1440 Explores: Timely Topics That Fascinate

 Let me start with a confession. I am a subscriber to the 1440 Newsletter as part of my daily news routine. I enjoy its abbreviated, straight-to-the-point format, and how the newsletter highlights stories, questions, and ideas that invite people to follow their curiosity down the rabbit hole.

It has none of this ridiculously one-sided Fox News, where, for example, they reported in January 2026 that Joe Biden was on vacation as a gotcha, because, I guess ex-presidents are not allowed to go on vacation.  

Like many smart media companies, 1440 has transitioned into other formats, in this case, podcasting. 

 

1440 Explores is a "sonic encyclopedia for the insatiably curious" produced by the creators of the 1440 daily news digest in collaboration with Rhyme Media. Hosted by 1440 Editor-in-Chief Sony Kassam, the podcast delivers deep dives into fascinating, timely topics, combining history, science, and expert insights.

The podcast aims to help listeners make sense of the world by exploring complex topics, such as the history of artificial intelligence, the evolution of credit cards, or the mysteries of the mind.
The format is designed as an informative, narrative-driven show featuring expert guests—for example, featuring "father of the cell phone" Marty Cooper and wireless pioneer Arlene Harris in an episode about cellular technology.

The podcast began in September 2025 with a trailer that announced, "1440 Explores dives into the most fascinating topics of our time—why we dream, how AI thinks, the magic (and consequences) of credit cards, and more—blending science, history, and expert insights to make sense of the world."

Sony Kassam is a superb podcast host, infecting her listeners with the same viral curiosity that she possesses.  

Some of my favorite episodes so far include the October 2025 Why We Drink and What It Does to Us show with David Nutt, psychiatrist and professor of psycho-pharmacology at Imperial College in London, author of Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health, and cofounder of Sentia Spirits. The second guest -- Edward Slingerland, professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia and author of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization -- discusses the history of alcohol and debunks a few myths.

My favorite episode to date has been the one about dreams. Kassam begins, "We spend six years of our lives dreaming. But what if someone else is controlling what you dream about?" 

With help from pioneering sleep scientist Dr. Bob Stickgold, Sony Kassam unpacks what dreams really are, why the brain spins up these nighttime storylines, how memories and emotions shape them, and why certain dreams feel like we’re suddenly in the driver’s seat. Plus, the new frontier of dreams: how companies and researchers can control them. Is that why I dreamed about a new mattress last night?

Creator/host Sony Kassam is a journalist and media executive serving as the Chief Content Officer and Editor-in-Chief at 1440 Media, where she leads the editorial team for their daily newsletter with 4.5 million readers. Based in Chicago, she is also the host and executive producer of the 1440 Explores podcast

Kassam spent five years at Bloomberg Industry Group in Washington, D.C., as a reporter and editor covering federal and state tax developments. She also worked as a director of multimedia and content strategy at Becker's Healthcare. Kassam holds a Master's degree from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

What I love most about 1440 Explores is the sense of discovery and curiosity that its stories promote. Unlike MAGA acolytes, who look narrowly at every story from a strictly political and cultural lens, 1440 Explores wanders into the weeds with no political or cultural agenda other than illumination.