American Innovations
285 episodes - English - Latest episode: 24 days ago - ★★★★★ - 4K ratingsDNA science. Artificial intelligence. Smartphones and 3D printers. Science and technology have transformed the world we live in. But how did we get here? It wasn’t by accident. Well, sometimes it was. It was also the result of hard work, teamwork, and competition. And incredibly surprising moments.
Hosted by bestselling author Steven Johnson (“How We Got To Now”), American Innovations uses immersive scenes to tell the stories of the scientists, engineers, and ordinary people behind the greatest discoveries of the past century.
You can binge all episodes of American Innovations exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.
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Episodes
Wondery Presents Little Stories Everywhere
December 01, 2020 09:30 - 4 minutes - 4.48 MBWondery’s newest podcast, Little Stories Everywhere, is the perfect immersive experience to share by the fireplace with loved ones this holiday season. Each episode will be the reading of a children’s classic - some of the most magical stories ever told, now reimagined with enchanting sound design for families to enjoy together or adults to enjoy on their own. Little Stories Everywhere is out now, premiering with A Merry Christmas, a collection of holiday tales by Louisa May Alcot...
Telephone | Call Waiting | 1
November 26, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBIn the 19th Century, the telegraph is the cutting edge of communication. No one can imagine anything better—except Alexander Graham Bell. You can binge all episodes of American Innovations exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Auto-Tune: From Cher to Kanye | 1
November 19, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBAll Andy Hildebrand wanted to do was make a computer program to help singers sound better. He never expected it to kick off a battle for the soul of modern music. You can binge all episodes of American Innovations exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Auto-Tune | 1
November 19, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBAll Andy Hildebrand wanted to do was make a computer program to help singers sound better. He never expected it to kick off a battle for the soul of modern music. Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App here. Support us by supporting our sponsors! ZipRecruiter - Go to ziprecruiter.com/ai.
The Fight Against AIDS | The AIDS-Covid Connection | 4
November 12, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. With AIDS under control here in the U.S., we find ourselves in the middle of another deadly pandemic. Now the doctors who were on the front lines of the AIDS crisis are using what they've learned over the past 30 years to help fight against Covid-19. On this episode, Steven talks to Dr. Monica Gandhi, director of the UCSF Center for AIDS Research, who has recently contributed to research into SARS-CoV-2. Listen to new...
Wondery presents Do No Harm
November 10, 2020 09:00 - 4 minutes - 4.06 MBSubscribe today: http://wondery.fm/Do_No_Harm From Wondery, the makers of Dr. Death and Dirty John, and NBC News the team behind Dateline and The Thing About Pam - Do No Harm. Melissa Bright thinks she's living every parent's worst nightmare when her five-month-old baby tumbles from a lawn chair and hits his head on the driveway. But after she rushes him to the hospital, a new nightmare begins.The Brights are thrust into a medical and legal system so focused on protecting childre...
The Fight Against AIDS | The Lazarus Effect | 32
November 05, 2020 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.4 MBAs AIDS activists keep up the pressure to find new treatments and lower the price of existing ones, they win unlikely allies at the highest levels of government. Meanwhile, some doctors on the frontlines of the epidemic take drug research into their own hands. And a new class of drugs promises to bring the sickest AIDS patients back from the brink of death. Support us by supporting our sponsors!
The Fight Against AIDS | The Lazarus Effect | 3
November 05, 2020 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. As AIDS activists keep up the pressure to find new treatments and lower the price of existing ones, they win unlikely allies at the highest levels of government. Meanwhile, some doctors on the frontlines of the epidemic take drug research into their own hands. And a new class of drugs promises to bring the sickest AIDS patients back from the brink of death. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad fr...
The Fight Against AIDS | Placebos and Profits | 2
October 29, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Four years into the AIDS epidemic, scientists discover a drug that may treat the disease: AZT. But the new drug quickly becomes mired in controversy -- over how it's tested, its potential side effects, and its astronomical price tag. Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App here...
Wondery Presents: Dr. Death Season 2
October 27, 2020 06:30 - 4 minutes - 4.02 MBIf someone you love is diagnosed with cancer you want them to get the best treatment from the best doctors. In 2013, patients in Michigan thought Farid Fata was that doctor. Between his prestigious education, years of experience and pleasant bedside manner, Fata was everything you could want in a doctor. But he was not who he appeared to be. From Wondery, this is the story of hundreds of patients in Michigan, a doctor, and a poisonous secret. Laura Beil, returns with a second seaso...
