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Radiolab

Radiolab

By: WNYC Studios
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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 Nature & Ecology Science Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Nigel and the Real Gannet

    Nigel and the Real Gannet
    Aug 14 2026
    In 2016, Chris Bell, a ranger with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, was the sole human inhabitant of a small island off the west coast of the country, called Mana Island. He was there to take care of the island’s fragile and recovering ecosystem, including a colony of Australasian Gannets at the top of a high cliff overlooking the sea. But there was one catch. All but one of these striking seabirds were fake, made of concrete and paint. This week on Radiolab, producer Annie McEwen tells us a love story about a rogue bird and what happens when the things we want for animals clash with what they seem to choose for themselves. Special thanks to Melody Thomas and Kirsten Johnstone from Popsock Media, the New Zealand-based podcast company. Thanks also to Mathias Kom and Ariel Sharratt from The Burning Hell and Steven Lambke at You’ve Changed Records. Visit Friends of Mana Island at https://manaisland.org.nz/ to learn more about conservation efforts on Mana Island. EPISODE CREDITS: Reported by - Annie McEwen Produced by - Annie McEwen with mixing help from - Jeremy Bloom Fact-checking by - Diane A. Kelly and Edited by - Alex Neason EPISODE CITATIONS: Videos - There are many Nigel-inspired songs and poems, find links to a few of them below: See Nigel with his concrete mate (https://zpr.io/kZZC9erwauCD)Nigel the Gannet song video by The Burning Hell (theburninghell.com)Nigel [w/ score] (https://zpr.io/t47J6VkqAXLj) by Angus DavisonNigel the Lonely Seabird (https://zpr.io/4gSSv5MX8xTa) by Daniel HendersonNigel (https://zpr.io/FuLupaZG42sn) by AvemNigel No Mates (https://zpr.io/hckrSSdBXKE9 ) by Dainius KučinskasNigel Gannet (https://zpr.io/kddxySdXqd3C) by Fred PilcherNigel (https://zpr.io/88HdTWRSd2UF) an Experimental Animated Short Film About a Lonely Gannet Literature - Poetry inspired by Nigel the Gannet (https://zpr.io/xBiW9usvAkpy) Sign up for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Signup (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)! Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org. Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    26 mins
  • Red Herring

    Red Herring
    Aug 7 2026

    It was the early '80s, the height of the Cold War, when something strange began happening off the coast of Sweden. The navy reported a mysterious sound deep below the surface of the ocean. Again, and again, and again they would hear it near their secret military bases, in their harbors, and up and down the Swedish coastline. After thorough analysis the navy was certain. The sound was an invasion into their waters, an act of war, the opening salvos of a possible nuclear annihilation. Or was it? Today, Annie McEwen pulls us down into a deep-sea mystery, one of international intrigue that asks you to consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, your deepest beliefs could be as solid as...air.

    Special thanks to Ben Wilson, Ola Tunander, Hans Gordon, Andreas Timmelstad, Klaus Helmersen, and Meg Bolz.

    LATERAL CUTS -

    • Atomic Artifacts (https://radiolab.org/podcast/atomic-artifacts)
    • Neither Confirm Nor Deny (https://radiolab.org/podcast/confirm-nor-deny)

    EPISODE CREDITS:
    Reported by - Annie McEwin
    with help from - Magnus Ormstadt
    Produced by - Annie McEwin, Matt Kielty, Sarah Qari
    Original music and sound design contributed by - Jeremy Bloom

    Sign up for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Signup (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!

    Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.

    Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.


    Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    36 mins
  • The Shoe Thrower

    The Shoe Thrower
    Jul 31 2026
    When no one seems to be listening, how far do you go to be heard? In December 2008, George W. Bush made a surprise visit to Baghdad for a press conference. And at the very end of his remarks, a shoe came flying past his head. It was “the shoe heard around the world,” and countless jokes and memes ensued. But in the pandemonium, many missed the story of the man at the center: Muntadhar Al-Zaidi, a weary journalist trying to get the world to see the Iraq War in a different light. Even fewer people know what happened to him after. Nearly two decades later, Radiolab reporter Sarah Qari tracked Al-Zaidi down to learn the story of his life. What she found was a story about grief, anger, and the line where journalism ends and protest begins. Special thanks to Azmat Khan and Mustafa Salim. EPISODE CREDITS: Reported by Sarah Qari, with help from Mariam Dwedar Translation by Mais Al-Bayaa and Mariam Dwedar Produced by Sarah Qari Sound design contributed by Sarah Qari Mixed by Jeremy Bloom Editing help from Annie McEwen Fact-checking by Emily Krieger and Heba ElorbanyLATERAL CUTS: If you liked this episode and want to hear more fascinating deep dives we’ve done on The War on Terror, check out our episode: 60 Words (https://radiolab.org/podcast/60-words),or our series The Other Latif (https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/other-latif) EPISODE CITATIONS:Collaborator’s Work - Mariam Dwedar (https://www.mariamdwedar.com/) Made in Palestine (https://zpr.io/JBAuqi5zyZMT) - a documentary short@mariamdwedar - Instagram handleMais Al-Bayaa Iraq Uncovered (https://zpr.io/ebuUcjSFcUJp) - documentaryIraq’s Secret Sex Trade (https://zpr.io/u9HnCWmnQggG) - documentaryGo Back to Where You Came From (https://zpr.io/J8rxafGCCgUA) - documentary@maisalbayaa - Instagram Journal Articles _ The Art of Shoe-Throwing: Shoes as a Symbol of Protest and Popular Imagination (https://zpr.io/6gmuuavLWuHu), by Yasmin Ibrahim Films - The President’s Cake (https://zpr.io/bjFeNa2qFYvD) - A story of life in Iraq under sanctions during the 1990s. Inspired by the shoe throw - Photos of shoe protests around the world (https://zpr.io/QsMGyWeK8MRR)This music video (https://zpr.io/Xi5XhHYmWFHv)This Halloween costume (https://zpr.io/fH97iB4fjL9U)This play (https://zpr.io/Naj7vWaYfzpv) If you want more fun facts that didn’t make it into the story, follow Sarah at @bysarahqari on Instagram, where she’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks. Sign up for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Signup (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)! Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    1 hr and 17 mins
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