Programs

This episode was recorded on May 17th, 2026 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The lineup includes Paul Thorn, Ray Benson, Sunny Sweeney, Andy Friedman. https://bit.ly/4afWiMG⁠

The world lost a legend recently, and we wanted in some small way to pay tribute to the great Dolly Parton. So we’re playing you an episode from a series we had a small part in back in 2017, Dolly Parton’s America.  The series kicked off with a simple question: How did the queen of the boob joke become a feminist icon? Helen Morales, author of “Pilgrimage to Dollywood,” gave us a stern directive – look at the lyrics! So we dive into Dolly’s discography, starting with the early period of what Dolly calls “sad ass songs” to find remarkably prescient words of female pain, slut-shaming, domestic violence, and women being locked away in asylums by cheating husbands. We explore how Dolly took the centuries-old tradition of the Appalachian “murder ballad”—an oral tradition of men singing songs about brutally killing women—and flipped the script, singing from the woman’s point of view. And as her career progresses, the songs expand beyond the pain to tell tales of leaving abuse behind. How can such pro-woman lyrics come from someone who despises the word feminism? Best to let Dolly tell you herself. EPISODE CREDITS:  Reported by – Jad Abumrad and Shima Oliaee Produced by – Jad Abumrad with help from – W. Harry Fortuna Original music from – Alex Overington Sound design contributed by – Alex Overington and Edited by  – Suzie Lechtenberg 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett released her 2015 album Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit, she quickly became a top tier indie rock act. All of her skills were on display when Courtney Barnett joined hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot for an interview and intimate solo performance in front of an audience. Plus, the hosts review the new album from Phoebe Bridgers and Twisted Teens.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4frcVZoMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah  Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Courtney Barnett, "Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go to the Party," Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015The Beatles, "With a Little Help from My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967Phoebe Bridgers, "Lost Boys," Lost Weekend, Dead Oceans, 2026Phoebe Bridgers, "Bobby," Lost Weekend, Dead Oceans, 2026Phoebe Bridgers, "Never Going Back!," Lost Weekend, Dead Oceans, 2026Phoebe Bridgers, "The Outside," Lost Weekend, Dead Oceans, 2026Phoebe Bridgers, "The Governor's Waltz," Lost Weekend, Dead Oceans, 2026Twisted Teens, "Why Did You Miss It?," Florida Water Blues, Going Underground, 2026Twisted Teens, "Florida Water Blues," Florida Water Blues, Going Underground, 2026Twisted Teens, "Javelina," Florida Water Blues, Going Underground, 2026Twisted Teens, "Riding," Florida Water Blues, Going Underground, 2026Twisted Teens, "Guided Thunder," Florida Water Blues, Going Underground, 2026Courtney Barnett, "Pedestrian at Best," Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Nirvana, "Heart-Shaped Box," In Utero, DGC, 1993Courtney Barnett, "An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York)," Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Courtney Barnett, "Elevator Operator (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Courtney Barnett, "Small Poppies," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Courtney Barnett, "Aqua Profunda!," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Courtney Barnett, "Depreston," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015The Go-Betweens, "Streets of Your Town," 16 Lovers Lane, Mushroom, 1988Courtney Barnett, "Depreston (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Courtney Barnett, "Kim's Caravan," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Courtney Barnett, "Dead Fox (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Courtney Barnett, "Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go to the Party (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Courtney Barnett, "Boxing Day Blues," Sometime I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015Hole, "Miss World," Live Through This, DGC, 1994See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world’s top tennis players will spend many hours under the lights over the next two weeks. And thanks to some changes made a couple of years ago, almost all of the light will shine down on them – not into the sky. The U.S. Open is played on 17 tournament courts and five practice courts in Queens, New York. Many of the sessions take place at night. But conventional outdoor lighting directs a lot of light into the sky, producing light pollution. To reduce the glow, the venue replaced its lighting in 2024. The new L-E-D fixtures are shaped and shielded so that almost all of their light shines down onto the courts. The change was certified as “dark-sky friendly” by DarkSky International, a group that’s been encouraging better outdoor lightning for 25 years. Cities, parks, and other places get certified by changing their lighting, and enacting policies designed to keep night skies dark. In all, the group has certified more than 270 sites around the world. And since 2019, it’s certified more than 40 sports venues, most of them in the U.S. – from Texarkana to Waukesha, Wisconsin, and from Seattle to Panama City, Florida. Light pollution does more than just ruin the view of the night sky. It can interfere with the migration of birds, sea turtles, and other animals. It wastes energy and money. And it can hurt people’s health. So reducing light pollution is a winning strategy. Script by Damond Benningfield

It's an episode dedicated exclusively to Panamanian music of all genres, from dancehall reggae and salsa, to rock and jazz. Featured artists include Ruben Blades, Los Rabanes, El General, Danilo Perez, The Exciters and more.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been in the news thanks to an extra-long deployment that's taken a toll on its crew. What's life on an aircraft carrier at war really like? Back in 2002, we spent a few days on the USS John C. Stennis, which was sending bombing missions into Afghanistan. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.(00:00:00) Prologue: Alex Blumberg talks with sailor Crevon Scott, who stocks vending machines on the Stennis.(00:04:52) Act One: Aboard the USS Stennis, Ira Glass and Wendy Dorr talk with sailors about life on board. Off duty, people play video games, work out, or practice in one of the ship's many garage bands. Ira and Wendy also talk with sailors about how rumors travel on the ship — conversations that get back to the top brass, who give the producers heat for chasing salacious stories. Ira interviews the captain, James McDonell, and learns the ship is facing a fresh water shortage.(00:32:30) Act Two: As pilots head to their planes for a mission, they explain how hard it is to land on an aircraft carrier. Wendy talks with sailors Cynthia and David, waiting for the 8PM movie to start, and she and Alex talk with sailors in the mess hall.Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org / This American Life privacy policy. / Learn more about sponsor message choices.