Manoush Zomorodi is the host and managing editor of the podcast Note to Self from WNYC Studios.
Every week on her podcast, Manoush searches for answers to life’s digital quandaries, through experiments and conversations with listeners and experts. Topics include information overload, digital clutter, sexting “scandals," and the eavesdropping capabilities of our gadgets.
Her book, Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self, is based on an experiment she did with tens of thousands of her listeners in 2015.
Prior to New York Public Radio, Manoush reported and produced around the world for BBC News and Thomson Reuters. Manoush grew up in Princeton, New Jersey and went to Georgetown University. She lives with her family in Brooklyn.
Shows:
Manoush Zomorodi appears in the following:
Knut Ivar Bjørlykhaug: How can we turn environmental heartache into action?
Friday, October 01, 2021
Norwegian social worker Knut Ivar Bjørlykhaug always loved nature. Watching the destruction of habitats and Norway's exploitation of oil sent him into a deep depression. But he has since found hope.
Jeannie Suk Gersen: How can understanding divorce help a marriage?
Friday, October 01, 2021
Marriage takes a lot of work. And part of preventing eventual heartache, says law professor Jeannie Suk Gersen, is seeing marriage and partnership through the lens of divorce.
Hui-wen Sato: What can grief provide us?
Friday, October 01, 2021
For pediatric critical care nurses, tragedies are part of the job. But so much loss can wear on you. Nurse Hui-wen Sato describes how she found her way--through the life-giving lessons of grief.
Sandeep Jauhar: How do emotions affect the heart?
Friday, October 01, 2021
Cardiologist Sandeep Jauhar explains a case where deep grief caused takotsubo cardiomyopathy—also called "broken heart syndrome." He examines the connection emotions have with our most vital organ.
Jason Reynolds: How Can We Connect With Kids Through The Written Word?
Friday, September 17, 2021
Jason Reynolds is an award-winning author and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. This hour, Jason speaks with Manoush about reaching kids through stories that let them feel understood.
Meet Alexis Nikole Nelson, The Wildly Popular 'Black Forager'
Thursday, September 09, 2021
Nelson has brought in a TikTok following of more than 2 million people by talking about food, culture, and how to "eat plants that do not belong to [her.]"
Amanda Little: What Is The Future Of Our Food?
Friday, September 03, 2021
How should we ethically feed our world? Are we supposed to return to organic pastoral practices or trust new technology? Journalist Amanda Little believes the answer lies in the middle.
Jasmine Crowe: What Can We Do To Tackle Food Waste And Hunger?
Friday, September 03, 2021
Social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe has one mission: feed more, waste less. Her company Goodr is tackling food waste and getting food to those who need it most.
Sean Sherman: What Can We Learn From Indigenous Culinary Traditions?
Friday, September 03, 2021
The loss of Native American food traditions has been taking place for centuries. At Owamni, chef Sean Sherman is trying to change that by serving food that celebrates and preserves Lakota cooking.
Alexis Nikole Nelson: How Foraging Restored My Relationship With Food
Friday, September 03, 2021
Forager and TikTok influencer Alexis Nikole Nelson shares how the great outdoors has offered her both an endless array of food options and an outlet to reconnect with her food and her culture.
Elise Hu: The Beauty Ideal
Friday, August 20, 2021
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But it's also shaped by global norms. This hour, journalist Elise Hu reflects on what's considered beautiful now, and how we'll think about beauty in the future.
Saleem Reshamwala Takes Us To Far Flung Places
Friday, July 30, 2021
This hour, journalist Saleem Reshamwala gives us a tour of surprising people and places — Lima, Nairobi, and prehistoric New Jersey — to inspire new perspectives on travel and cultures.
Matthew Mazzotta: How Can We Redesign Overlooked Spaces To Better Serve The Public?
Friday, July 23, 2021
Artist Matthew Mazzotta says every community needs public spaces to gather, discuss, and address issues. He works with towns to reimagine overlooked buildings and give them a new public purpose.
Jimmy Wales: How Can Wikipedia Ensure A Safe And Shared Online Space?
Friday, July 23, 2021
Wikipedian Jake Orlowitz describes how volunteers update the world's largest encyclopedia. And co-founder Jimmy Wales says the site must not only be a neutral space, but one that encourages diversity.
Eli Pariser: How Can We Reshape Our Digital Platforms To Be More Welcoming Spaces?
Friday, July 23, 2021
Eli Pariser has an optimistic vision for our digital public spaces. He says that by structuring them like real-life parks, libraries, and town halls, we can create more welcoming, safe places online.
Shari Davis: What If You Could Decide How The Government Spends Public Funds?
Friday, July 23, 2021
Public places don't always fully meet the needs of a community. Shari Davis explains how participatory budgeting can give us all a voice in creating safer and more equitable public spaces.
Sylvia Earle: My Wish? To Protect Our Oceans
Friday, June 25, 2021
Legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle has been exploring and working to protect our oceans for more than half a century. Her message has stayed the same: we're taking our oceans for granted.
Alasdair Harris: How Can Coastal Conservation Save Marine Life And Fishing Practices?
Friday, June 25, 2021
In 1998, Alasdair Harris went to Madagascar to research coral reefs. He's worked there ever since. He explains the true meaning of conservation he learned from the island's Indigenous communities.
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: What Should You Look For When Shopping For Seafood?
Friday, June 25, 2021
For marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, not knowing where our seafood comes from isn't just a mystery—it's a problem. She says we should reconsider what we eat and how we take it from the sea.
Asha de Vos: Why Are Whales Essential To The Health Of Our Oceans?
Friday, June 25, 2021
Whales are more than just beautiful creatures—they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Marine biologist Asha de Vos explains why protecting whales is crucial for protecting the entire sea.
