Voice

26 September 2025 - 1 hour 6 mins
Podcast Series Radiolab

Over the course of millions of years, human voices have evolved to hold startling power. These clouds of vibrating air carry crucial information about who we are–and we rely on them to push ourselves up and out into the physical world.

This week, we’re on a journey to understand how we got our unique sonic fingerprint, the power it affords us, and what happens when it’s taken away.

Special thanks to Alice Wong, Wren Farrell, Hector Espinal and his parents, Crisaly and Hector Espinal, Mary Croke, Nancy Kielty, Beth McEwen, Robin Feuer Miller, Roomful of Teeth, Amanda Crider, Caroline Shaw, Judd Greenstein, Leilihua Lanzilotti, Rebekka Karijord, and Michael Harrison.

EPISODE CREDITS: 

Repo...

1 hour 6 mins

Series Episodes

Math Vs Machine Playing

Math Vs Machine

explicit

Machines are answering our hardest problems... Does it matter if we don’t understand how?

31 mins

9 October Finished

A 4-Track Mind Playing

A 4-Track Mind

A neurologist issues a dare to a ragtime piano player and a famous conductor, then the impossible happens.

21 mins

2 October Finished

Grass Apes Playing

Grass Apes

A tiny ode to grass, for its epic role in human history.

22 mins

25 September Finished

23 Weeks 6 Days Playing

23 Weeks 6 Days

A tiny baby, born at 23 Weeks and 6 days—roughly halfway to full term. And a whole universe of medical and moral questions.

1 hour 3 mins

11 September Finished

60 Words Playing

60 Words

It’s been 25 years since 9/11. Today we talk about the 60 words that ushered in everything that came after.

58 mins

4 September Finished

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