AM Radio: Solid Gold
The hosts trace the history and cultural impact of AM radio, from its early 20th-century technical breakthroughs and global spread through its "golden age" of dramas, soap operas, news, and political addresses. They explain how AM evolved into a youth-oriented Top 40 music medium and later the mellow 1970s "AM gold" era, while also covering regulatory milestones like the Fairness Doctrine and the rise of talk radio after its repeal. The episode concludes with a focus on AM radio's continuing importance for emergency alerts, its technical characteristics, and current debates over carmakers dropping AM receivers, particularly in electric vehicles.
How Dolly Parton led me to an epiphany | Jad Abumrad (re-release)
Host Elise Hume introduces a TED 2020 talk by Radiolab creator Jad Abumrad, in which he reflects on his evolution as a storyteller and journalist. Abumrad describes moving from science-driven stories that end in wonder, to conflict-driven narratives centered on struggle, and finally to seeking "revelation" by holding opposing truths together. Through his podcast series about Dolly Parton and a visit to her Tennessee mountain home, he discovers unexpected connections to his Lebanese immigrant heritage and embraces a new storytelling goal he calls finding "the third"-a shared space that emerges when differences are truly recognized.
Tdhtdhtdhtdhtdh: Sound Effects!
The hosts explore how sound effects are created for films and TV, focusing on the craft of Foley artists and the history of sound design from silent movies to modern blockbusters. They discuss Jack Foley's pioneering work, the tools and techniques used on Foley stages, iconic examples from films like Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Titanic, and Fight Club, and the heavy use of constructed audio in nature documentaries. The episode also touches on how sound departments are undervalued relative to their impact and ends with a correction about Teen Vogue's reputation for serious journalism.