Ep 245. Jad Abumrad, Robert Krulwich

Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich of Radiolab fame visit The Colbert Report on season 9 episode 245. The two hosts discuss their experiences in creating and producing their hit radio show, which centers around exploring complex topics in science and philosophy in a relatable and engaging manner.

The interview begins with Colbert asking Abumrad and Krulwich how they balance scientific accuracy with storytelling. Abumrad explains that Radiolab aims to present the essence of a scientific concept in a way that is digestible to non-scientific audiences, without sacrificing accuracy. He compares it to playing a game of telephone, where the initial scientific idea is transformed into an engaging narrative that listeners can connect with.

Krulwich elaborates on this point, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in Radiolab. He explains that the show aims to be more than just a dry scientific explanation, with the stories ideally generating an emotional response from listeners and making them care about the topics being discussed. He cites an example of a Radiolab episode about the joys and perils of procrastination, which was especially resonant with listeners and generated a lot of engagement.

Colbert turns the conversation to the role of curiosity in Radiolab. Abumrad and Krulwich both express their belief that curiosity is essential to their work. Abumrad says that he is driven by a deep sense of curiosity about the world around him, and that Radiolab allows him to indulge that curiosity while also sharing it with others.

Krulwich adds that curiosity is a uniquely human trait, and that it is what makes Radiolab such an engaging show. He explains that curiosity is what drives people to ask questions about things that might seem mundane, and that it is the ability to answer those questions in a way that is captivating and entertaining that sets Radiolab apart from other science shows.

The conversation turns to the challenges of producing a radio show, particularly one that deals with complex scientific topics. Abumrad and Krulwich both cite the difficulty of distilling complex scientific concepts into a format that is accessible to laypeople. Abumrad explains that they often have to simplify scientific jargon or concepts to make them understandable, while Krulwich says that they have to be creative in finding ways to engage listeners who might not initially be interested in the topic being discussed.

The conversation ends with Abumrad and Krulwich discussing some of their favorite episodes of Radiolab, and what they hope listeners take away from them. Abumrad cites an episode called "The Cathedral," which explores the concept of infinity through a discussion of Russian mathematician Georg Cantor. He hopes that listeners will come away with a better understanding of the concept of infinity and how it informs our thinking about science and philosophy.

Krulwich cites an episode called "The Bitter End," which discusses what happens to our bodies after we die. He jokes that he hopes listeners will come away with a newfound desire to take better care of themselves.

Overall, the interview with Abumrad and Krulwich is a fascinating look at how two talented radio producers approach the task of translating complex scientific topics into engaging and relatable narratives. Their insights into the importance of curiosity, storytelling, and creativity in producing a show like Radiolab are sure to be of interest to anyone who enjoys science, philosophy, or good storytelling in general.