The 10 Best Radiolab Episodes
Radiolab is a beloved science and journalism podcast that brings you on rabbit hole journeys answering questions you never knew you had. This classic Peabody-winning podcast was co-created by host Jad Abumrad in 2002, and has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Every episode will give you a unique look into the ethical and philosophical mysteries of humans and our society through fantastic storytelling and sound design by Jad and his co-hosts Lulu Miller, and Latif Nasser. They touch on a wide range of subjects from cryptocurrency, colors, nukes to playing god. With so many great episodes, it could be hard to figure out where to start. With the help of Podyssey’s community of podcast fans, we’ve curated some of Radiolab’s best episodes in this list for you to enjoy.
Last Updated: Jul 16th, 2021
1) The Ceremony
Ever wondered how cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Dogecoin were made? This episode takes you behind-the-scenes on the initiation of ZCash, a new cryptocurrency. Whether you’re a crypto-expert or simply crypto-curious, this top 10 Radiolab episode will have you holding your breath all the way.
2) Alpha Gal
A woman who has loved meat all her life suddenly realized that a bite of her favorite food can send her straight to the hospital. It turns out she’s not the only one with this quandary. The issue is: no one knows why. Radiolab digs into the story of the Alpha gal and the science behind a mysterious meat allergy. What they’re sure to reveal is an unexpected answer to this baffling enigma. This is definitely one of the best episodes of radiolab of all time.
shann recommended:
Interesting and entertaining. All the guests in this story were naturally hilarious.
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.3) Post No Evil Redux
When you run a digital platform like Facebook that has more people on it than any country, rules and enforcement becomes even more important. This Radiolab episode grapples with the decisions and dilemmas that Facebook and their content moderators face every day as our online world becomes increasingly complex.
4) The Wubi Effect
The Chinese language has over 70 thousand unique characters, so how do you get it all to fit on a keyboard with only so many keys? It’s a perplexing problem that Professor Wang Yongmin was determined to figure out. This eye-opening episode traces the origins and development of Chinese keyboards that helped solve one of China’s biggest technical problems to the global tech power it is today.
5) The Dirty Drug and the Ice Cream Tub
An Indian uncle who was a scientist smuggled a mysterious substance to the US when the lab he was working at shut down. Because of his persistence and ingenuity, countless lives have been saved due to his discovery of a magical drug. The Radiolab Easter Island drug episode is a rollercoaster ride from beginning to the end. Get ready to be inspired and touched by a man with the biggest heart and an even bigger contribution to the world.
6) Gonads: The Primordial Journey
This is the classic Radiolab miniseries on gonads and the primordial journey of humans. The series starts by tracing the journey of a baby’s development from egg, sperm and embryo, then explores everything from sex-ed to ovary-freezing to the issues faced by intersex people. The Radiolab team even made a gonads theme song and a live show featuring storytellers, artists, and comedians!
magnus357 recommended:
good explanation
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.7) The Other Latif: Episode 1
Radiolab host Latif Nassar discovers that he’s not the only Latif Nassar around with a unique story to tell. In this mini-series called “The Other Latif”, host Latif Nassar searches for the truth behind the man with the same name who is sitting behind bars in Guantanamo Bay. Go on a journey all the way to Gitmo as the Radiolab crew uncovers the story about the other Latif who’s accused of being an Al-Qaeda explosive expert and one of Osama bin Laden’s right hand man. This mini-series makes it one of the best Radiolab episodes of all time.
8) Octomom
When you think about motherhood, octopus mothers are probably not the first moms that’ll come to mind. This beautiful Radiolab episode brings us to an unexpected story about the act of motherhood by the eight-legged sea creatures and the surprising things they’ll do to safeguard their young at all costs. You’ll also be delighted by a chamber orchestra exploration of what it’s like to be in the body of an octopus.
9) Breaking News
Imagine a world where you were recorded saying things you actually didn’t. This world is now a reality. A new technology is available where people can create videos and audio clips of anyone saying anything. What will this mean for the world if what is real may not be anymore? Radiolab investigates this troubling technology and how it can change credibility as we know it.
10) The Gondolier
The Venetian Gondolier is traditionally not just a male-dominated industry, but a male-only industry. Gondolier Alex Hai flips the script on this 1000-year-old tradition as the first female gondolier...and then the first transgender one. This top Radiolab episode explores the 20-year public fight in the media about gender and traditions.
write2tg recommended:
A fantastic episode on the nuances of gender roles and a meaningful discussion on the challenges of adding labels to people and their occupa...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.