meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Radiolab

Buttons Not Buttons

Radiolab

WNYC Studios

Science, Natural Sciences, History, Society & Culture, Documentary

4.643.5K Ratings

🗓️ 10 March 2023

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Tiny buttons have such a hold on us. They can be portals to power, freedom, and destruction. Today, with the help of buttons, we tell you about taking charge of the little things in life, about fortunes made and lost, and about the ease with which the world can end.

Confused? Push the button marked Play.

Our newsletter comes out every Wednesday. It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing [email protected]

Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Wait, wait, you're listening.

0:02.0

Okay.

0:03.0

Alright.

0:04.0

Okay.

0:05.0

Alright.

0:06.0

Ugh.

0:07.0

You're listening to Radio Lab.

0:09.0

Radio Lab.

0:10.0

From W and Y.

0:12.0

Hey!

0:13.0

Hey!

0:14.0

Hey!

0:15.0

Why?

0:16.0

How did you even get onto...

0:21.0

I feel like buttons has just become a fixture.

0:23.0

How did this happen?

0:24.0

Okay, what can I...

0:25.0

Let me start.

0:27.0

I'm gonna start.

0:28.0

This is reporter Latif Nasser and today on Radio Lab, Latif and I are bringing Jed and you three wildly different stories about buttons.

0:37.0

That are really about power and freedom and destruction.

0:40.0

So, this all started because I could not convince any of my friends to go to the elevator history museum with me.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from WNYC Studios, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of WNYC Studios and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.