Imagine you’re 16 years old, living in Lahore, Pakistan, and preparing for the adventure of a lifetime: A high school exchange year in Rockville, Maryland. Just as you’re getting ready to leave, a public radio show in Connecticut asks to document your journey! This is the story of Salaar Muhammad - before, during, and after his transformative year in the United States. We explore how this experience changed his perspective, shaped his future, and touched the lives of those around him. Suggested ...
Dec 06, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 192
Remember the joy of “Show and Tell” at school? Now why should only the kids have all the fun? Listeners to Audacious (and staff members of Connecticut Public!) gathered at Third Place by Half Full Brewery on March 13th, 2024, for an opportunity to share their story! Special thanks to PJ Kennedy of HeyStamford.com for sharing our event, and for keeping residents and visitors of Stamford in the loop! For a full transcript of this show, click here . This episode originally aired on March 22, 2024. ...
Nov 29, 2024•49 min
We all know people who love Costco or Trader Joe’s. But what compels someone to devote their time and travel to visiting as many stores as possible, to wrap so much of their identity around these massive shopping chains? Meet three people whose lives brighten the moment they put their hands on a Trader Joe’s or Costco grocery cart. For a transcription of this episode, which originally aired on December 14, 2023, click here . GUESTS: David and Susan Schwartz: Authors of The Joy of Costco: A Treas...
Nov 22, 2024•49 min
Brains are weird. Bodies are weird. People are weird! Brains, bodies, and people together in a psychological or medical setting? Man, it can get REAL weird. Ethical conundrums abound, like navigating boundaries, bias in treatment, managing power dynamics… And that's just the tip of the iceberg! So who's in charge of figuring out the ethics behind all of this? Meet the Chief of Ethics for the American Psychological Association, Lindsay Childress-Beatty. And hear stories from the hospital from And...
Nov 15, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 191
Sometimes it’s like you and your pet are perfectly in sync, reading each other’s minds… and other times, you’re staring at them thinking, “Seriously? Why do you keep licking the couch?” But what if you could actually read your pet’s mind? Would you treat them differently… or would you just confirm that dogs think every meal is their last, and that cats really are secretly plotting world domination? Today, meet two people who make a living as animal communicators. They’ll share wild stories from ...
Nov 08, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 190
Incest is one of the most challenging topics to discuss, yet our guests are opening up about the truth behind their origin stories. Meet Steve Edsel, who always knew he was adopted. But when he set out to uncover the identities of his birth parents, he stumbled upon painful truths. Now, he and his wife work with an organization dedicated to supporting others with similar backgrounds. Then, hear from Jerri Harrell, whose discovery of her biological parents happened almost by accident. She shares ...
Nov 01, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 189
We’ve all imagined holding a winning lottery ticket, but what happens next? Hear from a man known as The Lottery Lawyer , who shares the most common mistakes people make when trying to claim their winnings. Plus, a man who scored a $28 million Powerball jackpot at just 21 years old reveals what life was like after the win—the highs, the surprises, and some challenges you might not expect. Suggested episodes: Aftershocks: Life after getting struck by lightning Welcome to the Punderdome! We're ent...
Oct 25, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 188
It’s 2 a.m.; the phone rings. The caller ID says Stockholm, Sweden. The voice on the other end of the line says, “Congratulations! You’ve just been awarded a Nobel Prize!” What goes through your mind in a moment like that ? Meet two people who received that life-altering call. Discover not only the incredible doors it opened for them, but the unexpected challenges that came with such a prestigious honor. Suggested episodes: Laugh and then think: What it's like to win the Ig Nobel Prize What it’s...
Oct 18, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 187
Oh my gourd, do we want you to meet a man who set a world record for riding his giant pumpkin down the Missouri River! And hold your breath as you hear from two women who won an underwater pumpkin carving contest! And since it’s officially decorative gourd season, meet the author of that McSweeney's essay whose enthusiastic profanity somehow brings us all together every single autumn. This episode originally aired on October 21, 2023. GUESTS: Duane Hansen: Set a world record for traveling the lo...
Oct 11, 2024•49 min
The moment we meet someone – especially for the first time – we're sizing them up. We notice perceived gender, race, and one of the big ones: age. But what happens when you look much older than you actually are? Cécile Gueye is one of only 500 people in the world known to have Cutis Laxa. That's a condition where her skin lacks elasticity. Although she's in her early 30s, she looks like she's in her 50s or 60s. She talks about how this has challenged her personal growth, and how she sometimes us...
