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Radiolab

By: WNYC Studios
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  • Summary

  • Radiolab is on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser.
    © WNYC Studios
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Episodes
  • Deep Cuts

    Deep Cuts
    Apr 22 2021

    Today, Lulu and Latif talk about some of their favorite episodes from Radiolab’s past that hold new power today.

    Lulu points to an episode from 2008:

    Imagine that you're a composer. Imagine getting the commission to write a song that will allow family members to face the death of a loved one. Well, composer David Lang had to do just that when a hospital in Garches, France, asked him to write music for their morgue, or 'Salle Des Departs.' What do you do? This piece was produced by Jocelyn Gonzales.

    And Latif talks about an episode Jad made in 2009. Here’s how we described it back then:

    Jad--a brand new father--wonders what's going on inside the head of his baby Amil.

    (And don't worry, you don't need kids to enjoy this podcast.) The questions here are big: what is it like to be so brand new to the world? None of us have memories from this time, so how could we possibly ever know? Is it just chaos? Or, is there something more, some understanding from the very beginning? Jad found a development psychologist named Charles Fernyhough to explore some of his questions.

    Support Radiolab by becoming a member today at Radiolab.org/donate.

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    24 mins
  • The Septendecennial Sing-Along

    The Septendecennial Sing-Along
    Apr 15 2021

    While most of us hear a wall of white noise, squeaks, and squawks....David Rothenberg hears a symphony. He's trained his ear to listen for the music of animals, and he's always looking for chances to join in, with everything from lonely birds to giant whales to swarming cicadas.

    In this podcast, David explains his urge to connect and sing along, and helps break down the mysterious life cycle and mating rituals of the periodical cicadas into something we can all relate to.

    Support Radiolab by becoming a member today at Radiolab.org/donate.

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    20 mins
  • What Up Holmes?

    What Up Holmes?
    Apr 2 2021

    Love it or hate it, the freedom to say obnoxious and subversive things is the quintessence of what makes America America. But our say-almost-anything approach to free speech is actually relatively recent, and you can trace it back to one guy: a Supreme Court justice named Oliver Wendell Holmes. Even weirder, you can trace it back to one seemingly ordinary 8-month period in Holmes’s life when he seems to have done a logical U-turn on what should be say-able. Why he changed his mind during those 8 months is one of the greatest mysteries in the history of the Supreme Court. (Spoiler: the answer involves anarchists, a house of truth, and a cry for help from a dear friend.) Join us as we investigate why he changed his mind, how that made the country change its mind, and whether it’s now time to change our minds again.

    This episode was reported by Latif Nasser and was produced by Sarah Qari.

    Special thanks to Jenny Lawton, Soren Shade, Kelsey Padgett, Mahyad Tousi and Soroush Vosughi.

    Support Radiolab by becoming a member today at Radiolab.org/donate.

    further reading:

    Thomas Healy’s book The Great Dissent: How Oliver Wendell Holmes CHanged His Mind - And Changed the History of Free Speech In America (the inspiration for this episode) plus his latest book Soul City: Race, Equality and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia.

    The Science article that Sinan Aral wrote in 2018, along with Soroush Vosughi and Deb Roy: “The Spread of True and False News Online”

    Sinan Aral’s recent book The Hype Machine: How Social Media Disrupts Our Elections, Our Economy and our Health - And How We Must Adapt

    Zeynep Tufekci’s newsletter “The Insight” plus her book Twitter and Teargas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest

    Nabiha Syed’s news website The Markup

    Trailer for “The Magnificent Yankee,” a 1950 biopic of Oliver Wendell Holmes

    Anthony Lewis, Freedom for the Thought that We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment
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    48 mins
World Social Sciences Natural History
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Featured Article: Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners


Our picks for the best science podcasts run the gamut from general scientific trivia to earth science, outer space, food, plants, the human body, and much more. They're all accessible—any listener can learn about scientific history, breaking science news, and visions for the future from these shows, which often feature interviews with a variety of interesting experts who provide valuable insight, perspective, context, and clarity.

Featured Article Go Beyond the Lab with the Best Science Podcasts for Curious Listeners

What listeners say about Radiolab

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Profile Image for GenXtinction

Thank you for the truth...

I had always been told that only Oregon was attacked. I still hear that false narrative when listening to books and other media. I have a lot to reflect about and it's exactly why I love this podcast.

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Profile Image for Josie Gooch

great story

the longer you listen, the better it gets. one discovery after another. kept me listening.

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Profile Image for G. Gonzales

This is the perfected podcast

No quirks with this podcast but you don’t have to listen to it on audible only. Robert crulwich and jad do a great job explaining and I am never let down but special guests. The only notable thing is that most new episodes are a little gloomy.

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Profile Image for Bare Knees

Not even Latif Nassar could ruin this one

This, Corpse Demon, feels like one of the good ole episodes with Jad and Robert. Original and breath-taking. Listened to it at the edge of my seat. Who would have thunk vultures were our friends?

It is also a proof that the less Latif talked in an episode, the better the episode.

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Profile Image for C. Lynch

most interesting podcast

This is the most interesting podcast ever. I listened to this episode multiple times. stunning

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Profile Image for Yami

excellent, thought provoking episode

I really enjoyed this one! I'd love to hear more about the psychology behind giving and receiving real, impactful apologies. I know they mean a lot to me, and I value giving them too. Having an apology rejected is agony.
I loved how many different stories came together in this episode. This is my favorite so far (I've just started listening) and I'm excited to share it!

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Profile Image for Brenda

LuLu’s story will make you feel

This is my second time listening to this beautiful, soothing story. It makes me feel happy and sad, curious, amused, anxious and calm. I find it very impactful, perhaps because I relate as a parent, and LuLu’s telling is so expressive. I will be listening again.

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  • CL
  • 04-08-21

Worthwhile plots, questionable delivery

hi guys, I am a LONG time fan of radiolab. I was quite disappointed in the story-telling of Red Herring. I love every single ingredient in that story: cold war, sweden, russia's sinister submarines, etc, but I only got halfway through because of the narrator & person the story is being told to. all of those little embellishments that get added (i.e. the outtake when two people were having a really "hilariously" hard time parking a car) have to sort of be earned, imo. I don't know you guys yet, and while I'm sure you're adorable... I'm just not on board yet. please forgive my review.... maybe I'm just bad at change 🤕

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Profile Image for Keith J Westpfahl

Some of the most interesting podcast content

I love radiolab! You never know where a story will go but it's always interesting. I also enjoy the storytelling style, it's a great group of people. My only complaint is that there's not enough content lol I'd listen to them every day if I could.

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Profile Image for Shaylene

Interesting and engaging

Love radio lab. I wouldn't say it's a very specific genre of podcasts. If you love to learn new and interesting things you probably never needed to know; listen to off the wall story's that take you on an adventure you didnt know you needed; or just are entertained by the semantics of the crew chatting it up then this is for you. I mostly listen to the science based ones. Why do we have butcheeks or what's the deal with trees. Not actual titles. There is plenty more that radio lab covers that's just what I prefer.

Although it's mostly just a radio show, everything is put together in a story structure so it's easy to follow. And there is always points were they wrap it up if some of the details might get lost in the background. That way even if you get distracted for a min you dont miss out. Aswell as not having to connect the dots that form a big picture. They also do this for you.

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