar to having “comfort” TV shows, I also have comfort podcasts where I love listening, regardless of today’s topic. Reply All was my favorite podcast of all time for both the subject matter and the hosts - and I loved their dynamic together. I listened to every episode. I’m so happy to have another PJ - podcast. I admit, I dont always find the subject matter as compelling- but I listen to about 85% of the episodes because there is something about PJ’s delivery and laugh. My favorite was the multi-part episodes about fentanyl and why it ends up in so many drugs and causes so many deaths - something seemingly bad for drug dealers/makers. It was a great subject and great delivery. Keep up the good work.
  • Shauna NI
    Good listen
    thry do their research and save me time plus they are entertaining!
  • jcrafter12
    Reply All fans, this one's for you
    Such a fascinating podcast. As a longtime lover of the Reply All podcast, it's so great to have PJ back doing a very similar kind of podcast -- just about way more than the Internet and technology. Great deep dives on so many topics!
  • Bevo82
    Always Fascinating and Thoughtful
    PJ Vogt is back with his thoughtful and fascinating takes that will surprise and move you to think and feel in different ways. One of my favorite podcasts out of hundreds I listen to.
  • kev_paris_88
    Real Journalism!
    One of my favorite podcasts on this planet! The episode on the USA Made grill scrubber is exactly what the world needs right now. Keep up the good work!
  • Happydapperdanish
    potato
    Potato
  • aquinn9
    Dumb tech bro
    PJ is just too dumb and insipid to carry the show, which is a shame because the format works really well (although it’s hardly original…). It helps that the whole format is based on PJ talking to people who are much smarter than him, but it only makes his shortcomings as a host more glaring. He postures as some tech expert but to talk about tech in 2025 requires a spine and ideally a moral compass. The last thing we need is one more Just Asking Questions guy. I should have given up when Search Engine posted a tone deaf episode about hating work… with no mention of their history of union busting and targeting their employees. Listen to Hyperfixed!
  • Clarinetster
    Meh
    The producers of this show must have a similar media diet to me because they often cover topics that were already done well by others. I didn’t listen to the flying while fat episode for a while because Ronald Young Jr’s podcast, Weight for It, did such a great job and I didn’t know what PJ could add. Well, turns out he was just going to basically re-air the Weight for It episode. That’s just lazy, and it’s not the first time I’ve felt this way about Search Engine. Also, PJ, the media doesn’t have a “liberal bias”, it has a fact-based bias. Check yourself.
  • ksb811
    Missed you boo
    Great reporting and great storytelling. Thank god PJ is still on the internet, the world needs this.
  • Mimiplatypus
    Top of my list
    I’m constantly sharing episodes with my friends and find myself thinking and talking about them. The latest one on AI and homework is like a happy smorgasbord for my brain.
  • cassidi
    Must listen to!
    I missed this style reporting!!! So glad you’re back!
  • ChimRichels1182
    Love this show
    Most unique podcast out there - PJ and team make any topic and question to answer a fascinating ride
  • Hsntidentifbwfm
    So good
    It is the best of the best I listen to many podcasts and it is my favorite I started listening to it on my 98th birthday and it has been the best years of my life
  • Teabaggindragon
    Shallow clickbait
    I just listened to PJ fail to argue an incredibly simple point against a 14 year old future tech bro who refers to himself as Playboy Farti. I then unsubscribed. If you’re wondering who made Reply All such a good show, Search Engine is evidence that it was NOT PJ.
  • 123FakeSt
    I want to love it
    But I can’t because of your laugh. Please, please stop. It makes me want to punch my phone. I have misophonia (a sensory processing disorder related to certain sounds. in fact, it makes me want to cry I hate it so much. I am so interested in so many of the topics but that Hahahahahahahahahahahaha kills me. Please.
  • Xblanc
    Fun. Smart. Funny. Relevant.
    Loved PJ from his previous show. He goes really in depth on some cool topics. Makes you feel like you’re talking to your friend while he sits on your couch and tells you a wild story.
  • wiredthinker
    always makes my brain keep turning
    i cannot get away from this podcast, my brain is always bringing me back to it. Im obsessed and im not usually a big podcast person. 5/5 LOVE.
