Outside/In

Эпизоды

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  City Summer, Country Summer 19.08.2026 31мин

  Growing up, Kiese Laymon thought of himself as a city kid. But he spent his childhood with a foot in two worlds: his mom’s house in the capital city of Jackson, Mississippi and his grandma’s house in a rural country town. It wasn’t until Kiese left Mississippi that he came to understand that this question of city versus country actually meant a lot more. It carries a lot of baggage: the tensions between north and south, tectonic historical forces, and the contradictions of life in Mississippi. In this episode, originally published in 2025, our producer Justine Paradis sits down with writer Kiese Laymon for a conversation on this question of country versus city, what that has to do with the history of Black life in this country, and the story of Kiese’s first children’s picture book, his latest in a lifelong exploration of a complicated love of Mississippi. Featuring Kiese Laymon. Produced by Justine Paradis. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram, TikTok, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Kiese Laymon’s first children’s book, City Summer, Country Summer.  If you’d like to read more by Kiese, we recommend “Da Art of Storytellin’ (A Prequel)”, his essay about Outkast, his grandmother, and stank. (Oxford American) Kiese adapted City Summer, Country Summer from this 2020 prose-poem essay. (New York Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  If climate change were a choose-your-own-adventure story 12.08.2026 32мин

  Dean Russell had just wrapped several reporting projects on climate change, mental health, and COVID. “My world was just so serious,” he said. That’s when his boss approached Dean with an idea. What if they made a fiction podcast about climate change?  At first Dean wasn’t sold, but a few years later he’s become a full believer, and is the co-creator of WBUR’s The Midnight Rebellion, a choose-your-own-adventure podcast set in a futuristic climate-ravaged Boston.  This week we’re sharing the first episode of the series. But we also hear from Dean directly about what it was like to tackle such a different kind of storytelling and why he thinks embracing a format borrowed from a hit book-genre of the nineties is so apt for exploring climate action.  Featuring Dean Russell, and the cast of The Midnight Rebellion. To hear the rest of the series, subscribe to The Midnight Rebellion wherever you get your podcasts. Interview portion produced by Taylor Quimby. The Midnight Rebellion is produced by Dean Russell. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Willy Wonka factory of product testing 05.08.2026 32мин

  Producer Felix Poon goes on a field trip to the headquarters of Consumer Reports, where they test snow blowers on wet sawdust, drop bicycle helmets on anvils, and cover space heaters in towels to see how long it takes them to catch fire.  How do they come up with this stuff? And, in a world of rampant consumerism, can Consumer Reports really be a force for good? Featuring Barrie Rosen, Paul Hope, Chris Regan, Scott Collum, Matt Schimmenti, Indu Sunkara, Paolo Fu, Sana Mujahid, Joan Muratore, and Phil Radford. Produced by Felix Poon. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram, TikTok, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS In Consumer Reports’ very first issue were investigations into the difference between Grade A versus Grade B milk (there was none) and the practice of “slack-fill,” when cereal companies put more air than cereal in their cereal boxes. Learn more about some of the topics referenced throughout the episode: Gas vs. Battery Lawn Mower: Which Is Better? Battery Platform Buying Guide Reducing the Risk of Arsenic in Rice Do you have the right to repair? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Fiasco al fresco 29.07.2026 31мин

  At the height of summer, when so many of us are grabbing picnic blankets, hitting the beach, and embracing an al fresco lifestyle, a tale of two outdoor events gone spectacularly wrong.  Featuring Anika Krause, Samuel Edward-Cook, Eloise Barker, Simon Vargas, and Stephen Deng. Produced by Marina Henke. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org   SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram, TikTok, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS You can watch the 2014 production of Titus Andronicus on the Globe’s website. As discussed, it’s incredibly bloody.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Night Owls 22.07.2026 31мин