The Fight Against AIDS | The Gay Plague | 1
October 22, 2020 09:00 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBIn the early 1980s, a mysterious new disease spread like wildfire through the gay communities of major U.S. cities. Before it even had a name, AIDS had already killed over half its victims. Public response was hampered by ignorance, fear, and homophobia. This is the story of the doctors, scientists and activists who risked everything to lead the fight against AIDS. Listen ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in ...
The Fight Against AIDS | The Epidemic Begins | 1
October 22, 2020 09:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBIn the early 1980s, a mysterious new disease spread like wildfire through the gay communities of major U.S. cities. Before it even had a name, AIDS had already killed over half its victims. Public response was hampered by ignorance, fear, and homophobia. This is the story of the doctors, scientists and activists who risked everything to lead the fight against AIDS. You can binge all episodes of American Innovations exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery A...
Encore: Thinking Machines | Passing For Human | 5
October 15, 2020 09:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Can a computer pass for human? And more importantly, can a computer beat a human at Jeopardy? It’s all fun and games until we start putting life-changing decisions in the hands of machines. Note: This episode originally aired in September 2018. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Masterworks - So if you're ready to invest like a billionaire, head to masterworks.io - and use promo code AI to skip the 25,000 pers...
Encore: Thinking Machines | I Learn, Therefore I Am | 4
October 08, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. A leap in the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence causes concern about the dangers ahead. Note: This episode originally aired in September 2018. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Fundrise - Get started at fundrise.com/AI to have your first NINETY days of advisory fees waived. Masterworks - As a listener of our show, you can get special access by going to masterworks.io and using promo cod...
Wondery presents Kamala: Next In Line
October 05, 2020 08:30 - 6 minutes - 5.79 MBSubscribe today: http://wondery.fm/KamalaNextInLine If she wins in November, Kamala Harris would become Vice President after one of the most consequential and tumultuous elections in American history. Harris would be the most significant player to help Joe Biden manage a country in crisis. So who is she? Kamala: Next in Line goes inside the cross-cultural journey that led Harris from her humble roots to become the first African-American woman to represent California in the Senate ...
Encore: Thinking Machines | Siri-ous Business | 3
October 01, 2020 09:00 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. The development of smartphone Artificial Intelligence from early government research funding and the first experimental robot in Silicon Valley to the rise of the personal assistant known as Siri. Note: This episode originally aired in September 2018. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Policy Genius - Head to policygenius.com and you could save 50% or more by comparing quotes. Peloton - Try out Peloton Bike P...
Encore: Thinking Machines | How Do You Make A Computer Blink? | 2
September 24, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. With six different kinds of pieces, 64 squares to move in, and billions of possible combinations of moves, chess is a good test for a computer. The number of distinct 40-move games is far greater than the number of electrons in the visible universe. For all intents and purposes: almost infinite. Gary Kasparov is the world’s best chess player. Deep Blue is a computer. It’s humanity v machine. There’s a lot at stake and...
Introducing Business Wars: Pizza Hut vs Domino's
September 23, 2020 08:30 - 5 minutes - 4.67 MBToday, pizza powers a $100 billion dollar global industry -- but when the Carney brothers opened the very first Pizza Hut in 1958, it was still practically unheard-of outside major US cities. Since then, the passion for pies has grown like crazy, fueling a competitor named Domino’s and taking these one-time mom and pop joints global. But when their businesses began to rise, they inspired a whole host of competitors to join the market, forcing both companies to innovate at a rapid pa...
Encore: Thinking Machines | Artificial Intelligence | 1
September 17, 2020 09:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBArtificial Intelligence is no longer the stuff of science fiction. And it’s about to get much more powerful: machines that can reason, create, predict the future, even dream. AI is likely to be one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century. This is the first in our four-episode series about the rise of artificial intelligence and humanity's quest to breathe intellectual life into computers. In this episode, we're going to meet the mavericks who first dreamed of a ...
Keeping Cool | The Air Conditioning Trap | 3
September 10, 2020 09:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. As the Earth heats up, air conditioning is quickly shifting from a luxury to a necessity. But our reliance on ACs is also speeding up the pace of global warming. It’s the “air conditioning trap.” On this episode, Steven asks Guardian science writer Stephen Buranyi how – and if – we can escape it. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Peloton - Visit onepeloton.com to learn more. Zip Recruiter - Try it now for FREE ...
