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Short Wave

Could 'Severance' Become Our Reality?

Short Wave

NPR

Daily News, Nature, Life Sciences, Astronomy, Science, News

4.7 β€’ 6K Ratings

πŸ—“οΈ 17 March 2025

⏱️ 15 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if we had the ultimate work-life balance? This fundamental question underlies the hit Apple TV+ show Severance – now in its second season. Ahead of the season 2 finale this Friday, producer Rachel Carlson sat down with the science consultant for the series, Dr. Vijay Agarwal. Vijay says the concept is "resoundingly" possible – and that scientists closer than we might think.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive.

0:06.3

Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts, perks like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, and more.

0:16.8

So start supporting what you love today at plus.npr.org.

0:23.6

Hey, shortwavers, producer Rachel Carlson here.

0:26.4

Before we start, you should know this episode contains Severance Season 2 spoilers.

0:31.3

All right, we warned you.

0:33.1

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

0:38.2

So every morning, I try to wake up around 5.45 a.m.ish.

0:45.6

I almost always hit the snooze once.

0:49.1

Okay, fine. Twice.

0:51.4

And an hour later, I'm walking into the office.

0:54.8

I say hi to our editor, Rebecca.

0:57.1

Hello.

0:57.9

Hello.

0:58.5

But what if that, me walking into NPR, wasn't really me.

1:06.6

She was me.

1:09.3

I was her.

1:15.6

But these two versions of myself were completely separate. What if we had the ultimate work-life balance?

1:24.6

Number one, can you do this scientifically? And I think resoundingly, the answer is yes.

1:33.8

And then number two, I think, is a bigger question, is should we be doing these things?

1:42.3

These fundamental questions are at the root of the hit Apple TV Plus show, Severance,

1:47.7

now in its second season.

...

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