  For over ten years, biologist Mark Higley has been stalking the forests of the Hoopa Valley Reservation with a shotgun. His mission? To save the endangered northern spotted owl. How? By shooting the more aggressive barred owl, which has spread from eastern forests into the Pacific Northwest. In 2024, the federal government made a plan to scale these efforts by killing hundreds of thousands of barred owls across multiple states. Today, despite lawsuits and opposition, that plan is just beginning to ramp up.  But can it really save the northern spotted owl? And is the barred owl really “invasive”… or just expanding its range? In this episode, Nate Hegyi dons a headlamp and heads into the forest with Mark Higley to catch a glimpse of these two rivals, and find out what it takes to kill these charismatic raptors, night after night, in the name of conservation. This episode was first published in 2024.  Featuring Mark Higley, Tom Wheeler, and Wayne Pacelle.  SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram, TikTok, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS The federal government’s barred owl management plan is very long but they have a helpful list of frequently asked questions. Check out some beautiful photos of Mark Higley’s work in this Audubon magazine story from a few years ago.  Curious about the timber wars? Oregon Public Broadcasting has an excellent podcast miniseries you should listen to.  Animal rights groups have sued to stop the plan from moving forward; in the meantime, People Magazine has reported that culling of barred owls is ramping up in the Yakama Indian Reservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The sunscreen episode 15.07.2026 32мин

  As consumers, we’re looking for a lot in our sunscreen. Not only do we want it to protect us from sunburns and skin cancer, we also want it to be invisible, lightweight, waterproof, nontoxic, shelf-stable, and cheap.  Can we have it all in one product? Sometimes, the answer might be no.  It’s high time for the Outside/In team to take a closer look at this surprisingly high-tech lotion that we apply every day (in theory). We review the definition of SPF, the choice between mineral and chemical filters, and if sunscreen is safe for our bodies and the environment.  Featuring Anna Wang, David Whiteman, Ade Adamson, and Alexa Friedman. Produced by Justine Paradis. For full transcript and credits, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram, TikTok, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  How far would you go for a crow? 08.07.2026 35мин

  To the American birder, spotting the Tamaulipas Crow is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime event. The crow's range is mostly in Mexico and extends ever so slightly into Texas, specifically in and around a dump called the Brownsville Landfill. Spotting the Tamaulipas — north of the border — means being able to check it off your American Bird Association Checklist. So just how far will die-hard birders go to see this bird? In this episode producer (and first-time birder) Michaela Elias sets out to the southern border with a group of experienced birder friends to find out. Together with her "wingmen" Michaela braves the Texas heat, crawls through brush and over slippery rocks, and risks getting attacked by dogs — to find out whether collecting bird sightings as if they're Pokémon is a meaningful way to engage with the natural world. Featuring Jake Glassman, Joe Hack, and Joel Glassman.  Produced by Michaela Elias. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram, TikTok, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS Check out the eBird app, a crowdsourced database of bird observations that lets you log all the birds you’ve seen and where you’ve seen them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The problem with pickleball 01.07.2026 32мин

  Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America. It may also be the most hated. Tennis and basketball players are complaining about losing court space because of an “invasion” of pickleballers. Residents are losing sleep because of the incessant noise. Fights over pickleball have led to a slew of petitions, calls to the police, and even lawsuits. So why do pickleball players love this sport so much? Just how annoying is it to everyone else? And what will it take for everyone to just get along?  Producer Felix Poon visits one of the most popular courts in Boston to see how the drama is unfolding there. This episode was originally reported in 2025. Featuring Kemardo Henry, Martha Merson, Soren Whited, and Zariyah Cherise. For a transcript and full list of credits, go to outsideinradio.org.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  You’ve got scorpion 24.06.2026 31мин

