logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2019
1 h

Radiolab Presents: Dolly Parton's Americ...

Wnyc Studios
About this episode
Radiolab creator and host Jad Abumrad spent the last two years following around music legend Dolly Parton, and we're here to say you should tune in! In this episode of Radiolab, we showcase the first of Jad's special series, Dolly Parton's America. In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but wh ... Show More
Up next
May 29
This American Roach
A couple summers ago, Radiolab reporter Alex Neason got out of the shower and almost stepped on her worst nightmare: an American Cockroach. It was flipped onto its back, struggling, and for a split second, Alex swears she felt the spiny tickle of its legs on the underside of her ... Show More
36m 46s
May 22
Worth
This episode makes three earnest, possibly foolhardy, attempts to put a price on the priceless. We figure out the dollar value for an accidental death, another day of life, and the work of bats and bees as we try to keep our careful calculations from falling apart in the face of ... Show More
1h 11m
May 15
Your Friendly Neighborhood Hookworms
For most of human history, people went about their daily lives with a worm or two (or fifty) in their guts. Only in the past century, with pharmaceuticals and sanitation practices, have we made significant strides towards deworming the whole of humanity. And that’s typically been ... Show More
46m 17s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2019
Sad Ass Songs
We begin with a simple question: How did the queen of the boob joke become a feminist icon? Helen Morales, author of “Pilgrimage to Dollywood,” gave us a stern directive – look at the lyrics! So we dive into Dolly’s discography, starting with the early period of what Dolly calls ... Show More
57m 31s
Dec 2019
Dolly Parton's America (with Jad Abumrad)
There are icons, and then there’s Dolly Parton. The country singer-turned-actress-turned-cultural phenomenon has produced a nearly unparalleled body of work, in both quantity (Parton is the sole or co-author of more than three thousand songs) and in legacy. Despite releasing her ... Show More
39m 50s
Oct 2019
Dolly Parton's America Trailer
In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Join us for a 9-part journey into the Dollyverse. ... Show More
1m 4s
Dec 2019
Dolly Parton's America
At the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, we drop in on a history class called “Dolly Parton’s America.” (We borrowed the name for our series!) Taught by Dr. Lynn Sacco, the class is filled with college students who grew up in rural Appalachia, many of whom are the first in th ... Show More
40m 29s
Dec 2020
Dolly Parton
<p>This is a BIG one!!! Straight out of Nashville, the one and only Country ICON Dolly Parton joins us on Table Manners.</p><p>We chatted to Dolly - dressed head to toe in festive gear - back in October, before her beautiful book Storyteller had reached these shores and before we ... Show More
44m 48s
Oct 2023
254. Dolly Parton: How to Make Decisions (Even If They Break Your Heart)
In this special episode, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda sit down with icon Dolly Parton for a heartfelt conversation about how to start something new at 77, how she mothers the world, and how she broke her own heart when Elvis asked to record her hit song.  Plus, the advice Dolly wou ... Show More
41m 24s
Jan 2024
Dolly Parton Through the Years on The Daily Show
Happy Birthday Miss Dolly! Jon Stewart sits with the famous country singer to discuss the making of her country album "Those Were the Days" and what it was like working alongside Queen Latifah for the movie "Joyful Noise." Plus, Trevor Noah sits with Dolly and author, James Peter ... Show More
25m 4s