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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.

Over the centuries, we’ve given all the visible stars many names – proper names, catalog designations, and others. But only one star is best known not by any of its formal names, but by its nickname: the Dog Star. Its proper name is Sirius, and it’s the leading light of the constellation Canis Major, the big dog – hence the nickname. Sirius is so well known because it’s the brightest star in the night sky – its closest competition is only about half as bright. Part of that is because Sirius itself is a couple of dozen times brighter than the Sun. But part of it is because Sirius is one of our closest neighbors – less than nine light-years away. And thanks to the relative motions of Sirius and the Sun, Sirius is moving closer, at about 12,000 miles per hour. It’ll continue to close in for tens of thousands of years. But the distances between stars are so vast that even at that speed, Sirius won’t grow much brighter in our sky. Astronomers discovered the star’s motion toward us by measuring its Doppler shift – a slight change in the wavelength of its light. The Doppler shift also allowed them to measure the orbit of a faint companion – a stellar corpse known as a white dwarf; we’ll have more about that tomorrow. In the meantime, look for Sirius climbing into good view in the east-southeast by around 8:30 or 9. It’s directly below the three stars of Orion’s Belt, so you can’t miss it. 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.

The one animal we can’t seem to live without, even when we really, really want to. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscriptionPrologue: At the announcement of New York City’s inaugural rat czar, we meet Darneice Foster, who despises the rats outside her apartment. And host Ira Glass introduces two special co-hosts for today’s show. (11 minutes)Act One: Producer Elna Baker meets Todd Sklar, a man who can’t quit rats. (22 minutes)Act Two: Fifty years ago, New York City started to put garbage out in plastic bags. This has become the number one food source for rats. Producer Ike Sriskandarajah investigates the decision that led to the city’s rat baby boom. (10 minutes)Act Three: How did Alberta, Canada pull off a feat that has eluded the rest of human civilization? Ira visits the largest rat-less land in the world. (15 minutes)Act Four: We drop a hot mic into a hot mess of a rats’ nest. You’ll never believe what happens next. (3 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.