  • Ger$h
    Came for Inflation, Stayed for God
    I heard about the episode about inflation on another podcast so I was planning to listen to the first 10 minutes of that episode and proceeded to listen to almost every episode of Search Engine. I’ve been interested about the two sides of the drug trade since reading Chasing the Scream and their two part about fentanyl was incredible. I haven’t reviewed a podcast since 2010, but the episode about belief in God made it feel necessary to praise PJ and the producers for a phenomenal show. The incredible amount of work they put into finding a pool in Buckingham Palace was amazing. Hearing the guru of radio programming Ira Glass give agency to those of us obsessed with work was gratifying. New favorite podcast.
  • hwpw
    “Family versus work” ep—yikes
    I have loved this podcast so much since it launched, and was so thrilled to have PJ making things again. Clearly a person who loves his work which is wonderful and moving. But to do an episode about whether a person can “just work forever” or parent and it’s just two podcast industry men, one of whom is a notorious workaholic and noxious boss? Your curiosity almost always takes you further than that, PJ, and that episode made me feel so sad and alienated. It’s such a lost opportunity to ask people whose stakes are… I’m sorry, real, how they think about the work versus family question. Specifically maybe a woman? Or a person WITH children? Or frankly a person with other substantial and meaningful caregiving responsibilities (because guess what podcast boys, care work comes for us all.)
  • yourmmaammaa
    Great podcast
    This is one of my favorite podcasts. Highly recommend it
  • Deenowherechef
    Love it
    Over the past year this has easily become one of my favorite games podcasts! It’s thoughtful, funny, & very informative. Keep up the great work PJ!
  • CMD531
    So good to have you back
    It is so nice to be able to hear PJ’s voice and laughter again. This podcast tackle some interesting. Topics has been very entertaining so far. I hope he has another long run of podcast.
  • Simple Monster Cre8ive
    PJ’s Laugh Alone Is Worth It
    The title above is not a troll. PJ’s personal joy is the grace behind the sometimes dark and intense topics this awesome podcast covers. Even the lighter hearted stories are meaningful and profound to me. Great story telling, delightful host, provocative subject matter. Looking forward to more episodes.❤️
  • peterb746252
    My favorite podcast
    PJ Vogt’s journalism and artistry is rare and beautiful. Part of it is his mastery of context, he sets the stage for a good story so well that I love listening to stories he does that wouldn’t interest me in any other show. His love for the work, unique perspective and rich vocabulary makes his show a delight
  • One Blind -Mouse 75
    Had to leave
    I enjoyed it when it was an amusing Corky show but now it's more of a therapy session for the host when things in the world don't go the way he wants it.
  • All kill no fill
    ❤️❤️
    Thank you, sincerely and truly and wholly. I’m so grateful this exists ⚡️♥️
  • Mellipooh
    Nice break from the others
    Sometimes it’s nice to just listen to a random topic. This show is a nice mix of a little of everything. It’s well researched, well thought out, well produced, and PJ and his guests are fun to listen to. It’s become a favorite podcast of mine.
  • JordanHumm
    Why haven’t y’all subscribed already??
    I am here for PJ’s laugh.
  • Giovandreoli
    Banger
    I love this show!! Topics are always interesting, even when I don’t expect it, PJ is a great host and the theme music rocks
  • chazz712
    I Love Search Engine!
    PJ is a fun, curious host tackling questions at all levels of importance. I absolutely love the format of the show, the range of questions PJ tries to answer, and the unique mix of answering interesting questions while not taking oneself too seriously
  • Scottggg
    PJ slurs his speech too much
    I like the content of this show but the dude needs to annunciate better. He slurs his speech like a drunk person.
  • ophiesay
    One of the best podcasts
    One of the best produced, best written podcasts out there. Great storytelling and in depth investigation into curiosities in this world. I never miss an episode. Great. Just great.
  • leeloula
    Gawk at the wreckage with me
    Search Engine helps me feel better about the weird questions and confusions swirling in my brain. Not because it answers anything, but because I know there is a community of listeners and creators that are also wondering and just trying to make sense of it all. The show is rarely predictable and always satisfying. The guests and experts are varied and knowledgeable and willing to admit their own known unknowns. If AI is replacing the other type of search engines, I hope that this podcast remains as human as possible. And in case you are wondering, Incognito Mode is very worth it. So invest your $ and your time in this podcast and these creators.