  A listener recently asked, “Has the entire surface of earth at some point or another been covered in poop?” Turns out, there are some questions that even we can’t answer.  In this installment of our regular mailbag segment, the Outside/Inbox, we do our best to take on your zany inquiries, or find experts who can. Here are this week’s questions: Why was there a sudden spike in “dangerous carbon monoxide levels” during a snowstorm in New Hampshire? Is there any official recognition for hiking the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail? Why are live scorpions allowed in the mail? Why do kids (and adults) chant “Do it! Do it! Do it!” and other chants? Do all predators have forward-facing eyes? Featuring Kathleen Simmons, Carlos Santibanez-Lopez, and Barb Lake. Produced by Felix Poon, Marina Henke, and Nate Hegyi. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Big porpoise energy 17.06.2026 31мин

  Whales have Free Willy. Dolphins have Flipper. But what about the humble porpoise?  The porpoise doesn’t star in any Hollywood blockbusters. These shy, elusive “deer of the sea” are often overshadowed by their more charismatic cousins – but don’t let their social anxiety fool you. In fact, porpoises are speed-fiends with an insane metabolism and an outrageous sex drive. Host Nate Hegyi and producer Marina Henke explore the Olympic sprinters of the sea and wonder if the fate of the endangered vaquita might hinge on being oh-so-very-cute.  Featuring Michelle Dutro, Barb Lake and Ruxandra Guidi. Produced by Nate Hegyi. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. Ripped logo credit: Jeremy Keith / Flickr SUPPORT We launched a Patreon! Become an Outside/Insider for just $5 a month, and you can get AD-FREE episodes of the podcast, plus access to behind-the-scenes blog posts and more.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS The second season of Rux Guidi’s podcast, The Catch, covered the plight of the vaquita.  In 1999, the Department of Defense studied the speed and hydrodynamics of dolphins, whales and porpoises to build better underwater drones.  Here’s a picture of a porpoise penis, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  A tinned fish renaissance 10.06.2026 38мин

  We launched a Patreon! Become an Outside/Insider for just $5 per month, and you can get AD-FREE episodes of the podcast, plus access to behind-the-scenes blog posts and more. Sardines are in vogue. Literally. They are in Vogue magazine. They’re delicious (subjectively), good for you, and sustainable… right?  Recently, a listener called into the show asking about just that. “I've always had this sense that they're a more environmentally friendly fish, perhaps because of being low on the food chain. But I'm realizing I really have no sense of what it looks like to actually fish for sardines,” Jeannie told us. The Outside/In team got together to look beyond the sunny illustrations on the fish tins. Is there bycatch? What about emissions? Are sardines overfished? If we care about the health of the ocean, can we keep eating sardines? This episode was originally published in 2025.  Featuring Jeannie Bartlett, Malin Pinsky, and Zach Koehn. Rip logo photo: Canned seafood by Jack Kennard (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). Produced by Justine Paradis. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to join our Patreon and get ad-free episodes of the podcast. Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Never add sodium to your pasta water 03.06.2026 31мин

  Put salt (aka sodium chloride) in your pasta water and you’ll end up with delicious spaghetti. Put pure sodium in it instead… and it will explode. It’s the latest edition of “The Element of Surprise,” our occasional series about the hidden stories behind the periodic table’s most unassuming atoms, isotopes, and molecules. This time we’re talking all about sodium. It’s the periodic table’s saltiest element. It powers your body like a battery and you need it to survive. So why is too much of it bad for you? Plus, how did salt help the North win the Civil War? Featuring Raychelle Burks, Trisha Pasricha, Ashley Dumas. Produced by Felix Poon. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS Watch a 1947 newsreel of the US Army disposing thousands of pounds of pure sodium into a lake in Washington State, causing massive explosions. See images of the Slanic Salt Mine in Romania and the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland, now major tourist sites. Check out Theodore Gray’s “Sodium Party” YouTube video series where he drops sodium chunks of various sizes into water to observe how they explode. Here’s the first video in the series.Want to learn more about the role of salt throughout human history? Read Mark Kurlansky’s Salt: A World History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  A cow named Speckles 27.05.2026 32мин

