Programs

This episode was recorded on November 16th, 2025 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The lineup includes Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Jack Blocker, Cole Quest & The City Pickers, Courtney Hartman, The Critton Hollow String Band. https://bit.ly/451Cjin

As she — and her friends — approached the age of 35, senior correspondent Molly Webster kept hearing a phrase over and over: “fertility cliff.” It was a short-hand term to describe what she was told would happen to her fertility after she turned 35 — that is, it would drop off. Suddenly, sharply, dramatically. And this was well before she was supposed to hit menopause. Intrigued, Molly decided to look into it — what was the truth behind this so-called cliff, and when, if so, would she topple? This story first premiered in “Thirty Something,” a 2018 Radiolab live show that was part of, Gonads, (https://radiolab.org/series/radiolab-presents-gonads)a six-episode audio and live event series all about reproduction and the parts of us that make more of us. The live event was produced by Rachael Cusick and edited by Pat Walters.Special thanks to epidemiologist Lauren Wise, at Boston University. Plus, Emily, Chloe, and Bianca. And of course, Jad Abumrad.If you’re more of a visual person, here are the graphs we explain in the episode, we also include links to the corresponding papers in our Episode Citations Section, below!LINK TO GRAPHS:https://media.wnyc.org/i/1860/1046/c/80/2025/12/FERTILITY_AGE_GRAPHS_1-4.jpgEPISODE CREDITS: Reported by – Molly WebsterProduced by – Arianne WackFact-checking by – Diane A. KellyEPISODE CITATIONS:Audio:Gonads (https://radiolab.org/series/radiolab-presents-gonads/)A six-part audio series on reproduction and the parts of us that make more of usThe Menopause Mystery (https://radiolab.org/podcast/the-menopause-mystery)One of Radiolab’s most listened-to episodes of 2025! Videos:“Radiolab Presents: Thirty Something”https://youtu.be/LOJVAaSwags?si=czCBraHf1JEqmAQiResearch Articles:Graph 1: Can assisted reproduction technology compensate for the natural decline in fertility with age? A model assessment (https://zpr.io/ft6dqdbkJnTd) Graph 2: Ovarian aging: mechanisms and clinical consequences (https://zpr.io/GrPLebynpvxV) , Brookmans, et al.BUT, the graph was borrowed and actually comes from this 1991 paper, Delaying childbearing: effect of age on fecundity and outcome of pregnancy” (https://zpr.io/whWg2UAZsb6h)  Graph 3 and 4: Age and fecundability in a North American preconception cohort study, (https://zpr.io/Rmqry4Kd67hY) Wise et al; Dutch fertility researchFurther reading: Predicting Fertility, (https://zpr.io/YEdfiYT29rUh): Magazine article on Lauren Wise’s research, Sign up for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Signup (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.

Following up the guitar masterpiece of OK Computer, Radiohead threw the music world for a loop with Kid A. Twenty five years after its release, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk with author Steven Hyden about how the album was made and its lasting impact. They also discuss the life and career of the Sex Pistols and New York Dolls manager Malcolm McLaren.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:Radiohead, "Idioteque," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Radiohead, "How To Disappear Completely," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000Radiohead, "Subterranean Homesick Alien," OK Computer, Parlophone, 1997Travis, "Writing To Reach You," The Man Who, Independiente, 1999Autechre, "Rae," LP5, Warp, 1999Radiohead, "Fake Plastic Trees," The Bends, Parlophone, 1995Radiohead, "Everything In Its Right Place," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000Radiohead, "Kid A (Live)," Unreleased, N/A, 2001Radiohead, "Kid A," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000Radiohead, "Treefingers," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000Radiohead, "The National Anthem (Live)," Unreleased, N/A, 2001Radiohead, "15 Step," In Rainbows, Parlophone, 2007Radiohead, "The National Anthem," Kid A, Parlophone, 2000Sex Pistols, "Anarchy In the U.K.," Never Mind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Virgin, 1977Sex Pistols, "God Save the Queen," Never Mind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Virgin, 1977Sex Pistols, "Pretty Vacant," Never Mind the Bullocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Virgin, 1977Bow Wow Wow, "I Want Candy," The Last of the Mohicans, RCA, 1982Malcolm McLaren, "Buffalo Gals," Duck Rock, Virgin, 1983The Raincoats, "Lola," The Raincoats, Rough Trade, 1979See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Not many planetary spacecraft get to shower off. But the Cassini spacecraft did – more than once. It flew through plumes of ice and water vapor from Enceladus, a moon of Saturn. The encounters helped scientists confirm that an ocean hides below the moon’s icy crust. Enceladus is a little more than 300 miles in diameter – roughly the distance from Los Angeles to San Diego. Its surface is completely coated with ice. That makes it the most reflective large body in the solar system, so it looks bright white. Much of that ice comes from more than a hundred geysers near the moon’s south pole. They erupt from deep cracks in the crust. They contain water vapor, water ice, hydrogen, grains of salt, and other compounds. Much of this material falls back on the surface. The rest of it escapes into space, where it forms a thin ring around Saturn. The geysers erupt from a global ocean. It’s buried about 20 to 25 miles below the surface, and it could be 10 miles deep or more. Hot, mineral-rich water could flow into the ocean through fissures on its floor. So the ocean appears to offer all the ingredients for life: liquid water, minerals, and a source of heat. That makes Enceladus a high-priority target in the hunt for life beyond Earth. Saturn is near our own moon this evening. It looks like a bright star, shining steadily through the lunar glare. But you need a good-sized telescope to pick out Enceladus. Script by Damond Benningfield

It's a special THE MAVERICKS takeover episode! The critically acclaimed roots rock / country band The Mavericks talk to us about the album 'En Español,' a Spanish language album that highlights the Latin music roots and influences shared by members Raul Malo and Eddie Perez.

Stories about the intersection of Christmas and retail, originally broadcast in 1996 when our show was only a year old. Including David Sedaris's "Santaland Diaries" about the seasons he spent working as an elf at Macy's.