“One Does Not Know Where an Insight Will Come...

New York City’s mayor called them “public enemy number one.” History books say they caused the Black Death — although recent scientific evidence disputes that claim. In an updated episode from 2025, we ask: Is the rat a scapegoat? And what does our rat hatred say about us? SOURCE ...  Show more

One possibility: a leading hypothesis pursued by researchers (and funders) was built on science that now appears to be fraudulent. Stephen Dubner speaks with the scientist and the journalist who blew the whistle. SOURCES: Charles Piller, investigative journalist for Science, auth ...  Show more

The dean of Yale’s School of Management grew up in a small village in Guyana. During his unlikely journey, he has researched video-gaming habits, communicable disease, and why so many African-Americans haven’t had the kind of success he’s had. Steve Levitt talks to Charles abo ...

Larry is joined by professor, historian, and host of the PBS series 'Finding Your Roots' Henry Louis Gates Jr. They begin their conversation by discussing how Henry's upbringing and the parental influence fueled his passion for storytelling and education. Henry then details how t ...  Show more

Glen Henry loves everything about being a Black dad – and he’s eager to show others why. On his YouTube channel, Beleaf in Fatherhood, he turns the stuff of everyday life in the Henry household – with his wife, Yvette, and their four kids – into artful, loving, and insightful vid ...  Show more

From January 17, 2011: To commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Oprah looks back at “The Oprah Winfrey Show” episodes that centered around race. The moments include a visit to Forsyth County, GA, where no black person had lived since 1912, the reunion of seven of ...