The Builders

Radiolab

WNYC Studios

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

4.6 • 44.5K Ratings

🗓️ 10 April 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In an episode first aired back in 2025 on our sister show, Terrestrials, we take you on a musical journey all about beavers. Few mammals have a bigger positive impact on the planet than the beaver. With its bright orange buck teeth, the creature is an expert engineer that brings life wherever it waddles and even fights fires. Our story begins in the Bronx river, once known as the “open sewer” of New York City. After some humans decide to clean it up, we meet one of the river’s residents - José the beaver. We learn about the US government parachuting beavers out of planes into the mountains. And finally head to California where we discover how one beaver family saved acres of land from burning.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's Lathif. Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd. So this week, I wanted to bring you a story that is just a wholehearted celebration of nature from Radio Lab spin-off, terrestrials. We released it last fall in the Radio Lab for Kids Feed. But look, I am a card carrying grown-up, and I really enjoyed this one. And I think you will, too,
0:26.4	no matter how young or old you are, Lulu will tell you more in a second. So without further ado,
0:34.3	wait, you're listening. Okay. All right.
0:38.2	Okay.
0:39.6	All right.
0:42.9	You're listening to Radio Lab.
0:44.4	Flakeet.
0:45.4	Radio Lab. From W.N.Y.
0:47.4	C.
0:48.3	See?
0:48.6	Yeah.
0:52.7	Three, two, one.
0:57.6	Imagine you wake up in the dark.
1:01.5	Your eyes dart around to see a little circle of blue shimmering light.
1:07.4	You waddle over on your webbed feet and realize it's water. So you dive in head first.
1:13.6	As you kick and glide, you grow fur. Really thick fur. And an extra set of eyelids.
1:19.6	That act like goggles under water. And then you look behind you to find a big black, scaly paddle.
1:27.0	It's your tail, which you can slap on the water with a nice, loud,
1:31.3	you have become a beaver.
1:38.3	Okay, now is the part where I make you sing the theme song with me.
1:41.3	Okay, I'm ready.
1:42.3	Terrestrials, terrestrials, we are not the worst.
	...

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