David Foster Wallace changed the landscape of American writing. His novels dissect our media-saturated culture in unflinching detail. And his essays are passed around to friends with the words, “You have to read this.” He became a literary rock star in his early thirties for his...Read more
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Episode Archives
It used to be easy to get lost in a good book, but now lots of people say reading is boring. Scientists say all that skimming and surfing on electronic screens is actually rewiring our brains. So we examine the new science of reading.Read more
Original Air Date:
July 26, 2015
We talk to two other septuagenarian musicians in addition to Moroder who are still productively making music: the 74-year-old political folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, and the 78-year-old minimalist composer Philip Glass.Read more
Original Air Date:
July 19, 2015
As terrible as it sounds, most of us will go through something traumatic at some point in our lives. The experience can be deeply isolating and crushing, but it doesn't have to be. Read more
Original Air Date:
July 05, 2015
You score a royal flush in poker! Do you credit your skill? Or luck? We talk with a poker champion, a game designer, an investment banker and a choreographer about how to untangle skill from luck.Read more
Original Air Date:
June 07, 2015
It doesn't matter whether you grew up going to Coney Island, Six Flags, or Pacific Park — to a kid, all amusement parks are magical. This hour we take a trip to the land of funnel cake, freak shows and fast rides.Read more
Original Air Date:
May 17, 2015
We explore the popularity and enduring appeal of combat sports.Read more
Original Air Date:
May 03, 2015
If there isn't any evidence that vaccines cause autism, then why is anti-vaccination on the rise? Read more
Original Air Date:
March 29, 2015
Fermentation revivalists share a slow food philosophy, a DIY approach to foodcraft, and a deep interest in the health of the American gut.Read more
Original Air Date:
March 15, 2015
Our planet is facing a mass extinction crisis. By the end of the century, we could lose up to half of all living species. But people are working hard to save endangered species and habitats, and a few scientists are even trying to bring lost species - like passenger pigeons and woolly mammoths...Read more
Original Air Date:
January 25, 2015
Walk long enough and far enough, and you will never be the same. This week, stories of people who transformed their lives by picking up their feet, blazing trails, enduring blisters and frostbite and bad trail food. Read more
Original Air Date:
December 21, 2014
We take a closer look at negative stereotypes about African American men, how those biases affect our justice system, and what we might be able to do about it.Read more
Original Air Date:
December 21, 2014
Does death gives life meaning? You might think so, looking at the prominence of death and the afterlife in so many religions. In this hour, we explore the philosophical and religious dimensions of mortality and the afterlife.Read more
Original Air Date:
December 07, 2014
How do we mark death and celebrate lost lives around the globe?Read more
Original Air Date:
November 30, 2014
In this hour, we explore the medical, spiritual and psychological questions about the moment of death.Read more
Original Air Date:
November 23, 2014
We live much longer than we used to, thanks to medical advances, but what are the emotional and financial costs of extending life? Read more
Original Air Date:
November 16, 2014
We talk with experts about how to begin difficult conversations about making death a greater part of life, and how they can transform both the dying and the surviving.Read more
Original Air Date:
November 09, 2014
Why do Americans suck at math? And why do so many claim to hate it?Read more
Original Air Date:
August 10, 2014
Was Marx right after all in his critique of capitalism? Our ongoing economic struggles have spawned a new generation of Marxist activists and intellectuals, and renewed interest in Karl Marx's own life. Read more
Original Air Date:
June 01, 2014
Today we explore some new paradigms for thinking about our environmental future. And, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of death of the great environmentalist, Rachel Carson.Read more
Original Air Date:
May 04, 2014
Everyone loves a good joke, right? Well, at least when it's not at your expense. We explore hoaxes throughout history, get in the mind of a prolific prankster, and hear from writer Walter Kirn about getting duped by a dangerous con man.Read more
Original Air Date:
March 30, 2014
Where do you find crazy ideas and some of the world's smartest people? In theoretical physics - the world of parallel universes, super strings and black holes. We go on a whirlwind tour of the universe - from the multiverse to an imaginary walk on Mars.Read more
Original Air Date:
March 09, 2014