Oct 04, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 186
Tired of seeing the same ol’ politicians in headlines week after week? Maybe you’re exhausted by the same ol’ talking points and posturing. In this episode, we introduce you to two candidates running for president in truly unconventional ways. First, there's Literally Anybody Else (or Mr. Else, if you prefer), formerly known as Dustin Ebey. He legally changed his name to make a statement with his campaign. Then, there's Paperboy Love Prince - a candidate on a mission to become the first openly q...
Sep 27, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 185
The entertainment industry includes all kinds of people, but let’s be honest: There is a Hollywood type . So where does that leave actors who don’t fit the mold? Actor Adam Pearson has neurofibromatosis, which causes tumors to grow on his face and upper body. His latest movie is called A Different Man and it’s centered around the power of his condition. Crystal Marshall has loved acting since she was a little kid. But when she developed cancer in her face at 18 years old, requiring multiple surg...
Sep 20, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 184
Would you leave your family, friends, home, and job to move over a thousand miles away to take care of a pet squirrel? Meet two people who did just that for 8 year-old Thumbelina. Then, meet a birdkeeper at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute who was chosen by an endangered crane to be her life partner for almost 20 years. Suggested episodes: Wings, pouches, and snouts: The world of uncommon emotional support animals Birdwatching legend Peter Kaestner's journey to 10,000 birds Audacio...
Sep 13, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 183
Some people help others overcome their urge to steal through research and understanding, while others draw from personal experience. Meet a Yale psychiatry professor specializing in impulse control disorders like kleptomania. We'll also hear from a therapist and a coach who were once addicted to stealing themselves and are now dedicated to helping others overcome this compulsion. Resources: If you're struggling with any mental health issues, you can always call the Substance Abuse and Mental Hea...
Sep 06, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 182
Elite bodyguard and security expert Will Geddes talks about how his childhood prepared him for a 30-year career protecting some of the most high-profile clients in the world. Will shares surprising stories from the field, and reflections on what it's like when your one job is to make sure your client gets in and out - unharmed. Plus, get practical tips for staying safe! Suggested episodes: Stolen cars and abandoned grocery carts: Taking matters into your own hands GUEST: Will Geddes : A security...
Aug 30, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 181
You know how sometimes you look outside, see a bird, and think, “Oh, hey! A cardinal! A blue jay! A robin!“ Happens all the time. Now imagine what your life would be like if you traveled the world as part of a lifelong quest to become the first person to see 10,000 bird species. Get to know Peter Kaestner. He shares the surprising story of how he came excruciatingly close to missing that once-in-a-lifetime shot. And find out why he believes there are a million ways to be a birder. Resources: eBi...
Aug 23, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 180
Missing the Olympics? Well, listen to our show about weird sports! Including extreme ironing, where people press their clothes at the top of volcanoes, in caves, even while hanging upside down in trees! And there's cheese rolling, where people chase a cheese wheel which is barrelling down a steep hill. And then there's the oh, so British sport of shin kicking! This is a centuries-old wrestling sport where opponents grab each other by the shoulders and kick the shin out of each other. This episod...
Aug 16, 2024•49 min
Did you know that food can trigger a trauma response? Somatic educators like Luis Mojica help people feel more connected to their bodies through food, music, and slowing down to feel it all. Hear how he helps people unlock their pain, and how his life as an intersex person informs his understanding of all the ways a body can communicate. GUESTS: Luis Mojica : Musician, somatic educator, and life coach based in New York State. He is the founder of Holistic Life Navigation where he teaches people ...
Aug 09, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 179
Most of us have faked being sick at some point, whether to escape a commitment or gain a little sympathy. But for some, this behavior becomes a compulsion, driven by underlying mental health or personality disorders. Meet a woman who has written a book about her journey to overcome Munchausen Syndrome, also known as Factitious Disorder. And a doctor specializing in this condition sheds light on its complexities, misconceptions, and pathways to recovery. Suggested episodes: Body Integrity Dysphor...
Aug 02, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 178
Chicago Cubs superfan, Ronnie “Woo Woo“ Wickers says, “It’s not a ballgame if they don’t see me or hear me!” That sentiment applies to all of our guests on this show! Including Ronnie, 49ers fan, Banjo Man, and Bob Labonne, who is a massive fan of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team! GUESTS: Stacy Samuels aka Banjo Man: a 73-year-old fan of the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland A’s. He attends games with his signature propeller hat and banjo, and he has not missed a 49ers home game since...