  • Cheese and Crackers45
    This Is the One
    There are many podcasts with this kind of premise; this is by far the best one.
  • LDR29
    Mostly enjoyable
    I listened to Reply All for years and generally enjoy PJ. Is he a little insufferable in an “NPR voice” way? Yes. But I mostly have fun listening to this podcast. That said, this week’s episode about working versus having a family left me cold. To not acknowledge the POV of a mother/primary caretaker felt really shortsighted and frankly exclusionary. This show has always been a little navel gazey, but this episode felt a bit disgusting. I get that PJ was working some personal stuff out that created additional bias, but this is a huge issue in the US that deserves a more thorough approach. I’ll probably listen to future episodes, but this one was a real doozy and made me view the host in a less flattering light. I suggest hosting a follow up episode that explores the struggles of childcare and what having a child means for women in the workforce, even in 2025.
  • pacman42000
    Superb
    PJ has a gift in turning seemingly random questions/topics into timely, interesting, and frequently heartfelt stories. Awesome content
  • Two cents02
    Pleasantly surprised and in love
    Give it a shot, even if you didn’t like “Reply All.” I didn’t, but Search Engine is in my top 3. I can’t wait for the next episode. It’s intelligent but approachable. Interesting topics. It’s something you can share with people you struggle to find entertainment to enjoy together. It’s fun and casual but still professional and in-depth. If you like to just get the gist of something while you do dishes or walk the dog, this is a good podcast for you. If you like to get all the facts and really think about it, there’s plenty for you to sink your teeth into. I’ve listened to most episodes more than once, just to make sure I absorb it all. I love it so much I pay for it.
  • 3handedaxe
    What you love
    You know what they say: “Turn your passion into a job and you’ll never be able to tell if you’re working or not for the rest of your life.”
  • SansarGupta7
    The best podcast and it’s not even close
    PJ asks delightful yet thoughtful questions in interviews that are too addictive to miss
  • rhsiao
    Good for General Interests
    Lives up to its name, covers a huge breadth of topics. Well-researched stories. Suitable for those curious about many things in the world, but if looking for a show with a sharper focus, probably better look elsewhere.
  • Some Telephone Guy
    A delightful array of curiousities explored!
    As a former Reply-All listener, I was thrilled when I saw this new offering from PJ Vogt - and on first listen, it did not disappoint! I look forward to each week where a new, often listener proposed question is explored in detail with good natured humor and relentless curiousity. I'm happy to support their paid content as well... helping to ensure I get to listen to more of the same in the future. Highly recommend!
  • xhhwbakhcnrka
    Great
    Great pod!!!
  • elixabethmarie
    Thank you
    The Buckingham pool episode is giving me Mystery Show vibes, which made me so happy
  • Desire Path
    A delightful mystery
    The latest episode is so good! A perfect low stakes mystery thriller. Thanks!
  • Sotapete
    Honest
    Outstanding and honest. Just try it. Each show shines like a separate facet, united in style but each with unique flash, and every metaphor better than that one. Thanks, PJ, Sruthi and all.
  • thetxkid
    A weekly staple
    One of the few podcasts I genuinely look forward to every week.
  • Jatty Jat
    Makes commuting enjoyable
    Learning through the top notch search engine team of journalists and via the gorgeous delightful brain of PJ Vogt is a treat. Listen often and treat yourself!
  • Dinsmith
    Never Boring
    Thoroughly interesting. Regardless of the question on tap, always provides insightful answers and perspective.
  • MandieinAK
    PJ Vogt never disappoints
    Been listening to PJ since Reply All. He is so relatable, witty, and explains things really well. So impressed with the AI episode!! It was so well presented and made me wonder if Chat GPT or Claude as used to best produce the episode!and no judgement ! I was just blown away with the details and the way it addressed any random question that popped into my head without saying anything out load. Thank you PJ for all your work! There’s is an episode from Reply All that often takes up space in my mind, maybe called, yes yes no? You didn’t know who Ariana Grande was and I could so relate. That was many moons ago I definitely know Ariana now a days. Keep up the great work! Love Search Engine! Thank you
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