Latest Episodes
-
Did Meta Really Lose?
August 27, 2026 First, it's another round of the Glitch Report, with misinformation researcher Joan Donovan. Today she’s joined by tech reporter and CNN contributor Jacob Ward for analysis of the $17.1 billion dollar Meta settlement over social media addiction. Then, MIT economist Jon Gruber joins with Nathaniel Hendren, founder and co-director of the group Policy Impacts. They’ll talk about what makes effective government policy, and why policy makers are so quick to get in their own way. Lastly, it's National Peach Day today. We’re celebrating with Dan Souza from America’s Test Kitchen, who'll teach Edgar his not-yet-patented "Rubik’s Technique" for perfect slicing. -
Are We On The Cusp Of Nuclear Fusion?
August 26, 2026First up, we open with a conversation about – what else? – data centers, and the question of how much strain they put on energy grids. We’ll also look at lessons in large-scale data center growth from Virginia & Texas, with Rachel Mural from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. We're moving from data centers to general electricity usage, and how things like vehicle charging and heating & cooling put a more urgent strain on infrastructure. Edgar talks with MIT’s Christopher Knittel & Barbara Kates-Garnick from Tufts about how we can address the issue.We’ll air a field interview about nuclear fission, taped on-site at MIT’s Nuclear Reactor Lab, with managing co-director Gordon Kohse and Sukesh Aghara. NOVA senior producer Caitlin Saks explains how close we are to a future powered by clean, safe nuclear fusion. And how a local fusion expert came to lead the U.K.’s Atomic Energy Authority earlier this month. -
Too Much True Crime?
August 25, 2026 We're hosting a panel conversation around the use of AI in K-12 curriculums. Edgar talks with MTA President and longtime Andover history teacher Matt Bach, edX’s Nina Huntemann, and emerging industries lawyer-slash-activist Shaleen Title. It’s another round of Four Things to Know with Gal Tziperman Lotan from GBH Daily. B.U. researcher Kathryn Coduto reflects on the psychological impact of our cultural obsession with true-crime, in the case of Lindsay Clancy and others. -
How Is AI Playing Ping-Pong?
August 26, 2026 While everyone hums and haws about AI consciousness, Colombia College Philosophy professor Stephen Asthma has been reflecting on the seemingly-conscious & potentially horrifying implications of “wetware biocomputers,” small collections of human stem cells that can be taught to, among other things, play pong. He’ll join to discuss. Tufts nutritionist Lynne Asuman helps decode the dense, confusing, multi-syllabic world of nutrition labels.There’s a feature on the Merriam-Webster website called “Time Traveler,” that lets you search word origins by year. Edgar talks with editor at large Peter Sokolowski about how our words are born and evolve with time, and how understanding their origin expands our understanding of the language we use. -
Why Does Craig LeMoult Have So Many Butterflies?
August 21, 2026 First up, it's the latest edition of ICYMI, our menagerie of misfit news. Joining today are GBH’s Paris Alston & Jeremy Siegel. They’ll talk about Duxbury beachgoers frustrated by bird protections, a massive squid spillage in Rhode Island, and a Guinea Pig sanctuary up in Salisbury that’s housing 350 - 400 guinea pigs at any given time. Then, we chat briefly with Kimie Smothermon and Jacquline Ranger from that Salisbury Guinea Pig Sanctuary. Afterwards, we celebrate of Trans History Month, Edgar talks with Joan Ilacqua from Queer History Boston about the life and legacy of explorer and Harvard lichenologist Dr. Elke Mackenzie. We round out the show talking about the thousands of monarch butterflies in New England that are gearing up for their great migration to Mexico. Edgar talks about what makes them remarkable with lepidopterist Abby Robinson and GBH Reporter Craig LeMoult, who’s been rearing monarchs at his home for years. -
What Is Cognitive Architecture?
First up, Edgar will interview the newly-crowned winner of the 41st-annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest, which concludes this afternoon around 12:30. Then, it’s another round of The Glitch Report, with misinformation researcher Joan Donovan. We’ll talk Flock camera controversy, Bill Gates’ daughter in hot water over a cookie-stuffing scheme, and teachers worried that AI is taking away student’s ability to think critically. Lastly, we air a field piece from producer Hannah Loss, where Tufts Professor Justin Hollander explains the concept of “cognitive architecture,” during a tour throughout the city of Worcester. -
Why Does A Cheating Bird Change Its Tune?
First, Mary Cate Colapietro from ISO New England quizzes Edgar on “the grid” and how it actually supplies our electricity.Then, we meet Norwegian researcher Tore Slagsvold for a conversation about why male pied flycatchers will subtly change their song when they’ve been cheating on their mates.Lastly, Dr. Vincent Martin from the University of Cincinnati explains why we get migrants ahead of inclement weather. -
Why Is It So Hard To Make The Ocean Drinkable?
We’re answering a listener’s curiosity question about the challenges of desalination, with MIT researcher and author Amos Winter. Then it’s Gal Tziperman Lotan, back with Four Things to Know. Lastly, Mass. General Brigham’s Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni explains why we can still experience seasonal affective disorder in the summertime. -
What's The Best Dog For My Cat?
First -- it's our faith leader news panel, with B.U.’s Rev. Jessica Chicka, B.U., Associate Muslim Chaplain Sr. Naureen Mallick, and Rabbi Charlie Schwartz from Lehrhaus. We’ll get their thoughts on the Luigi Mangione trial, Facebook being addictive to children, and New York legalizing medical aid in dying. Then, phone & text lines are open for the latest round of Ask the Dog & Cat Behaviorists. Today, Edgar’s joined by Rachel Geller from All Cats All the Time & Kate Bigger from High Fidelity Dogs. -
Can Mentalism Make Me Rich?
Friday, August 14th First up it’s our misfit news panel ICYM, this week with Axios’ Mike Deehan and filmmaker & audio journalist CC Paschal. They’ll talk about debate around legal barriers for would-be fortune tellers, Pickleball drama in Mashpee, and the supposed summer of the man purse. Then, Edgar talks with David Kruh and Tina Drzal about their new book Little Mister Victory: A Daughter's Search for the Woman Who Abandoned Her Father on VJ Day. Lastly, Mentalist Tom Indigo is back. He’ll teach us some simple tricks that can be performed at home (or at a bar to win a buck) and talk about whether mentalism can make us more empathetic.
