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by 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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- Today1h 17m
The Shoe Thrower
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 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 Made in Palestine (https://zpr.io/JBAuqi5zyZMT) - a documentary short @mariamdwedar - Instagram handle Mais Al-Bayaa Iraq Uncovered (https://zpr.io/ebuUcjSFcUJp) - documentary Iraq’s Secret Sex Trade (https://zpr.io/u9HnCWmnQggG) - documentary Go 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) - The 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 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bysarahqari/" rel="noopener nor
- 1 weeks agonarrative56 min5-min read
Return of Alpha Gal
A woman's sudden, terrifying allergy to red meat—triggered by a tick bite—unlocks a bizarre medical mystery involving a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, leading to a revolutionary genetically modified pig that could save human lives and offer safe meat to the allergic, but also raises profound ethical questions about animal use and human desire.
- 2 weeks agonarrative29 min5-min read
Neither Confirm Nor Deny
The episode explores the origins and consequences of the 'Glomar response' — a government evasion tactic meaning 'we can neither confirm nor deny' — born from a secret 1970s CIA mission to recover a sunken Soviet submarine, and how it has since become a widespread tool to obscure truth in democratic discourse.
- 3 weeks agonarrative37 min5-min read
The Holy Shiver
This Radiolab episode dives into the mysterious phenomenon of goosebumps — not just as a biological reflex, but as a deeply emotional and cognitive signal that may reveal how our bodies and brains process meaning, awe, and transformation.
- 4 weeks agonarrative40 min5-min read
Atomic Artifacts
This Radiolab episode explores the U.S. government’s secret Cold War-era doomsday planning, particularly what artifacts were chosen to preserve 'America' after a nuclear attack, and challenges listeners to reconsider what truly defines the nation’s identity in times of crisis. The story culminates in a profound meditation on unity, resilience, and whether the symbols we cling to are worth preserving—or burning.
- Jun 26, 2026narrative1h 13m5-min read
The Gondolier
This Radiolab episode tells the powerful, complex story of Alex Hai, a transgender man who became internationally known as the first female gondolier in Venice — a label that both launched and trapped him. The story explores the collision between personal identity and public narrative, revealing how media, gender politics, and institutional resistance can distort a person’s truth.
- Jun 19, 2026narrative39 min4-min read
This is Your Brain on Hormones
This Radiolab episode investigates whether hormones, particularly those tied to the menstrual cycle, cause measurable changes in brain structure and function, revealing that both female and male brains dynamically shift in response to hormonal rhythms. The takeaway isn’t just that brains change, but that these fluctuations may be essential, not flaws.
- Jun 18, 2026narrative35 min5-min read
Bonus: Wild Animal Dads from Terrestrials
This special Father's Day episode of Terrestrials, hosted by Lulu Miller, explores the surprising and diverse roles of fathers across the animal kingdom, challenging the stereotype that caregiving is inherently maternal. By spotlighting species like owl monkeys, seahorses, and burying beetles, the episode reveals that active, nurturing fatherhood is not only common in nature but deeply rooted in evolutionary biology.
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About Radiolab
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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