Radiolab

WNYC Studios

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.

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664 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes664

Newest first

Jan 28, 2009 · 17 min
The Obama Effect, Perhaps.
When Jad and Robert saw this article about a study that found a link between President Obama's election, and the test scores of African Americans, it made them think about an earlier study by Claude Steele,about a psychological effect called "stereotype threat."
Jan 12, 2009 · 57 min
Yellow Fluff and Other Curious Encounters
The quest for scientific knowledge is one of the great and noble pursuits of humankind. It's also one of the most dangerous, frustrating, ego-driven, transcendent, dirty, sublime, tedious, demoralizing, inspiring...you get the idea. This hour, stories of love and loss in the name of science.
Dec 29, 2008 · 56 min
Diagnosis
Humans love to solve problems. In this hour of Radiolab, diagnosis--our attempt to find out what's wrong, and give it a label.
Dec 15, 2008 · 57 min
Race
This hour of Radiolab, a look at race.
Dec 1, 2008 · 56 min
Sperm
Sperm carry half the genes needed for human life. In this hour of Radiolab, some basic questions and profound thoughts about reproduction.
Nov 17, 2008 · 57 min
Choice
Logic and emotion aren't the only forces that guide our decisions. This hour of Radiolab, we turn up the volume on the voices in our heads, and try to make sense of the babble. Forget free will, some important decisions could come down to a steaming cup of coffee. UPDATE: The Williams & Bargh Yale coffee study "Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth" was replicated in 2014 by researchers at three different universities, Kenyon College, Michigan State University, and Univers
Oct 21, 2008 · 19 min
Chris And Lisa
Chris had a crush on Lisa. But how to woo her?
Oct 7, 2008 · 8 min
Sperm Tales
In today’s podcast, a teaser for our hour-long Sperm show. If you think you learned all there is to know from that junior high school filmstrip, think again.
Sep 23, 2008 · 20 min
Chasing Bugs
Remember the first time you ever saw an ant hill? That parade of black insects pouring in and out of a small sand mound...most of us stopped, looked and then moved on to other parts of the playground. E. O. Wilson is the kid who never took his eyes off the mound.
Sep 9, 2008 · 29 min
Making the Hippo Dance
We play some never-released tape from the vault, and reveal a bit about what techniques we used to try and make it sing.
Aug 25, 2008 · 35 min
Quantum Cello
Jad and cellist Zoe Keating discuss the physics (if not metaphysics) of looping sound and how to use a 17th century instrument to make avant-garde electronic music.
Aug 12, 2008 · 52 min
The (Multi) Universe(s)
Robert and Brian Greene discuss what's beyond the horizon of our universe, what you might wear in infinite universes with finite pairs of designer shoes, and why the Universe and swiss cheese have more in common than you think.
Jul 29, 2008 · 26 min
Tell Me A Story
Robert Krulwich's commencement speech at California Institute of Technology gets at the heart of what we do here at Radiolab.
Jul 1, 2008 · 24 min
City X
This week, a piece from one of our favorite radio-makers, Jonathan Mitchell. 'City X' is a history of the modern shopping mall through perspectives of people living in a real, yet unnamed, city.
Jun 17, 2008 · 7 min
Earworms
First, we asked you to tell us what song gets stuck in your head. Then, we asked you how you got it out. Finally, we made a podcast. Thank you to everyone who called in, shared their secret techniques, and sang without shame.
Jun 3, 2008 · 23 min
Wordless Music
On this week's podcast, we share an excerpt from Wordless Music on WNYC, a 4-part music program hosted by Jad, exploring the boundaries between classical and pop music.
May 20, 2008 · 9 min
Open Outcry
Jad presents a piece by one of his favorite producers: Ben Rubin. Rubin created this audio portrait called 'Open Outcry' as a part of a sound installation called Sonic Garden commissioned to celebrate the reopening of the Winter Garden, an atrium space within the World Financial Center, after 9/11.
May 6, 2008 · 19 min
Jad and Robert: The Early Years
Ever wonder how Jad and Robert met?
Apr 21, 2008 · 57 min
Pop Music
This hour of Radiolab: pop music's pull.
Apr 7, 2008 · 57 min
(So-Called) Life
In a world where biology and engineering intersect, how do you decide what's "natural"?

Radiolab

The Obama Effect, Perhaps.

Yellow Fluff and Other Curious Encounters

Diagnosis

Race

Sperm

Choice

Chris And Lisa

Sperm Tales

Chasing Bugs

Making the Hippo Dance

Quantum Cello

The (Multi) Universe(s)

Tell Me A Story

City X

Earworms

Wordless Music

Open Outcry

Jad and Robert: The Early Years

Pop Music

(So-Called) Life