Earlier this year, when the world learned the news of baby KJ successfully undergoing the first personalized genetic treatment, it represented a milestone for researchers and patients. But behind this scientific feat there’s the story of the technology that made it possible, CRISPR, and one of the key pioneers behind it — Jennifer Doudna. 

Evan sits down with Walter Isaacson to understand how Doudna’s upbringing in Hilo, Hawaii influenced her trajectory as a gene editing scientist. And how the history of gene editing might have started with understanding DNA, but soon after, it became clear the real secret lay with its underrated sibling molecule, RNA.

Earlier this year, when the world learned the news of baby KJ successfully undergoing the first personalized genetic treatment, it represented a milestone for researchers and patients. But behind this scientific feat there&rsquo;s the story of the technology that made it possible, CRISPR, and one of the key pioneers behind it &mdash; Jennifer Doudna.&nbsp;
Evan sits down with Walter Isaacson to understand how Doudna&rsquo;s upbringing in Hilo, Hawaii influenced her trajectory as a gene editing scientist. And how the history of gene editing might have started with understanding DNA, but soon after, it became clear the real secret lay with its underrated sibling molecule, RNA.

A single scientific breakthrough changed the future of humanity, setting off the third great revolution of modern times. As with any revolution, things didn’t happen neatly or quietly. One figure stood at the center of it all: Jennifer Doudna, the Nobel Prize-winning biochemist who co-created CRISPR. Her invention signified the arrival of a newfound ability to edit our genes, as simply as we edit a sentence, with a word processor.

From Walter Isaacson - the bestselling biographer behind Musk, Einstein and Steve Jobs – and journalist Evan Ratliff (Mastermind, co-host of the beloved Longform podcast) comes a behind the scenes look at the story of Jennifer Doudna.

Her personal trajectory, and that of her collaborators and competitors, tells the story of how we arrived at this new frontier of gene editing. It’s a story filled with global stakes and fiery competition. And a story that touches upon the ethical considerations that gene editing brings.

Season 2: 

He didn’t have a role in Hamilton, but America wouldn’t be the same without him! 

From Walter Isaacson– the bestselling biographer behind Musk, Einstein and Steve Jobs– and journalist Evan Ratliff (Mastermind, co-host of the beloved Longform podcast) comes a behind the scenes look at the story of Ben Franklin, and how his genius shaped our national character. 

From Franklin’s adventures as a mischievous apprentice, to his evolution over 84 years into America’s best writer, inventor,scientist, diplomat, and business strategist… as well as Founding Father, Isaacson covers everything from the wit behind Poor Richard’s Almanac to the wisdom behind the Declaration of Independence; not to mention, how a former slave owner evolved into the shepherd of a near-perfect Constitution. 

In this intimate behind the scenes interview, Isaacson provides a look at how he came to understand Franklin’s remarkable life, how it shaped America’s national identity, and why Ben Franklin matters so much right now. 

Season 1: 

What is it like to shadow Elon Musk for two years? To sit courtside as he builds a rocket? Or tears apart an engineer? Or couch surfs at the homes of billionaires? And how on earth do you make sense of it all? Walter Isaacson is the biographer of giants: DaVinci, Franklin, Doudna, Jobs...and now Musk, former enfant terrible, rocket launcher, electric car innovator, and Twitter—er, X—disruptor, to put it gently. 

In this four-part series, author Evan Ratliff (“Mastermind,” “Longform” Podcast) sits down with Isaacson to draw out the behind-the-scenes stories of this epic biography, and what the writer has learned as an outsider inside Silicon Valley.  

A single scientific breakthrough changed the future of humanity, setting off the third great revolution of modern times. As with any revolution, things didn&rsquo;t happen neatly or quietly. One figure stood at the center of it all: Jennifer Doudna, the Nobel Prize-winning biochemist who co-created CRISPR. Her invention signified the arrival of a newfound ability to edit our genes, as simply as we edit a sentence, with a word processor.
From Walter Isaacson - the bestselling biographer behind Musk, Einstein and Steve Jobs &ndash; and journalist Evan Ratliff (Mastermind, co-host of the beloved Longform podcast) comes a behind the scenes look at the story of Jennifer Doudna.
Her personal trajectory, and that of her collaborators and competitors, tells the story of how we arrived at this new frontier of gene editing. It&rsquo;s a story filled with global stakes and fiery competition. And a story that touches upon the ethical considerations that gene editing brings.
Season 2:&nbsp;
He didn&rsquo;t have a role in&nbsp;Hamilton, but America wouldn&rsquo;t be the same without him!&nbsp;
From Walter Isaacson&ndash; the bestselling biographer behind&nbsp;Musk,&nbsp;Einstein&nbsp;and&nbsp;Steve Jobs&ndash; and journalist Evan Ratliff (Mastermind, co-host of the beloved&nbsp;Longform&nbsp;podcast) comes a behind the scenes look at the story of Ben Franklin, and how his genius shaped our national character.&nbsp;
From Franklin&rsquo;s adventures as a mischievous apprentice, to his evolution over 84 years into&nbsp;America&rsquo;s best writer, inventor,scientist, diplomat, and business strategist&hellip; as well as Founding Father, Isaacson covers everything from the wit behind&nbsp;Poor Richard&rsquo;s Almanac&nbsp;to the wisdom behind the&nbsp;Declaration of Independence; not to mention, how a former slave owner evolved into the shepherd of a near-perfect&nbsp;Constitution.&nbsp;
In this intimate behind the scenes interview, Isaacson provides a look at how he came to understand Franklin&rsquo;s remarkable life, how it shaped America&rsquo;s national identity, and why Ben Franklin matters so much right now.&nbsp;
Season 1:&nbsp;
What is it like to shadow Elon Musk for two years? To sit courtside as he builds a rocket? Or tears apart an engineer? Or couch surfs at the homes of billionaires? And how on earth do you make sense of it all? Walter Isaacson is the biographer of giants: DaVinci, Franklin, Doudna, Jobs...and now Musk, former enfant terrible, rocket launcher, electric car innovator, and Twitter&mdash;er, X&mdash;disruptor, to put it gently.&nbsp;
In this four-part series, author Evan Ratliff (&ldquo;Mastermind,&rdquo; &ldquo;Longform&rdquo; Podcast) sits down with Isaacson to draw out the behind-the-scenes stories of this epic biography, and what the writer has learned as an outsider inside Silicon Valley. &nbsp;

ON CRISPR: The Story of Jennifer Doudna with Walter Isaacson 

ON CRISPR Episode 1: Beginnings

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8a2476ca-aa4b-481f-8db2-b353016ba4ab/transcript

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