Opinion Science

SciComm Summer #19: Latif Nasser on Making "Radiolab"


Listen Later

Latif Nasser is the current co-host of the WNYC show Radiolab. Radiolab is probably the first podcast I was ever really a fan of. I've been listening since 2007 when it was hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich. It's an amazing show that leans on the incredible audio production to convey the wonder of science. The show has branched out to tell all kinds of stories--not just about science--but it's still one of the best science shows out there.

Latif came to Radiolab while working on his Ph.D. in the History of Science at Harvard. He eventually joined the show's team to report stories and occupy the role of Director of Research. In 2020, he joined Lulu Miller as co-host of the show. Also in 2020, he hosted a 6-episode show for Netflix: Connected: The Hidden Science of Everything. And I think I first really learned about Latif through an incredible (although not super science-y) series he produced, The Other Latif. Seriously, you have to check it out.

In our conversation, we talk about the philosophy of science communication, the role of narrative, and how Radiolab works. We also break down an episode that Latif reported in 2021, "Of Bombs and Butterflies."


You can find the rest of this summer's science communication podcast series here.

For a transcript of this episode, visit this episode's page at: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episodes/

Learn more about Opinion Science at http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/ and follow @OpinionSciPod on Twitter.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Opinion ScienceBy Andy Luttrell

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

38 ratings


More shows like Opinion Science

View all
Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,287 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,844 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,754 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,252 Listeners

StarTalk Radio by Neil deGrasse Tyson

StarTalk Radio

14,342 Listeners

Economist Podcasts by The Economist

Economist Podcasts

4,202 Listeners

You Are Not So Smart by You Are Not So Smart

You Are Not So Smart

1,713 Listeners

The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

The Quanta Podcast

542 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,093 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,909 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,281 Listeners

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford by Pushkin Industries

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

5,142 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,575 Listeners