Robert Krulwich

Host Emeritus, Radiolab

Robert Krulwich is Host Emeritus of Radiolab, WNYC's Peabody Award-winning program about ‘big ideas’ now one of public radio’s most popular shows. It is carried on more than 500 radio stations and its podcasts are downloaded over 5 million times each month. He is also the author of the “Curiously Krulwich” blog, featured on National Geographic, where he illustrates hard-to-fathom concepts in science using drawings, cartoons, videos, and more. 

For 22 years, Krulwich was a science, economics, general assignment and foreign correspondent at ABC and CBS News. Krulwich has been called “the most inventive network reporter in television” by TV Guide.  His specialty is explaining complex subjects, science, technology, economics, in a style that is clear, compelling and entertaining.  On television he has explored the structure of DNA using a banana; on radio he created an Italian opera, “Ratto Interesso” to explain how the Federal Reserve regulates interest rates; he also pioneered the use of new animation on ABC’s Nightline and World News Tonight.

He has won Emmy awards for a cultural history of Barbie, the world famous doll, for a Frontline investigation of computers and privacy, a George Polk and an Emmy for a look at the Savings & Loan bailout, and the 2010 Essay Prize from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Krulwich also won the AAAS Science Journalism Award for a 2001 a NOVA Special, Cracking the Code of Life, The Extraordinary Communicator Award from the National Cancer Institute, and an Alfred I. Dupont-Columbia Award.

Krulwich earned a BA in history from Oberlin College, and a law degree from Columbia University in 1974.

Robert Krulwich appears in the following:

The Curious Case of 50,000 Missing Pigeons

Friday, August 25, 2023

One day in 1997, tens of thousands of racing pigeons never came home. 

The Curious Case of 50,000 Missing Pigeons

Friday, April 28, 2023

One day in 1997, tens of thousands of racing pigeons never came home. 

Forests on Forests

Friday, February 04, 2022

Join us, along with a surprise guest, as we grab a branch, pull ourselves up off the forest floor, and climb through into a secret garden in the sky.
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Blood and Beauty

Tuesday, October 08, 2019

Today we explore a different way of looking at evolution and what it may mean for the course of science.

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The Beauty Puzzle

Friday, February 08, 2019

In one corner of the natural world, beauty may be beating brawn.
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The Sporkful Presents: Ask Mimi

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Get advice about food and life from legendary food critic Mimi Sheraton. She'll be joined by Sporkful podcast host Dan Pashman, comedian Maeve Higgins and Radiolab's Robert Krulwich.

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Podcast Mixtape: Radiolab Presents Robert or Robot?

Monday, May 07, 2018

Join Jad Abumrad, Robert Krulwich, and critically acclaimed writer Brian Christian for a live exploration of communication in the 21st century. 

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The Handshake Experiment

Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Neil deGrasse Tyson and microbiome science help answer this question: when we touch greatness, how much of it stays with us?

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May Contain Nuts Pt. 1: Alpha Gal Returns

Monday, February 13, 2017

Amy Pearl loved meat -- until a steak almost killed her. We hear her riveting (and hilarious) story, and explore how allergies change your relationship with food and people.

Radiolab Presents: Ponzi Supernova

Friday, February 10, 2017

Madoff speaks.  Investigating the world's largest con with the team behind @Audible_com's #PonziSupernova.
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Thanksgiving Is For Eaters (with Amy Sedaris)

Friday, November 18, 2016

Amy Sedaris and Mo Rocca offer advice on dealing with family, Radiolab's Robert Krulwich tells of a lovesick turkey, and we call Butterball’s hotline for life advice.

The Turkey Who Loved My Wife

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Radiolab's Robert Krulwich tells the story of a turkey that put the moves on his wife, and On The Media's Brooke Gladstone shows us how NOT to make dessert.

The Greene Space

A Christmas Carol: A Radio Drama

Monday, December 8, 2014

5:00 PM

Mon, Dec. 8 | Join us for our beloved holiday tradition, inspired by the Charles Dickens classic. Featuring your favorite public radio personalities and actor Mark Linn-Baker as Scrooge.

Time Flies When . . .

Wednesday, December 03, 2014

How do we perceive time? Does it move faster as we age? Slower as we fall? Co-host of Radiolab Robert Krulwich explains the science behind it all.

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Amy Sedaris Loves Family Fights at the Holidays

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Amy Sedaris offers advice on dealing with family who are drunk or confrontational at the holidays. Plus, Radiolab's Robert Krulwich on the time a turkey fell in love with his wife.

On-Demand Video: The Sporkful with Amy Sedaris, Dominique Ansel and Robert Krulwich

Friday, October 31, 2014

Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful, joined us in The Greene Space for the first live taping of his WNYC podcast that explores new and better ways to eat. 

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The Greene Space

The Sporkful: Eat More Better

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

7:00 PM

Join Dan Pashman for a taping of WNYC's The Sporkful. With guests Amy SedarisRadiolab's Robert Krulwich and cronut creator Dominique Ansel.  A live video webcast will be available.

Rachel Maddow, Radiolab's Robert Krulwich and Slate's Julia Turner: Eat More Better Book Release Spectacular!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

We celebrate the release of Dan's new book, Eat More Better, by talking to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow about cocktail philosophy and Radiolab’s Robert Krulwich about sandwich science.

Is That A Lark I Hear? A Nightingale? Surprise! It's A Bat

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

There are animals famous for their songs. Whales sing. Birds sing. We humans have Aretha, Elvis, Ray Charles, Pavarotti. But bats — who knew?
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Is That A Lark I Hear? A Nightingale? Surprise! It's a Bat

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Bats produce "pings" or "clicks," right? They make these high pitched sounds, too high for us to hear, but when their cries ricochet off distant objects, the echoes tell them there's a house over there, a tree in front of them, a moth flying over on the left. And so, ...

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