Fighting Coronavirus | Larry Brilliant on Why We Need a Global Covid Response | 19
September 08, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. There are few people who have thought more about pandemics than epidemiologist Larry Brilliant. He worked with the World Health Organization to eradicate smallpox. He’s fought polio and blindness in India. And, in his 2006 TED Prize talk, he warned the audience that a pandemic was coming “within your children or your grandchildren's lifetime.” He was right. What he couldn’t predict, though, was how mismanaged our resp...
Wondery Presents: Bunga Bunga
September 08, 2020 08:30 - 6 minutes - 5.5 MBSilvio Berlusconi was a charismatic multi-millionaire real-estate mogul who upended the Italian political order and hypnotized an entire nation. He was the longest-serving prime minister of one of the world’s wealthiest countries, until he was brought down by three powerful women - and two words: “Bunga Bunga.” From Wondery, the makers of Dirty John and The Shrink Next Door, and hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings, “Bunga Bunga” is an eight part series on the incredible true story o...
Keeping Cool | It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity | 2
September 03, 2020 09:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Summer blockbusters. Phoenix, Arizona. President Ronald Reagan. What do all these things have in common? They might never have happened if not for AC. On this episode, AC finally hits the big time – and changes America forever. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Keeping Cool | A Chilly Reception | 1
August 27, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBMuggy. Sticky. Miserable. For eons, that’s just what summer was. In fact, when air conditioning first became available, few people took advantage of it. Wasn’t summer supposed to be uncomfortable? This is the story of how people finally warmed up to the idea of keeping cool. You can binge all episodes of American Innovations exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...
Video Games | Game Designer Ian Bogost on the Past and Future of Gaming | 4
August 20, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. The video game industry has certainly matured over the years. But does it still have the sense of open-ended innovation that it did in the early golden era of Spacewar and Pong? To get a better sense of how today’s game breakthroughs compare to the heyday of Atari, Steven speaks with one of the most thoughtful observers of the video game industry, Ian Bogost. Bogost is a game designer and the author of Play Anything: ...
Fighting Coronavirus | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Vaccines (But Were Afraid to Ask) | 18
August 18, 2020 09:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBThe coronavirus has put our lives on pause, but it’s kicked the science behind vaccines into hyperdrive. Science writer Carl Zimmer walks Steven through some of the radical new approaches to making vaccines – and gives his best-case/worst-case scenarios for when a vaccine will be ready. Also: we get answers, kind of, about what’s up with Russia. And Steven drops a Taylor Swift reference. Read Carl’s latest on the vaccine race in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/by/carl...
Wondery Presents: Billionaire Boys Club
August 18, 2020 08:30 - 5 minutes - 4.9 MBIn 1980s Los Angeles, a group of prep school boys got together to make investments together, get rich quick, and live large. But headed by a handsome and charismatic leader named Joe Hunt, the members of the self-proclaimed “Billionaire Boys Club” get sucked deeper into twisted schemes of kidnapping, torture, and revenge. The boys must stick together, or risk prison - or worse. From the makers of The Wonderland Murders, Young Charlie, and The Dating Game Killer, this six-part series...
Video Games | Home Invasion | 3
August 13, 2020 09:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. It's 1975 and Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell is setting his sights on the next frontier in video games: the home. But convincing people to bring video games into their homes won't be easy. Bushnell’s going to need a lot of cash, a couple perfectly timed technological breakthroughs, and a killer business plan. Oh, and he’ll also have to teach the world what a “game console” is. Listen ad-free on Wondery+ here. Suppo...
Video Games | Ping-Pong | 2
August 06, 2020 09:00 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Nolan Bushnell's Computer Space was the world's first commercial video game, but it failed to win over the masses. Now Bushnell’s plotting his comeback … and his comeback has a name: Atari. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Video Games | Electric Dreams | 1
July 30, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBCall of Duty, Fortnite, Animal Crossing.... The video game industry generates billions of dollars each year. But not so long ago, video games were mostly played by the programmers who made them. On our new season, we’re telling the story of how video games broke out of university computer labs and found their way straight to the heart of popular culture. You can binge all episodes of American Innovations exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Ap...
Fighting Coronavirus | Back to School | 17
July 28, 2020 09:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBBack-to-school season is here, but students across the country aren’t going anywhere. Anya Kamenetz, NPR’s education correspondent, returns to the show to shed light on the greatest educational crisis of our time. How can we safely reopen schools? And what can we learn from countries that have tried – and failed? Listen to Anya’s stories for NPR at https://www.npr.org/people/302894536/anya-kamenetz. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...
