Jad Abumrad, the founder of Radiolab, on “Gut Churn”
Gut Churn begins with a simple question: what does it mean to “innovate?” How does it feel to make something new in the world? (These are questions Jad Abumrad was frequently asked after being awarded a MacArthur “genius” grant in 2011). Gut Churn, on one level, is Jad’s personal recollection of inventing a new aesthetic when faced with the challenge of creating “a show about curiosity.” It became the wildly popular Radiolab that embodies the intersection of the arts and sciences, airs on over 450 NPR stations, and whose podcasts reaching millions more per month. On another plane, Gut Churn is a clinic – including audio clips, still images, video, live sound manipulation – in the art of storytelling. On a third and more profound level, the lecture is the result of a three-year investigation into the science, philosophy and art of uncertainty, which all began with the two words that are the title of this talk. Gut Churn. What use do negative feelings have during the creative process? Do those feelings get in the way, or do they propel us forward? After his presentation, you get to ask Jad questions.