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Dr. Marcus Pearce, cognitive scientist at Queen Mary University of London is interviewed in this podcast on why music affects us so deeply—and why those responses differ across cultures. Drawing on insights from his book Learning to Listen, Listening to Learn, Pearce explains how the brain predicts musical patterns, how culture shapes our perception of harmony and emotion, and why the balance between familiarity and surprise makes music so rewarding. The conversation also examines AI, cultural evolution, and what music reveals about the way humans learn, think, and feel.