Radar | The Superpowers of Modern Radar | 4
July 23, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Since World War II, scientists have continued to use radar to explore what we can’t see or hear ourselves. And their uses have become increasingly creative. On this episode, we’re talking to three people involved in some of the most fascinating applications of radar today. First up, Steven talks to Sara Kiley Watson about ground-penetrating radar, which provides archaeologists with breathtakingly clear pictures of und...
Radar | The Rad Lab | 17
July 16, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBAs German bombers raze England’s cities, American scientists race to build the world’s first air-to-air radar system. But building the system is only half the challenge. If the scientists succeed, they’ll also have to fit the world’s most cutting-edge technology inside the nose of a B-18 – a space that’s smaller than a shoe box.
Radar | The Rad Lab | 3
July 16, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. As German bombers raze England’s cities, American scientists race to build the world’s first air-to-air radar system. But building the system is only half the challenge. If the scientists succeed, they’ll also have to fit the world’s most cutting-edge technology inside the nose of a B-18 – a space that’s smaller than a shoe box. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...
Wondery Presents Blood Ties Season 2
July 15, 2020 08:30 - 11 minutes - 11 MBBlood Ties Season 2 is out now! Blood Ties is a scripted audio drama starring Gillian Jacobs, Josh Gad, Dominic Monaghan, Amy Landecker, and Wayne Knight. After the sudden death of Michael and Eleonore Richland’s billionaire father, disturbing allegations emerge about his dark past. These revelations thrust them into a fight they’re completely unprepared for. As the stakes of telling the truth continue to rise, they grapple with their father’s legacy and what to do with it. Li...
Radar | Mr. Bowen Goes to Washington | 2
July 09, 2020 09:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. As World War II rages on, American and English scientists race to develop a microwave radar system. But both sets of scientists have something the other team needs to cross the finish line. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Fighting Coronavirus | How We Can Still Win | 16
July 07, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBWhen National Geographic science editor Nsikan Akpan began researching his latest article on the coronavirus, he asked every scientist he talked to the same question: Has the U.S. already lost? Every scientist said no – but we need a better game plan. On this week’s episode, Nsikan tells Steven what we’ve been getting wrong – and what the new game plan should look like. You can find Nsikan Akpan’s articles, including “Here’s How To Stop The Coronavirus From Winning,” at natg...
Radar | Welcome to Tuxedo Park | 1
July 02, 2020 09:00 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBWhat technology won WWII? Most people would say the atomic bomb, but the real answer is radar. As a small island country, vulnerable to aerial attacks, England took the lead in developing radar in the 1930s. But the early radar systems were too massive to fit into planes, where they would be of most use in the fight against the Germans. At the heart of the problem was a technological catch-22. Smaller radar systems were, by definition, less powerful. Or so everyone thought, until ...
Introducing Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment
July 01, 2020 08:30 - 6 minutes - 5.63 MBWhen we face challenges in life, we seek answers from people we believe can help us. When tragedy strikes an exclusive retreat with a self-help superstar, many people are left to wonder: how far is too far? James Arthur Ray was an Oprah-endorsed self-help teacher who achieved fame, fortune, and influence. But friends and family members of his followers questioned his unorthodox methods, and tried to stop him. From Wondery, the makers of “Dirty John,” “Dr. Death,” and “The Shrink Nex...
Fighting Coronavirus | Inside the NBA Bubble | 15
June 30, 2020 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBBack in March, the NBA pressed pause on its 2019-20 season. Now, the league wants to pick up where it left off – but with Covid-19 rates on the rise, it’s not going to be easy. This week, Kavitha Davidson, host of The Lead, walks us through the NBA’s plan to move 16 teams into a “bubble” at the Disney World Resort. What rules will players have to follow? And will the risks to players’ health be worth it? Check out The Lead, Wondery’s daily sports podcast, at https://podcasts.apple...
Encore: The Polio Vaccine | The Fight Goes On | 3
June 25, 2020 09:00 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. In 1955, the world received its first viable polio vaccine, courtesy of Jonas Salk. He was hailed as a hero until kids started to fall sick with polio. A bad batch of vaccines was thought to be the culprit. But it was also an opening for a scientist with a competing vision. Albert Sabin warned of the dangers of Salk’s vaccine from the start. The final clash between the two vaccines, and the two scientists, is the true ...