Jul 26, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 177
With everything being stored in our phone, there seems to be fewer and fewer reasons to store anything in our brain. But what if your imagination was much more powerful and vast than you think? And with a few simple techniques, you could remember an astonishing amount of information? Two people who have won international memory competitions and set world records for memorizing will tell you exactly how they do it so you can, too. Suggested episodes: Total Recall: What It's Like To Remember Every...
Jul 19, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 176
There are many ways to teach, but few are as impactful as embodying a character as an actor. How does taking on such roles shape a person's life? In this episode, we delve into the experiences of two unique educators. Discover what it was like for Azie Dungey, a Black actress, to portray an enslaved woman at George and Martha Washington's estate in Mount Vernon. How did this deeply emotional role influence her understanding of history and her own identity? Then, explore the world of Cory Scott, ...
Jul 12, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 175
You know the Chicago-based music festival, Lollapalooza? Well, this episode of Audacious features NO ONE from Lollapalooza! But it does feature people who love something so much that they made a palooza out of it! Hear about the communal beauty and allure of pogo sticks, origami, lighters, and John Philip Sousa marches. GUESTS: Nick McClintock: Creative director and co-founder of Pogopalooza Kuang-Hao Huang : Pianist, former driving force behind Make Music Chicago, and creator of Sousapalooza Li...
Jul 05, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 174
Growing up, Pidgeon Pagonis was told a lot about their medical history: They were born with cancerous ovaries, so the doctors removed them to save their life. Except that wasn't true. In reality, they were born intersex. And those were not cancerous ovaries, they were undescended testes. And that was just the beginning of many truths coming out. Hear their story of discovery, and how they played a massive role in getting the hospital where they were born to reverse their policies on how they tre...
Jun 28, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 173
Enjoy our ode to farts! Meet researchers who made a New York Times bestselling book series about the various ways that animals fart; A man who is internationally known for being a hand farter, (also called a “manualist“); And another person who was born without an anus and went on to make a living off of his ability to fart extensively on-command! Which he will absolutely do for us in this episode. GUESTS: Dani Rabaiotti and Nick Caruso : Researchers who created a spreadsheet listing what we kno...
Jun 21, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 172
Back in the day — with your Walter Cronkites and David Brinkleys — it felt kind of inappropriate for an interviewer to bring their full selves to the conversation. It was all about the guest, after all, so why bother bringing their own distinctive flairs? But now, people tune in as much for the interviewer as the one being interviewed. And because of that, the experience feels much more authentic! So today, you'll get to know three masters of the craft who each have their own distinct, but oh so...
Jun 14, 2024•49 min
Jayson Greene’s daughter, Greta, died in 2015 when she was two years old. She was sitting on a bench with her grandma on the Upper West Side of Manhattan when a brick fell from a building and struck her in the head. Now, nine years later, how would Jayson describe Greta’s presence in his life? Hear his reflections on life after unimaginable tragedy, and how much he appreciates the people that showed up for him and his family. Related episode: Views from the end: David Meyers GUESTS: Jayson Green...
Jun 07, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 171
In the movies, cyborgs often don't have a soul or a conscience. But in real life, some people become cyborgs in order to enhance the human experience and to be more connected with nature. Like Neil Harbisson. He was born colorblind, but now, thanks to an antenna implanted into the base of his skull, he can hear colors! And choreographer, Moon Ribas, had implants embedded in her feet that vibrated every time there was an earthquake of at least 1.0 on the Richter scale. They are co-founders of the...
May 31, 2024•49 min
People modify their bodies all the time. A piercing here, a tattoo there… But what if you took it to the extreme, and reshaped yourself into something mythical? Meet two people who use body modifications to turn themselves into dragons. Related episodes: Change Of Art: Stories About Tattoo Coverups Retired CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez on magic, technology and the art of deception (Almost) Everybody Hurts: An Exploration of Pain Going Flat, or Building New Breasts: Two Women’s Post-Mastecto...
May 24, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 170
When people imagine becoming parents, they don’t often envision their child being born with a condition that requires lifetime care. Hear reflections and wisdom from “forever parents” whose children have autism with anxiety and OCD; a disorder that caused 100 seizures a day; and Down Syndrome. GUESTS: Carrie Cariello : Mother of five children, including 18 year-old Jack, who has Autism, OCD, and anxiety. She’s the author of two books, and writes regularly for the Huffington Post Adriana Piltz : ...
May 17, 2024•49 min
