Songs that Cross Borders

In this episode, we consider a creature we often don’t think much about—the snail. And not just snails, but their sex lives. Which, as it turns out, is epic. There is persuasion and subterfuge, spaghetti penises and co-copulation. And this very surprising habit—erm kink—of making ...  Show more

In this episode, first aired in 2014, we examine three very different kinds of black boxes—spaces where we know what’s going in, we know what’s coming out, but can’t see what happens in-between. From the darkest parts of metamorphosis to a sixty-year-old secret among magicians, a ...  Show more

When Lil Nas X released his viral hit "Old Town Road" last year, he sparked a conversation about what country music is and who is welcome in the genre. To better understand the deep and often misunderstood history of country music, we sat down with renowned filmmaker Ken Burns to ...  Show more

C'est une musique incontournable aux États-Unis, en particulier dans les États du Sud. Est-ce une musique exclusivement destinée à l'Amérique blanche conservatrice ? Que signifie-t-elle dans la culture américaine ? D'où vient-elle ? Il y a des titres qui font clairement partie du ...  Show more

“God’s Country” with brothers Dan and Reid Isbell is a rollicking weekly podcast that sits at the intersection of country music and the great outdoors. Each episode explores how today’s biggest and most talented country stars and songwriters pull inspiration from rugged, first-ha ...  Show more

Into the Zone is a podcast about opposites, and how borders are never as clear as we think. Country? Rap? Lil Nas X’s chart-topping “Old Town Road” revived a long debate about borders and boundaries in American popular music. To sort out this strange history, Hari heads down to t ...  Show more