Fighting Coronavirus | Forest Fires, Memes, & Covid-19 | 14
June 23, 2020 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBForest fires. Ant colonies. Internet memes. On the surface, they have nothing in common. But, according to network scientist Samuel Scarpino, they’re all complex systems that spread. Sam’s job is to crack the rules underlying their spread, and then apply them to epidemics such as Covid-19. Read more about Sam’s work in Steven’s New York Times Magazine article, “How Data Became One of the Most Powerful Tools to Fight an Epidemic”: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/10/mag...
Encore: The Polio Vaccine | Can You Patent The Sun? | 2
June 18, 2020 09:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Pressure mounts to release a vaccine for polio, but a rushed vaccine could have disastrous results. After all, vaccines contain benign samples of the viruses they’re designed to protect against. If a flawed polio vaccine were to be tested on humans, it wouldn’t cure the disease – it would help spread it. Note: This episode originally ran in October 2018. Listen ad-free on Wondery+ here. Support us by supporting o...
Wondery Presents: Murder in Hollywoodland
June 17, 2020 08:30 - 4 minutes - 4.47 MBIt's February 2nd 1922, and all of Hollywood is about to wake up and learn that William Desmond Taylor, the most famous film director in town, was murdered in his home last night. The investigation will shine a light on some of Hollywood's most scandalous affairs, backroom deals, and underground drug dens. This real life Murder Mystery is one of the most iconic "whodunnit" cases of the 20th century that will leave you guessing and second guessing who killed William Desmond Taylor fo...
Fighting Coronavirus | Can We Ditch the Office Forever? | 13
June 16, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBMost CEOs hated the idea of employees working from home. But when the coronavirus hit, they didn’t have a choice. They sent their white-collar workers home before they’d even learned how to mute themselves on Zoom. What happened next surprised everyone. Productivity shot through the roof. Now, companies don’t know whether they should bring workers back to the office, even if they can do it safely. We’ve invited Clive Thompson, fresh off his piece for The New York Times Magazine abo...
Fighting Coronavirus | Working From Home is Here to Stay | 13
June 16, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBMost CEOs hated the idea of employees working from home. But when the coronavirus hit, they didn’t have a choice. They sent their white-collar workers home before they’d even learned how to mute themselves on Zoom. What happened next surprised everyone. Productivity shot through the roof. Now, companies don’t know whether they should bring workers back to the office, even if they can do it safely. We’ve invited Clive Thompson, fresh off his piece for The New York Times Magazine abo...
Encore: The Polio Vaccine | Marching Toward A Cure | 1
June 11, 2020 09:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBThe virus spread invisibly and without warning. Person to person. Through contaminated food, shared possessions, and unwashed hands. Mid-century Americans lived in fear of one disease: polio. But the story of the polio vaccine is not just a scientific story – it’s a political and financial story, too. One that played out across the corner offices of New York City, the sound booths of Hollywood, and the back rooms of Washington D.C.. Note: This episode originally ran in October 201...
Fighting Coronavirus | Why Covid-19 Disproportionately Kills Black Americans | 12
June 09, 2020 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBThere’s a saying in public health circles: “When white America sneezes, black America gets pneumonia.” When the coronavirus hit, health care experts knew that black Americans would be the hardest hit. But the numbers were still shocking. Black people make up 12.7% of the U.S. population but have so far made up 22% of its Covid-19-related deaths. On this episode, Steven talks to reporter Linda Villarosa about the reasons behind those numbers, and her quest to give them a human face ...
Ferris Wheel | Scott A. Lukas and the History of Theme Parks | 2
June 04, 2020 09:00 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. George Ferris aspired to build a structure for the 1893 World's Fair that could rival Paris's Eiffel Tower. And when the Ferris wheel debuted, newspapers hailed it as the eighth wonder of the world. The grandeur and success of the Ferris wheel paved the way for future theme parks. These fantastical spaces have become symbols of leisure and fun throughout the United States and offered innovators like George Ferris a c...
Wondery presents The Next Big Idea featuring Steven Johnson
June 03, 2020 18:00 - 7 minutes - 7.23 MBThis week on The Next Big Idea, author Steven Johnson speaks to Malcom Gladwell about the value of long term planning and how to make better decisions in your own life. Subscribe to The Next Big Idea today: http://wondery.fm/NextBigIdea_Johnson