Programs

Five Faves: 2005 Edition Executive producer Adam Harris walks us through some of the most memorable sets and performances from his first season with Mountain Stage, twenty short years ago. Tune in to hear The Del McCoury Band, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Lizz Wright, Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Odetta and more! https://bit.ly/4sptuc8

In this episode, we consider a creature we often don’t think much about—the snail. And not just snails, but their sex lives. Which, as it turns out, is epic. There is persuasion and subterfuge, spaghetti penises and co-copulation. And this very surprising habit—erm kink—of making tiny arrows (actually!) and stabbing each other with them. Known as a “love dart,” these limestone daggers aren’t just a strange trick of nature—they have a deep evolutionary purpose.  Special thanks to Menno Schilthuizen and Aaron Chase.EPISODE CREDITS:  Hosted by – Molly Webster Reported by – Molly Webster Produced by – Mona Madgavkar, Annie McEwen, Molly Webster Sound design contributed by – Mona Madgavkar, Annie McEwen Fact-checking by – Diane A. Kelly and Edited by  – Alex Neason EPISODE CITATIONS: Videos –  A love dart being DARTED! (https://zpr.io/rYhLwXhaxQQP)  – Molly has watched this video so many times Articles –  Changes in the reproductive system of the snail Helix aspersa caused by mucus from the love dart. (https://zpr.io/xxjuCcTyiVJV) by Koene JM, Chase R. J Exp Biol. The snail's love-dart delivers mucus to increase paternity. By Chase R, Blanchard KC. Proc Biol Sci. A love-dart at the heart of sexual conflict in snails (https://zpr.io/X2ANHPaEg5sr)  by Foote C  ** This article has an image of eight different love darts, and it’s what Molly shows to Soren in the episode (this image is one of her favorite research finds!)  Books –  “Nature’s Nether Regions: What the Sex Lives of Bugs, Birds, and Beasts Tell Us About Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ourselves” (https://zpr.io/ktMvJbZciCdD)  by evolutionary biologist Menno Schilthuizen. Signup for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)! Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today. Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org. Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

If you were stranded on a desert island today, what’s the one song you couldn’t live without? This week hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot round up a handful of Desert Island Jukebox picks from previous guests of Sound Opinions. The hosts also review the new albums from Peaches and Danny Brown.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:The Beatles, "In My Life," Rubber Soul, Parlophone, 1965The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Peaches, "No Lube So Rude," No Lube So Rude, Kill Rock Stars, 2026Peaches, "Be Love," No Lube So Rude, Kill Rock Stars, 2026Peaches, "Not In Your Mouth None Of Your Business," No Lube So Rude, Kill Rock Stars, 2026Danny Brown, "Copycats," Stardust, Warp, 2025Danny Brown, "Whatever The Case," Stardust, Warp, 2025Danny Brown, "Book of Daniel," Stardust, Warp, 2025Danny Brown, "All4u," Stardust, Warp, 2025Danny Brown, "Lift You Up," Stardust, Warp, 2025Roxy Music, "Virginia Plain," Roxy Music, Island and Reprise, 1972Soft Machine, "Hope For Happiness," The Soft Machine, ABC and Probe, 1968Spoon, "Let Me Be Mine," They Want My Soul, Loma Vista and ANTI, 2014Rolling Stones, "Emotional Rescue," Emotional Rescue, Rolling Stones, 1980Jeff Tweedy, "Lou Reed Was My Babysitter," Twilight Override, dBpm, 2025Tyrannosaurus Rex, "A Beard of Stars," A Beard of Stars, Regal Zonophone, 1970Tyrannosaurus Rex, "By the Light of the Magical Moon," A Beard of Stars, Regal Zonophone, 1970Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force, "Planet Rock," Planet Rock (Single), Tommy Boy, 1982The Spinners, "Mighty Love," Mighty Love, Atlantic, 1973The Delfonics, "La-La Means I Love You," La-La Means I Love You, Philly Groove, 1968Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)," Hounds of Love, EMI, 1985Local H, "How's The Weather Down There?," Whatever Happened To P.J. Soles?, Studio.E, 2004Mark Lannigan, "Solitaire," Imitations, Vagrant, 2013Mark Lannigan, "Ugly Sunday," The Winding Sheet, Sub Pop, 1990Nirvana, "Lithium," Nevermind, DGC, 1992Tsunami, "In a Name," Deep End, Simple Machines, 1993The Lemon Twigs, "Any Time Of Day," Everything Harmony, Captured Tracks, 2023Nicholas Krgovich, "Rosemary," Rosemary (Single), Tin Angel, 2018The Butterfield Blues Band, "East-West," East-West, Elektra, 1966The Third Mind, "East West (Live)," Live Mind, Yep Roc, 2025Beach Bunny, "Dream Boy," Honeymoon, Mom + Pop, 2020Redd Kross, "Candy Coloured Catastrophe," Redd Kross, In The Red, 2024See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Canopus would be a terrible neighbor. The star is big, bright, and hot, so it might blow away any planet-making materials around nearby stars. Even worse, it may be destined to explode. That would zap any existing planets with radiation – perhaps endangering any life in nearby star systems. Canopus is the second-brightest star in the night sky. At this time of year, it’s visible from the southern third of the United States in early evening. It’s low in the south, well below Sirius, the brightest star. Canopus is at least eight times the mass of the Sun. So even though it’s billions of years younger than the Sun, it’s already completed the main phase of life. Within a few million years, its core will collapse, perhaps forming an ultra-dense neutron star. If so, then its outer layers will blast into space as a supernova. Such an outburst would produce enormous amounts of X-rays and gamma rays – the most powerful forms of energy. That could strip away the ozone layer of any planet within a few dozen light-years, subjecting the surface to high levels of radiation. So far, we know of only one planet within that range where conditions are most suitable for life. The planet itself isn’t likely to host life. But any big moons might be more comfortable homes – at least until the demise of Canopus. Luckily for us, Canopus is 300 light-years away. So Earth is well outside the “danger zone” of this not-so-neighborly neighbor. Script by Damond Benningfield

It's a New Música episode! This week we highlight recent releases from Francisca Valenzuela, Nathy Peluso, The Warning, Bang Data & Santi Mostaffa, Cimafunk & Monsieur Perine, Andres Levin & Atercipelados, El Mató a Un Policia Motorizado, Cheo and more.

Two lawyers who work for ICE step forward and lift the curtain on what is really happening inside our immigration system right now. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Two lawyers dive into the details of what they’ve witnessed behind the scenes in different parts of the immigration system. (2 minutes)Act One: Former ICE attorney Ryan Schwank explains the chaos and dysfunction he observed at an ICE training academy, which led him to whistleblow to Congress two weeks ago. (12 minutes)Act Two: A federal judge orders the government to immediately release a bunch of people from detention. Days pass, and the government doesn’t comply. So the judge calls a hearing to figure out what’s going on. The lawyer's response is not what he or anybody expected. (25 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.