  When 10-year-old Doug Crandell joined the 4-H program, he was supposed to learn about raising, feeding, and selling a cow. What he wound up learning was something else entirely. “I wanted to be a hog man, like my father,” he said. “But I knew pretty early on that you couldn’t have these animals forever.” From producer Shaina Shealy, this is the story of a boy and his cow, Speckles.  Featuring Doug Crandell. Produced by Shaina Shealy. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In. Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  In defense of darkness 20.05.2026 36мин

  Megan Eaves-Egenes grew up under the very starry skies of rural New Mexico. During those years, she developed a deep appreciation for astronomy.  The fascination is, of course, not hers alone. But, a starry sky requires one pretty important ingredient: darkness. One study recently reported that since 2011, the night sky has gotten brighter at about 10% per year. All that light pollution has brought dire consequences to life on planet earth. Crickets can’t tell whether it’s day or night, bird migrations have gone haywire, and our own natural alarm clocks are constantly confused.  In a world where switching on a lamp during evening hours is, as Megan writes, “almost as basic as breathing” is there hope for our night skies? Or have we illuminated our way to a point of no return?  Featuring Megan Eaves-Egenes.  SUPPORT To share your questions and feedback with Outside/In, call the show’s hotline and leave us a voicemail. The number is 1-844-GO-OTTER. No question is too serious or too silly. Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram and BlueSky, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS You can order a copy of Megan’s book Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness on her website. Want to plan travel around dark sky locations? Dark Sky International offers a variety of guides and tips on how to visit darky sky locations responsibly.  There are many popular stargazing apps. Megan uses SkyView, but also recommends Stellarium or SkySafari. Learn more about satellite’s role in light pollution from our 2024 episode, “The new space race.”  Made nearly 10 years ago, here is our episode about light pollution emitted from a New Hampshire greenhouse.  CREDITS Produced by Marina Henke. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Life and death and psilocybin 13.05.2026 33мин

  President Trump recently signed an executive order to make certain psychedelic drugs more available to treat mental health conditions like depression and PTSD. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Joe Rogan were in the oval office, and President Trump even joked during the signing ceremony, “can I have some, please?”  Maybe this executive order wasn’t on your 2026 political bingo card… but interest in these substances for mental health isn’t new. In this episode, we’re revisiting the story of Kathy Kral. In the midst of her battle with cancer, Kathy found herself facing a diagnosis of major depression. So, she signed up for a clinical study to see if psilocybin – the psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms” – could help her confront her fears about cancer and death, as well as her deepest inner demons. This episode was first published in 2023. Featuring Kathleen Kral, Manish Agrawal, and Norma Stevens. Produced by Felix Poon. For full credits and transcript, visit ⁠outsideinradio.org⁠. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS Trump’s order is a milestone for proponents of using psychedelics as medicine. (NPR) Listen to the Sunstone Psilocybin Spotify Playlist that patients listen to during their psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Silicon Planet 06.05.2026 33мин

  Like a typecast actor who can’t escape the blockbuster franchise they’re known for, the element of silicon is inescapably associated with Silicon Valley. But that association undersells just how important, how foundational silicon is for human civilization. It’s another edition of “The Element of Surprise,” our occasional series about the hidden stories behind the periodic table’s most unassuming atoms, isotopes, and molecules. And this time, it’s all about silicon. From humankind’s early tools, to the quartz crystal hidden in your digital watch, we’ll cover how this underrated element has a lot more to offer than one California valley might suggest.  Featuring Vince Beiser, Megan Brewster, and Rachel Maines. Produced by Taylor Quimby. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS Still confused about the difference between silicon, silica, and silicone? We think this explanation is helpful.  See the inside of a silicon wafer fab. It’s wild.  Or watch this old video on how silicon wafers are made. Also wild. If you are very into watches, you might enjoy this detailed history of how the “Quartz Crisis” upended the Swiss watch industry.  Want to learn more about the environmental impacts of sand mining? Check out this 2019 UNEP report.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  A Dry Hot American Summer 29.04.2026 31мин

