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Unexplainable

The man who bet against humanity — and lost

Unexplainable

Vox

Life Sciences, Science, Natural Sciences

4.62.4K Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2026

⏱️ 19 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Paul Ehrlich was famous for predicting a population explosion that would destroy the planet, but he didn't count on human ingenuity. Guest: Bryan Walsh, Vox senior editorial director This episode was made in partnership with Vox’s Future Perfect team. For show transcripts, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unxtranscripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/unexplainable⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And please email us! ⁠⁠⁠unexplainable@vox.com⁠⁠⁠ We read every email. Support Unexplainable (and get ad-free episodes) by becoming a Vox Member today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vox.com/members⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:19.5

On February 9th, 1970, Johnny Carson did something that would be unthinkable for a late-night host today.

1:25.2

He gave a full hour of the tonight show to a Stanford professor.

1:31.1

But Paul Erlich, the author of the Blockbuster Book, The Population Bomb, was charismatic,

1:34.2

telegenic, and absolutely terrifying.

1:39.9

Joined by his wife, Anne, he told Carson's massive audience that hundreds of millions of people were about to starve to death, and that nothing could stop it.

1:46.1

Erlick's first appearance on The Tonight Show demonstrates a lot of things, not least how

1:51.0

much popular TV has changed.

...

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