John works with the radio team to create our weekly show, and is helping to build our State of Science Reporting Network. He’s also been a long-time guest host on Science Friday.
He and his wife have three cats, thousands of bees, and a yoga studio in the sleepy Northwest hills of Connecticut.
John likes building radio collaborations. He helped bring together 18 stations across the Northeast to cover environmental issues, which eventually led to the New England News Collaborative, worked with NPR on their Collaborative Coverage Project, and with the national talk program America Amplified.
For 25 years, John oversaw news programming at WNPR, where he started the daily talk show, Where We Live. He’s also produced award-winning long-form documentaries on mental health and care for the elderly, and hundreds of short stories for NPR and public radio stations, including one about virtual reality in dentistry that’s actually pretty embarrassing to listen to now.
You can also see him doing live events for The Connecticut Mirror, The Connecticut Forum, and The International Festival of Arts & Ideas.
John grew up in Pittsburgh, and is as big a Mr. Rogers fan as you’ll find anywhere.
11:47
Feel Sleepy When You’re Sick? That Could Be Your Immune System Kicking In
Researchers identified a protein linked to the immune system that may make you feel sleepy when you’re sick.
17:08
How Much Carbon Do Our Forests Capture?
Forests are some of the biggest natural weapons we have to fight rising global temperatures. But how well are they working?
17:02
Peter A. Browne’s Hairy Obsession
Meet the 19th-century citizen scientist who collected hair from elephant chins, mummies, and presidents.
28:01
How Artists Made Code Their Paintbrush
Reflecting on the history and future of coding and technology in art.
4:13
A Phone Call From A Penguin Colony
Science Friday education director Ariel Zych calls in live from Antarctica.
7:51
Meet The Vampire-Like Beetles That Prey On Ants
One group of ground beetles has evolved to live in ant nests and feed on hapless workers.
3:52
The Complex Problem Of The Invasive Common Reed
Common reeds are invading New England marshlands—but could this “stubborn bully of a plant” help marshes weather climate change?
11:51
Saturn Put A Ring On It Only Relatively Recently
Saturn’s rings are estimated to have only formed millions of years ago, which is much younger than the planet itself.
23:26
Doctors Failed To Disclose When Drug Companies Were Paying Them
A ProPublica and New York Times investigation found that dozens of doctors failed to disclose their industry ties in scientific journals.
6:19
The Cold Case That Began A DNA Forensics Revolution
The investigative podcast “Bear Brook” explores the first case to use consumer genetic testing to find a killer.