Episode Archives

Filter episodes by the year they originally aired.

Modern anti-depressants have saved a lot of minds. And lives. But what have they done to our bodies? And how do we navigate that trade-off between body and mind?Read more

Original Air Date:

March 24, 2018

Teens march in Madison on March 14, 2018

A chorus of hope is coming from an unexpected group — teenagers. They have superpowers — innocence, idealism, and Instagram — and they aren't waiting for permission to use them to shape the world.Read more

Original Air Date:

March 17, 2018

DNA tests are uncovering mixed bloodlines. For Black Americans, this can be emotionally-charged. What do you do when you find out one of your direct ancestors was a slave owner? Does it open the door to new conversations about racial justice?Read more

Original Air Date:

March 10, 2018

Facing hatred head-on

For the first time since World War II, far-right and neo-fascist groups are winning converts and votes — all over Europe and also here at home. Why is it happening, and can it be stopped?Read more

Original Air Date:

February 24, 2018

A little more magic in the world.

"Magical thinking" gets a bad rap these days. It suggests losing your grip on reality or being so gullible that you'll believe anything - from ghosts to miracles. But what if magic isn't pure fantasy? Maybe it's the gateway to wonder.  Read more

Original Air Date:

February 17, 2018

Eric, president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Proud Boys, shows off his tattoo, which is part of initiation into the group. Another ritual involves getting punched by other members while reciting breakfast cereal names. Photo taken Oct. 4, 2017.

The right-wing politics and bro culture of The Proud Boys is attracting young, white men nationwide. Founder Gavin McInnes believes “95% of American women” would be happier at home. Where does his vision of “being a man” fit in 2018?Read more

Original Air Date:

February 03, 2018

Contemplating manhood

In this collection of interviews, we ask what happens when men don't have cultural permission to talk about their inner lives.Read more

Original Air Date:

February 02, 2018

Wolf in Yellowstone

While their domesticated cousins sleep on our beds, Congress debates wild wolves’ survival. This hour, we’ll explore our complicated relationship with our canine cousins, and the feelings they evoke – fear, hatred, and also love.  Read more

Original Air Date:

January 27, 2018

Saddam Hussein

How can someone be a monster — a brutal dictator, a mass murderer, a serial killer — and up close seem like a decent, caring person? What happens when you find yourself liking someone who’s done terrible things?Read more

Original Air Date:

January 20, 2018

Ever had the nagging suspicion that you’re being watched? You are. We all are.Read more

Original Air Date:

January 13, 2018

Abstaining from alchohol in January?

Ah, January. Season of diets and fasts and cleanses, of "Drynuary" and "Veganuary." Why does being virtuous always seem to mean giving up pleasure?Read more

Original Air Date:

January 06, 2018

The End

We don’t handle endings well, in general. So this hour, let’s learn about how to make a good ending — whether leaving a lover, quitting a job, or getting ready for the end of life itself.Read more

Original Air Date:

December 30, 2017

A ship on the rocks

Who really runs the world? Presidents and prime ministers, or CEOs and bankers? And who’s responsible when everything falls apart?Read more

Original Air Date:

December 23, 2017

Be quiet, world

Do you ever crave silence? Maybe some can’t stand to hear themselves thinking, but others go to great lengths to find respite from a blaringly loud world.Read more

Original Air Date:

December 09, 2017

When women in science feel trapped by harassers, how do they (and science) suffer as a result?

Sexism has no boundaries, as we're quickly discovering. But what impact does it have on scientific discovery if sexist behavior drives women out of science entirely?Read more

Original Air Date:

December 02, 2017

Still from "My Friend Dahmer"

This is the story of a lonely, disturbed teenager desperately in need of a friend. His name was Jeff. Or as you know him, Jeffrey Dahmer — the serial killer.Read more

Original Air Date:

November 22, 2017

The Parthenon

When we hear from politicians and activists that "the West is at risk, that a clash of civilizations threatens Western culture," what does that mean exactly? And who do we think is coming for it?Read more

Original Air Date:

November 11, 2017

A cosmopolitan Japanese street.

One of the finalists for the National Book Award this year is Min Jin Lee, for her novel "Pachinko."Read more

Original Air Date:

November 09, 2017

Spooky train tracks in the woods

Did you know that the U.S. military has a long history of working with psychics to try to discover enemy secrets? We examine this history and take a deep dive into the paranormal.Read more

Original Air Date:

October 28, 2017

Man in virtual reality

Remember virtual reality? Back in the 1990’s, it was going to be the technology of the future.  Today, it’s here. But we're still figuring out what to do with it.Read more

Original Air Date:

October 26, 2017

Paramount Theatre in Newark, NJ

Home entertainment options have never been richer, but public places like movie theaters and performance spaces are suffering. What do we lose when everyone stays home?Read more

Original Air Date:

October 21, 2017

Crochet hyperbolic plane

For centuries, mathematicians have been looking for the deep design, the mathematical code to explain everything from microorganisms to spacetime. But it’s a dangerous quest.Read more

Original Air Date:

October 07, 2017

Swirls

Psychedelic science is back — and they could help heal people with addictions, PTSD and end-of-life anxiety.Read more

Original Air Date:

September 23, 2017

Making notes

If everyone’s a critic online, does it mean that cultural criticism doesn’t matter anymore?Read more

Original Air Date:

September 16, 2017

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