Topic: Radio lab

[lisavilisa]

The translator from the Yellow Rain segment wrote about the interview here.

http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archive/2012/10/science-racism-radiolabs-treatment-hmong-experience


Seems a bit more emotional than skeptical, but she does say that they didn't take her up on her sources that said the yellow rain was real. I wish she'd included citations in the article for us to see.

[seaotter]

http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2012/10/24/the-ethics-of-attention-unpacking-yellow-rain/

[Rabbit]

I had heard this show referenceed by so many other podcasts I listen to that I had to give it a go.

The format is excellent, so different to anything else I've heard and I really enjoyed the show. I was late for work actually as I had about 11 minutes left when I turned up and so I stood outside and finished it before going in. Well worth the looks I was getting from everybody inside. I'm currently downloading a bunch more. I think this might become my "go to" show for a while.

Any suggestions on the best ones?

[mindme]

Yeah my feeling too, Rabbit. Heard a lot of people talk about it and then finally started listening. I'll just say don't ignore the "shorts". They're not that short. They're like 20 minute episodes.

[Sawyer]

I had heard this show referenceed by so many other podcasts I listen to that I had to give it a go.

The format is excellent, so different to anything else I've heard and I really enjoyed the show. I was late for work actually as I had about 11 minutes left when I turned up and so I stood outside and finished it before going in. Well worth the looks I was getting from everybody inside. I'm currently downloading a bunch more. I think this might become my "go to" show for a while.

Any suggestions on the best ones?

I really liked "Dammit, Basal Ganglia" from August 2011.  "Radiolab Remixed" has very little science in it, but Jeffery Tambor's song is epic.

[seaotter]

Have you heard the one about probability? The Laura Buxton episode?

[Rabbit]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm really liking the shorts. Just the right length for my walk to work.

I've got the Basal Ganglia lined up on the pod, but I can't find the probability one. I'd love that too, probably. 

I was listening to the War of the Worlds and Laughter ones today. Absolutely brilliant. I also love the guys name: Jad Abumrad. The way he says it makes me think of Star Wars for some reason!?

[Fry_hole]

I love RadioLab myself, but it seems like they are embracing (or at least giving a free pass to) new age quantum metaphysics.  Listen to their latest short "Solid as a Rock".  Also read some of the comments on its thread, I am not alone in my thinking. 

As one commenter replies, "This stunk of idealism ontology masquerading as science. Quite a few leaps of logic have to be made to get to this point. All in all, it felt more like it was rabid abuse of the ideas."  The guest they had on was Jim Holt.  I have checked out other interviews with him (Charlie Rose for one) and he gets a free pass on all the "sciencey" things he says.  Probably because the interviewers do not know any better, but also, I suspect that public broadcasting is tantalized by religion that isn't religion.  I love public broadcasting but it seems like those on the far left can be just as credulous as those on the far right. (Huffington Post)

Of course, I could be overreacting, but the whole episode made me cringe. Thoughts?

[mindme]

I wouldn't take RadioLab as gospel. It's great to research many of the issues they bring up. The Bitter End one was fascinating. I love how doctors pretty much agree they don't want to die in a hospital. Gives one a lot to think about. There can be reasons why a person might want to live another 6 months despite really reduced quality of life: Wanting to live long enough to see a daughter's wedding or a grandchild being born. That can have real meaning to your children. I might suffer in some ways to leave someone in my family with some kind of closure moment.

[seaotter]

Cried a little at the letter from the school nurse. The son is either a dick or the bravest man in the world. The other one is either loyal to a fault or a good son.

[Plastique]

I wouldn't take RadioLab as gospel. It's great to research many of the issues they bring up. The Bitter End one was fascinating. I love how doctors pretty much agree they don't want to die in a hospital. Gives one a lot to think about. There can be reasons why a person might want to live another 6 months despite really reduced quality of life: Wanting to live long enough to see a daughter's wedding or a grandchild being born. That can have real meaning to your children. I might suffer in some ways to leave someone in my family with some kind of closure moment.

Yeah, that was pretty freaky. The reality of some of those medical interventions is horrifying.

[mindme]

The Heimlich maneuver thing was quite interesting. I read a number of years ago how Heimlich became quite the quack. I'm sure many who have not heard the story would be surprised.

[jacobw]

The format is excellent and the friendly explorations of potentially difficult topics like Probability, Symmetry, Speed etc. are gripping.

I think Radiolab rekindled my interest in science and led me to skepticism and philosophy, I'm very grateful to Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich

[seaotter]

If you like animals you need to listen to the newest short. Awesome music and animals!