Carl Djerassi: The Visionary Behind ‘The Pill’

Photo by Douglas A. Lockard

It was in the early 1950sThe 28 year old pharmaceutical chemist created something that would change the very fabric of our society .

His name was Carl Djerassi. He was a Bulgarian]American who led a team that came up with an oral contraceptive that became known – and is still known today – as simply The Pill . Djerassi has been dubbed “the father of The Pill.”

In 1992 he wrote a memoir called The Pill, Pygmy Chimps, and Degas’s Horse, a reflection on a life that was filled with far more than white lab coats and experiments. And that’s when he and I had a conversation about it.

So here now, from 1992, Carl Djerassi.

Carl Djerassi died in 2015. He was 91.


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How Mathematics Reveals the Mysteries of the Universe: A Conversation with Mario Livio

Photo by Festival della Scienza

Today we’re talking about mathematics. But don’t let your eyes glaze over, because there are no formulas to memorize, no problems to solve and there will be no quiz at the end.

In fact, we’re not even looking for answers as much as we are enjoying asking the questions, says astrophysicist Mario Livio.

His 2009 book Is God a Mathematician? asks the big questions about math, and how it explains our entire universe.

Or does it? See, that’s one of the questions.

So here now my 2009 interview with Mario Livio.

MMario Livio is 78 now. He is continuing his work on the emergence of life in the universe.


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Will Steger’s Pioneering Journey to the North Pole

Photo by Andy Witchger

In today’s shrinking world, there are very few things left that no one has ever done before. But in 1986, explorer Will Steger did something no one had done before – he led the first ever dog sled journey to the north pole without resupply

It was an amazing, and in some ways death-defying expedition

As he described in his 1987 book N to the pole, it’s difficult when your face is frozen, you’re only allowed two pounds of food a day, and you have just a short window of opportunity to reach your goal.

We sat down in my well heated studio one day in December 1987 to talk. So here now, from 1987, Will Steger.

Will Steger Is 79 now. He is a popular public speaker and advocate for preservation of the Arctic


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How We Misunderstand And Undervalue The Human Breast

The popular actress Suzanne Somers recently became the latest high profile victim of breast cancer.

The CDC estimates that 42,000 women will die from the disease this year. So will a few hundred men.

October is, of course, Breast Cancer Awareness month. But a book that was written several years ago reminds us of how little we actually know about the human breast.

In 2012, acclaimed author and journalist Florence Williams researched and wrote a definitive volume called Breasts. A Natural And Unnatural History

And you’re going to be startled by how much we don’t know about the human breast.

So here now from 2012. Florence Williams


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Richard Dawkins on Evolution, Creationism, and the Blind Watchmaker

Photo by Steve Jurvetson

Were Adam and Eve real? Or is the story of creation found in Genesis just a myth?

British evolutionary biology professor Richard Dawkins is a prominent figure in the worlds of science and atheism, known for his eloquent writings on evolution and his critique of religious beliefs.

In early 1988 I had the chance to interview Dawkins about his bestselling book The Blind Watchmaker and how it challenged the traditional view of a divine creator.

So here now, from 1988. Richard Dawkins.

Richard Dawkins is now 82.


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Dan Ariely

Photo by Yael Zur for Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization

How many times a day do you lie, cheat, or steal?

If you’re like most people, you might say, with some pride, you never lie, cheat or steal.

That’s a lie.

Psychology and behavioral economics professor Dan Ariely says we all do it. Thing is, we almost all do it just a little, not enough to ruin our self-image of being a good, honest person.

In his 2012 book The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty Ariely explained the science behind our misbehaviors.

So here now, from 2012, Dan Ariely.

Dan Ariely, who is 56 now, has taught at Duke University since 2008.


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Temple Grandin

Why do animals think and behave and react in the ways they do?

Animal behaviorist Temple Grandin has spent a lifetime finding answers. And for her, the journey has been a personal one, as well.

Grandin is autistic, and has found that animal behavior is not unlike that of some people with autism.

I first met her in 2005, when she published her book Animals in Translation.

So here now, from 2005, Temple Grandin.

Temple Grandin is 75 now, and still active in the field of animal behaviorism.


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J. Craig Venter

Can the guy who just barely graduated from high school become one of the world’s 100 most influential people?

Well, it doesn’t very often, to be sure. But that is the short version of the story of Dr. J. Craig Venter, who led the first draft sequence of the human genome some 20 years ago,

Venter founded the company Celera Genomics, which found itself in a very publicized race with the international Human Genome Project to produce that map.

And by summer 2000, Venter was a VIP guest at a White House announcement featuring President Clinton, British prime minister Tony Blair, and a host of other high-level dignitaries.

Venter was widely hailed around the world as a leading figure in the scientific community .

In 2007, Venter wrote his autobiography, a book called A Life Decoded. And that’s what I met him.

So here now, from 2007, Dr. J. Craig venter.

J. Craig Venter is 75 now. He lives in California.

Oh, and if he was curious as to why he was always such a poor student, Venter later discovered that he had a genetic marker for ADHD.


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Sy Montgomery

Photo: Larry D. Moore

We all know what dolphins look like, right?

Well maybe we don’t know what all dolphins look like. Have you ever heard of Pink dolphins? Shape-shifting, human-like pink dolphins?

Renowned naturalist Sy Montgomery had heard of pink dolphins, deep in the Amazon River basin in Brazil. So she went to check them out.

What resulted was her 2000 book The Journey of the Pink Dolphins. That’s when she and I had one of our many conversations over the years.

So here now, from 2000, Sy Montgomery

Sy Montgomery is 64. She lives in New Hampshire.


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Shere Hite

Human sexuality has been widely studied, researched, and written about over the years, most notably, perhaps, by Alfred Kinsey and Masters and Johnson .

In the 1970s and ’80s, there was a trilogy of books about sexuality by another researcher that drew widespread praise and criticism. It was called The Hite Report, by researcher Shere Hite.

Much of the controversy centered on the fact that Hite was a feminist who drew upon political and philosophical viewpoints into her work.

In 1988 she completed her trilogy with a volume called Women And Love. And that’s when I first met her, during a whirlwind book tour that included some controversial stops, including TV’s Phil Donahue show.

So here now, from 1988, Shere Hite.

Shere Hite died in 2020. She was 77.


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