The Nazis, the Bomb, and the Woman that Science Forgot
Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
Pushkin Industries
4.7 • 6.4K Ratings
🗓️ 6 June 2025
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Lise Meitner has fought for her entire life to be seen as a scientist, slowly building a career as a nuclear physicist in Berlin. When Adolf Hitler rises to power, the small gains she's made are snatched away. As a Jewish woman, Lise has a critical decision to make: is her passion for science worth her life?
An earlier version of this podcast mistakenly gave the wrong date for the bombing of Hiroshima. We apologize for the error.
For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com.
Get ad-free episodes, plus an exclusive monthly bonus episode, to Cautionary Tales by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows.
Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkin
Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Pushkin. |
| 0:08.7 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 0:14.2 | She was a decorated veteran, a Marine who saved her comrades, a hero. |
| 0:20.4 | She was stoic, modest, tough, someone who inspired people. |
| 0:26.8 | Everyone thought they knew her until they didn't. |
| 0:32.0 | I remember sitting on her couch and asking her, is this real? Is this real? Is this real? Is this real? Is this real? |
| 0:37.9 | I just couldn't wrap my head around. What kind of person would do that to another person that was |
| 0:44.1 | getting treatment that was, you know, dying? This is a story all about trust and about a woman |
| 0:52.7 | named Sarah Kavanaugh. |
| 0:54.7 | I've always been told I'm a really good listener, right? |
| 0:57.3 | And I maximize that while I was lying. |
| 1:00.9 | Listen to Deep Cover the Truth About Sarah, anywhere you get podcasts. |
| 1:06.1 | And binge the entire season right now, ad-free with a Pushkin Plus subscription. |
| 1:12.3 | Head to the deep cover show page on Apple Podcasts or pushkin.fm. |
| 1:18.0 | slash plus to sign up. |
| 1:21.0 | Run a business and not thinking about podcasting, think again. |
| 1:24.0 | More Americans listen to podcasts than add supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. |
| 1:28.2 | And as the number one podcaster, IHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. |
| 1:32.3 | Learn how podcasting can help your business. Call 844-844 iHeart. |
| 1:36.1 | The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. |
| 1:41.0 | Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and |
| 1:45.8 | sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves. This medal is for the men who went |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Pushkin Industries, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Pushkin Industries and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.