What Makes the UCSD Podcast Lineup Worth Following
The UCSD podcast world is not a single show, but a network of official programs produced across the university, and each one covers different ground. N Equals One, produced by UC San Diego Health, tells the story of one project, one discovery, or one scientist per episode.
Tritoncast, the official UC San Diego Athletics podcast, drops new episodes every Wednesday with coaches and student-athletes. UCTV also distributes UC San Diego research audio, including its ongoing Stem Cell Channel series. Together, these shows give listeners a genuine cross-section of campus life.
Here is a look at ten episodes across these UCSD podcast shows that are worth adding to your 2026 queue.
10 UCSD Podcast Episodes You Shouldn’t Miss
1. N Equals One: A Government In COVID-19 Denial
This episode follows a study on the pandemic’s impact on health care workers in Nicaragua, where the government refused to acknowledge COVID-19 was happening, featuring researchers James McKerrow, Jorge Huete-Perez, and Richard Feinberg.
2. N Equals One: What Mini-Lungs In A Dish Might Tell Us About COVID-19
Physician-scientists Aaron Carlin and Sandra Leibel explain how stem cell-based lung organoids, originally built to study newborn lung disease, became a tool for understanding how SARS-CoV-2 affects the lungs.
3. N Equals One: Cancer Stem Cells And Leukemia
Senior project scientist Leslie Crews breaks down the darker side of stem cell research, explaining how cancer stem cells behave differently and what that means for leukemia treatment.
4. N Equals One: A Pharmacist’s Path, Inspired By A Grandmother’s Peach Tree
Pharmacist and educator Candis Morello shares her career story and explains how pharmacists have become a bigger part of the modern patient care team.
5. N Equals One: Why Research Funding Disparities Persist
Professor Michael Taffe unpacks the complex root causes behind funding gaps in biomedical research and what scientists and institutions can do to address them.
6. Tritoncast Episode 113: Meet Men’s Basketball Coach Clint Allard
New head coach Clint Allard, a former Triton player and 13-season staff member, talks about stepping into the role and what to expect from the program heading into fall.
7. Tritoncast Episode 133: Women’s Volleyball Season Preview
New head coach Spencer McLachlin previews the season, covering how newcomers have integrated and what fans can expect once the team steps into LionTree Arena.
8. Tritoncast Episode 134: Men’s Water Polo And The Croatia Trip
Head coach Matt Ustaszewski previews the water polo season, recaps the team’s summer trip to Croatia, and looks ahead to the Triton Invitational and the national championship.
9. UC San Diego Audio: Stem Cell Health In Space
Researcher Jessica Pham explains how spaceflight affects blood-forming stem cells and cancer stem cells, drawing on astronaut blood analysis and nano bioreactor studies.
10. UC San Diego Audio: Brain Aging And Disease Research From Space
Aline Martins walks through how brain organoids and space-based neuroscience research are helping scientists understand cognitive decline and accelerated aging.
Why These Episodes Stand Out
Each entry on this list reflects a different piece of what makes UC San Diego’s podcast network worth following. The N Equals One episodes translate complex research into personal, story-driven science journalism, Tritoncast keeps fans close to the coaches and athletes shaping Triton sports, and the UCTV research audio pushes into genuinely novel territory like space-based medicine.
That range is what makes searching for a UCSD podcast worth the extra step of finding the right show for your interests.
How to Start Listening to UCSD Podcasts in 2026
N Equals One is available on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and by RSS feed. Tritoncast releases new episodes every Wednesday on major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio, and UC San Diego’s research audio series can be found on Apple Podcasts and UCTV.
Since none of these shows are told in strict chronological order, new listeners can start with whichever topic interests them most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There One Official UCSD Podcast
No single show carries that exact name. UC San Diego instead produces several official podcasts, including N Equals One, Tritoncast, and UCTV’s research audio series.
How Often Do New Episodes Drop
Tritoncast releases new episodes every Wednesday, while N Equals One and UCTV’s research podcasts release on a rolling basis as new stories and studies become available.
Where Can I Listen To UCSD Podcasts
These shows are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, iHeartRadio, and UCTV, along with select video episodes on YouTube.
Final Thoughts
The UCSD podcast network rewards listeners willing to explore beyond a single feed, from N Equals One’s science storytelling to Tritoncast’s inside look at Triton Athletics.
Whether you start with a stem cell research episode or a Tritoncast season preview, this list is a solid roadmap for building your 2026 listening rotation.
