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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Natural History Nature & Ecology Science Social Sciences World
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Episodes
  • Inheritance

    Inheritance
    Apr 1 2022

    Once a kid is born, their genetic fate is pretty much sealed. Or is it? In this episode, originally aired in 2012, we put nature and nurture on a collision course and discover how outside forces can find a way inside us, and change not just our hearts and minds, but the basic biological blueprint that we pass on to future generations.Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today.

    Radiolab is on YouTube! Catch up with new episodes and hear classics from our archive. Plus, find other cool things we did in the past — like miniseries, music videos, short films and animations, behind-the-scenes features, Radiolab live shows, and more. Take a look, explore and subscribe!
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Stress

    Stress
    Mar 18 2022

    Stress can give your body a boost - raising adrenaline levels, pumping blood to the muscles, heightening our senses. And those sudden superpowers can be a boon when you’re running from a lion. But repeatedly dipping into that well can make you sick, even kill you. Since it feels like there’s been an extra bit of stress going around lately, we decided to replay this episode, originally aired back in 2005, which takes a long hard look at the body's system for getting out of trouble. And how in our modern, hyper-connected world, that system misfires and takes us from the frying pan, right into another, albeit entirely different, frying pan.

    Stanford University neurologist (and part-time "baboonologist") Dr. Robert Sapolsky takes us through what happens on our insides when we stand in the wrong line at the supermarket, and offers a few coping strategies: gnawing on wood, beating the crap out of somebody, and having friends. Plus: the story of a singer who lost her voice, and an author stuck in a body that never grew up.

    Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today.

    Radiolab is on YouTube! Catch up with new episodes and hear classics from our archive. Plus, find other cool things we did in the past — like miniseries, music videos, short films and animations, behind-the-scenes features, Radiolab live shows, and more. Take a look, explore and subscribe!
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    57 mins
  • The Helen Keller Exorcism

    The Helen Keller Exorcism
    Mar 11 2022

    Fantasy writer Elsa Sjunneson has been haunted by Helen Keller for nearly her entire life. Like Helen, Elsa is Deafblind, and growing up she was constantly compared to her. But for a million different reasons she hated that, because she felt different from her in a million different ways. Then, a year ago, an online conspiracy theory claiming Helen was a fraud exploded on TikTok, and suddenly Elsa found herself drawing her sword and jumping to Helen’s defense, setting off a chain of events that would bring her closer to the disability icon than she ever dreamt. For over a year, Elsa, Lulu and the Radiolab team dug through primary sources, talked to experts, even visited Helen’s birthplace Ivy Green, and discovered the real story of Helen Keller is far more complicated, mysterious and confounding than the simple myth of a young Deafblind girl rescued by her teacher Annie Sullivan. It’s a story of ghosts, surprises, a few tears, a bit of romance, some hard conversations, and a possibly psychic dog.This episode was reported by Elsa Sjunneson and Lulu Miller. It was produced by Sindhu Gnanasambandan and Rachel Cusick, with help from Sarah Qari, Tanya Chawla, and Carolyn McClusker. Jeremy Bloom contributed music and sound design. Additional Mixing by Arianne Wack.

    Special thanks to Georgina Kleege, Julia Bascom, Desiree Kocis, Peter C. Kunze, Andrew Leland, Sara Luterman, Alexander Richey, Will Healy, Nate Jones, Nate Peereboom, and Pamela Sabaugh (who was our voice of Helen Keller).ASL TRANSCRIPTION

    Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today.

    Radiolab is on YouTube! Catch up with new episodes and hear classics from our archive. Plus, find other cool things we did in the past — like miniseries, music videos, short films and animations, behind-the-scenes features, Radiolab live shows, and more. Take a look, explore and subscribe!DOWNLOAD BRAILLE READY FILE HERE (https://zpr.io/s23JtuYxyrNA)Citations in this episodeBooks:Elsa Sjunneson, Being SeenKim Nielsen, The Radical Lives of Helen KellerGeorgina Kleege, Blind Rage: Letters to Helen KellerKatie Booth, The Invention of Miracles: language, power, and Alexander Graham Bell’s quest to end deafnessHaben Girma, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard LawArticles:Susan Crutchfield, “Play[ing] her part correctly: Helen Keller as Vaudevillian Freak,” Disability Studies Quarterly.Desiree Kocis, “Did Helen Keller Fly A Plane?” (she did), Plane & Pilot Magazine.Peter C. Kunze, “What We Talk about When We Talk about Helen Keller,” Children’s Literature Association QuarterlyThe archives of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
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    1 hr and 4 mins

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 Private

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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1 person found this helpful

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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 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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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 CL

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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1 person found this helpful