Listener sentiment
Recent ratings extend Radiolab's sharply polarized, largely negative stretch rather than marking a turn. The dominant complaints remain the same: longtime fans grieve the Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich era, faulting hosts Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser as giggly, condescending, or unable to carry the show; a feed heavy on reruns and cross-promoted Terrestrials episodes that paying members find especially galling; increasingly short "new" episodes; and the signature choppy, multi-voice editing style that many now describe as a gimmick that makes stories hard to follow. Perceived political slant cuts both ways — some listeners accuse the show of left-leaning framing on Gaza and identity topics, while others argue it is too centrist — and producer Molly Webster keeps drawing praise as the remaining talent whose work still feels like classic Radiolab. A loyal minority continues to celebrate individual episodes (the Quantum Refuge series and the goosebumps episode among them) for investigative depth, emotional resonance, and inventive sound design, and even sympathetic critics voice hope that the new hosts can regain the show's old spark.
Apple3.8 · 1,378
Summary generated Nov 2, 2026
