Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Mary Roach & William Bell


Listen Later

Though she didn't earn a degree in the sciences, author Mary Roach has a knack for writing about them with insight and wit. Whether she's describing what happens to the body after death or the many aspects of human sexuality, Roach makes her topics accessible and fun. Roach has authored half a dozen books including: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife and Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, as well as articles for magazines including Vogue, GQ, and National Geographic. Mary Roach sat down with Jesse about whether shark repellant actually exists, life on submarines and how leaches inspired her to write a book on military science, Grunt. William Bell is a soul singer and songwriter whose distinctive sound is forever associated with the legendary Stax Records. Along with with performers like Otis Redding, Sam and Duke, Isaac Hayes and the Staple Singers, Bell helped create music that continues to entertain and inspire. He is famous for his hit songs including You Don't Miss Your Water, Private Number, A Tribute to the King and Everybody Loves a Winner. He also co-wrote the classic song, Born Under a Bad Sign which was originally performed by Albert King and later covered by Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Cream and even Homer Simpson. William Bell joined Jesse to talk about what it was like beginning his musical career while still a teenager, how he returned to his career after being drafted and his new album out on Stax Records, This is Where I Live. Jesse shares why Tanya Tucker's voice and classic song, What's Your Mama's Name manages to move him every time he hears it.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Bullseye with Jesse ThornBy NPR

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

2,579 ratings


More shows like Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

View all
The Treatment by KCRW

The Treatment

610 Listeners

NPR News Now by NPR

NPR News Now

14,194 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,686 Listeners

Jordan, Jesse, GO! by MaximumFun.org

Jordan, Jesse, GO!

3,334 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,038 Listeners

Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

10,991 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,752 Listeners

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast by Marc Maron

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

29,561 Listeners

Judge John Hodgman by John Hodgman and Maximum Fun

Judge John Hodgman

7,677 Listeners

Song Exploder by Hrishikesh Hirway

Song Exploder

5,960 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,825 Listeners

Good One: A Podcast About Jokes by Vulture

Good One: A Podcast About Jokes

1,486 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

55,997 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,513 Listeners

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend by Team Coco & Earwolf

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

59,247 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,127 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,400 Listeners

The Three Questions with Andy Richter by Team Coco & Earwolf

The Three Questions with Andy Richter

3,616 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

5,996 Listeners

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out by Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

4,538 Listeners

Depresh Mode with John Moe by John Moe, Maximum Fun

Depresh Mode with John Moe

806 Listeners

Wild Card with Rachel Martin by NPR

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

736 Listeners

E Pluribus Motto by John Hodgman and Janet Varney

E Pluribus Motto

108 Listeners