  In the spring of 1936, the producer of King Kong hauled a film crew to the desert of Arizona to shoot a sweeping romantic epic. But the heat was so punishing that it melted film stock, caused the lead actress to pass out, and killed the production’s mascot – a baby camel.  It was the beginning of a heat wave that parked itself over America for months, quickly becoming one of the deadliest natural disasters in our country’s history. It blew up sidewalks, cooked onions in the ground,  claimed at least 12,000 lives, and turned the United States into a literal frying pan.  Host Nate Hegyi talks with Geoff Williams, author of the forthcoming book The Summer of Death, about a ‘heat horror show’ that transformed American life 90 years ago, and what lessons it gives us on how to survive a hotter world today.   Featuring Geoff Williams Produced by Nate Hegyi. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS You can check out Geoff’s book, The Summer of Death, here.  President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave a speech about the impacts of the drought and heat wave in the fall of 1936. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Like a Dirty Rotten Whale 22.04.2026 39мин

  We’re cleaning out the proverbial fridge, but instead of old food, it’s fantastic and forgotten questions from the Outside/Inbox. Conversation topics include Taylor’s humiliatingly old headlamp, the olfactory experience of a dead whale and, of course, the answers to the following queries…  Why do dogs like to roll in dead stuff?  Do humans have a mating season?  Why do so many deer collisions happen in November?  When did headlamps start to have red light? I live next to a highway. What can I do about the noise pollution? In the final Lord of the Rings movie, there’s a crust that forms on top of the lava that the ring is thrown onto. Is that legit?  Featuring Christopher Schell, Eric Nystrom, and Erica Walker. Thanks to our listeners who called in: Dusty, Kyle, Claire, Amanda, Gretchen, Zach, and Sabrina.  We’re looking for new submissions to the Outside/Inbox! Send us those questions by recording yourself on a voice memo, and emailing that to us at outsidein@nhpr.org.  Or you can call our hotline: 1-844-GO-OTTER. SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In.  Follow Outside/In on Instagram and BlueSky, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS If you want to learn more about noise pollution listen to our episode “Shhhh! It’s the sound and silence episode.” Check out for yourself what those clunky old mining headlamps used to look like.  CREDITS Produced by Marina Henke, Felix Poon, and Nate Hegyi. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Dead Bird Rabbit Hole 15.04.2026 33мин

  Every December, tens of thousands of volunteers look to the skies for an international census of wild birds.  But during migration season, a much smaller squad of New York City volunteers take on a more sobering experience: counting dead birds that have collided with glass buildings and fallen back to Earth.  In this episode, we find out what kind of people volunteer for this grisly job, visit the New York City rehab center that takes in injured pigeons, and find out how to stop glass from killing an estimated one billion birds nationwide every year.  This episode was first produced and published in the spring of 2024. Featuring Melissa Breyer, Linda LaBella, Gitanjali Bhattacharjee, Katherine Chen, and Tristan Higginbotham. Produced by Taylor Quimby. For a transcript and full list of credits, go to outsideinradio.org.  SUPPORT Outside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In.  Subscribe to our newsletter (it’s free!). Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKS Want to see the migration forecast? Check out Birdcast.  Want to be a citizen scientist and report dead birds? Check out dBird.  Want to see volunteer Melissa Breyer’s photos of dead birds? Check out Sad Birding.More about Project Safe Flight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  The Microplastics Cleanse 08.04.2026 31мин

  With the ubiquity of plastic products, it’s maybe no surprise that a growing body of research shows tiny pieces of plastic are getting inside of us.  But what is all this plastic doing to our bodies? And once it’s there… is there any way to get it out?  Producer Haleema Shah looks at what the research says (and doesn’t say) about plastic and health, and explores a new trend in wellness: the microplastics cleanse.  Featuring Charmaine Dahlenburg, Marcus Garcia, Yael Cohen, and Sarah Morath. Produced by Haleema Shah. For full credits and transcript, visit outsideinradio.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices