Humans have long been interested in the possibility of extraterrestrial life. This hour, a look at why that interest has persisted.

Plus, we talk to a scientist who is looking for extraterrestrial life and a linguist who is preparing in case we ever receive communications from extraterrestrials.

GUESTS:
Kate Dorsch: Historian, philosopher of science, and the associate director of the philosophy, politics, and economics program at the University of Pennsylvania
Amanda Rees: Historian of science based at the University of York
Seth Shostak: Senior astronomer at the SETI Institute and host of the radio show and podcast Big Picture Science
Sheri Wells-Jensen: Associate professor of English and linguistics at Bowling Green State University and a member of the board of directors of METI International

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, and Cat Pastor contributed to this show, which originally aired June 2, 2022.

Humans have long been interested in the possibility of extraterrestrial life. This hour, a look at why that interest has persisted.
Plus, we talk to a scientist who is looking for extraterrestrial life and a linguist who is preparing in case we ever receive communications from extraterrestrials.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Kate Dorsch: Historian, philosopher of science, and the associate director of the philosophy, politics, and economics program at the University of Pennsylvania</li>
<li>Amanda Rees: Historian of science based at the University of York</li>
<li>Seth Shostak: Senior astronomer at the SETI Institute and host of the radio show and podcast <a href="http://radio.seti.org/">Big Picture Science</a></li>
<li>Sheri Wells-Jensen: Associate professor of English and linguistics at Bowling Green State University and a member of the board of directors of <a href="http://meti.org/">METI International</a></li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p?si=89RJodkWRsOo1dck5BCdMA&amp;nd=1">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYWMwYmU5NjktZDdkZi00NjBjLWE2NmMtYTZmOTAwZTFlYmQxLzcxZGM0YTBmLWU4Y2EtNDAyMS1hZWM5LWFhMDMwMDI2MDQyZC9iNjk1Y2I4Ny1mNmE5LTRjNzYtOGYxMS1hYTAzMDAyNjA0M2IvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/show/colin-mcenroe-show-rsspodcast">Stitcher</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, and Cat Pastor contributed to this show, which originally aired June 2, 2022.

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

The Colin McEnroe Show

Over the past couple of years, here at The Colin McEnroe Show we've had a number of conversations about UFOs, space, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. You can find all of those shows here.

Over the past couple of years, here at The Colin McEnroe Show we've had a number of conversations about UFOs, space, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. You can find all of those shows here.

Our Continued Coverage of the Possibility of Extraterrestrial Life

What our search for extraterrestrial life can tell us about ourselves

People have been preoccupied with the end of the world for a very long time. And that preoccupation isn’t going anywhere. As AI experts warn about potential catastrophic scenarios and the Doomsday Clock continues to move closer to midnight, a look at how we imagine the world ending and what that says about us.

GUESTS: 


Dorian Lynskey: Journalist and author of multiple books, most recently Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World. He is also co-host of the Origin Story podcast. 


Brian Slattery: Freelance writer and editor. He is the author of four novels. His latest short story is “Clouds” which appears in the anthology Shadow Lab

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on February 4, 2025.

People have been preoccupied with the end of the world for a very long time. And that preoccupation isn&rsquo;t going anywhere. As AI experts warn about potential catastrophic scenarios and the Doomsday Clock continues to move closer to midnight, a look at how we imagine the world ending and what that says about us.
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
Dorian Lynskey: Journalist and author of multiple books, most recently <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/709872/everything-must-go-by-dorian-lynskey/">Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World</a>. He is also co-host of the <a href="https://www.dorianlynskey.com/origin-story">Origin Story</a> podcast.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Brian Slattery: Freelance writer and editor. He is the author of four novels. His latest short story is &ldquo;Clouds&rdquo; which appears in the anthology <a href="https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/products/book-gr9r">Shadow Lab</a>
</li>
</ul>
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYWMwYmU5NjktZDdkZi00NjBjLWE2NmMtYTZmOTAwZTFlYmQxLzcxZGM0YTBmLWU4Y2EtNDAyMS1hZWM5LWFhMDMwMDI2MDQyZC9iNjk1Y2I4Ny1mNmE5LTRjNzYtOGYxMS1hYTAzMDAyNjA0M2IvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on February 4, 2025.

Eventually the world will end. Why can't we stop imagining it?

Billboard

How has our national discourse and our perception of national identity shifted in the 25 years after 9/11? And how can we heal from those traumatizing events? This hour, we talk about what we can learn from our response to 9/11 with a local psychiatrist who helped shape New York City's mental health response for its children. Plus, we look at how journalists coped with covering that day.

GUESTS:
John Woodall: Psychiatrist whose clinic is in Newtown. He is a former Harvard Medical School faculty, and founder of Healing the Heart of America.
Sam Martin: Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs at Boise State University.
Dr. Anthony Feinstein: Professor of Psychiatry at University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He specializes in the psychological effects of covering war and violent conflict on journalists.

Music featured (in order):
Listen to the Heroes Cry – Christian McBride
Loose Ends – Sergio Mendes, Justin Timberlake, Pharoahe Monch
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Nina Simone
We’re All Gonna Die – Joy Oladokun, Noah Kahan
When Doves Cry – Prince
Roll With the Punches – Randy Newman

How has our national discourse and our perception of national identity shifted in the 25 years after 9/11? And how can we heal from those traumatizing events? This hour, we talk about what we can learn from our response to 9/11 with a local psychiatrist who helped shape New York City's mental health response for its children. Plus, we look at how journalists coped with covering that day.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>John Woodall: Psychiatrist whose clinic is in Newtown. He is a former Harvard Medical School faculty, and founder of Healing the Heart of America.</li>
<li>Sam Martin: Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs at Boise State University.</li>
<li>Dr. Anthony Feinstein:&nbsp;Professor of Psychiatry at University of Toronto and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He specializes in the psychological effects of covering war and violent conflict on journalists.</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlvioYHBgnI">Listen to the Heroes Cry</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Christian McBride</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U20JfO2wOk">Loose Ends</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Sergio Mendes, Justin Timberlake, Pharoahe Monch</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS8LWRCS6do">Don&rsquo;t Let Me Be Misunderstood</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Nina Simone</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulmm0o2MFck">We&rsquo;re All Gonna Die</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Joy Oladokun, Noah Kahan</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG3VcCAlUgE">When Doves Cry</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Prince</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPhfSq12pPo">Roll With the Punches</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Randy Newman</li>
</ul>

25 years after 9/11, what our response teaches us about trauma and identity

We’ve been doing these shows where we don’t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing.

This hour, the conversation — helmed by our old pal Chion Wolf! — winds around to “Crossing Muddy Waters” by I’m With Her, Phoebe Bridgers, The Shipping News by Annie Proulx, follow ups, paper routes and summer jobs for kids, loss … Anything. (Seemingly) everything.

These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one.

We&rsquo;ve been doing these shows where we don&rsquo;t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing.
This hour, the conversation &mdash; helmed by our old pal Chion Wolf! &mdash; winds around to &ldquo;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTDUDRIEifQ">Crossing Muddy Waters</a>&rdquo; by I&rsquo;m With Her, Phoebe Bridgers,&nbsp;The Shipping News&nbsp;by Annie Proulx, follow ups, paper routes and summer jobs for kids, loss &hellip; Anything. (Seemingly) everything.
These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one.

What our search for extraterrestrial life can tell us about ourselves

Our Continued Coverage of the Possibility of Extraterrestrial Life

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