Said, John Never Called the Doctor Back

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When John lost his voice, he began to realize when he lost part of himself. He started to think baby surgery wasn't such a bad idea after all. Before he made up his mind, or maybe to help him make it up, john decided to write a book about the human voice. If speech is what makes us human, then our voices are what make us us. And if your voice is contracted to some degree, it's almost a a contraction of self.

Today, we are revisiting one of our favorite episodes: an interview with New Yorker staff writer John Colapinto. In his brilliant book, "This Is the Voice," John says that while opposable thumbs are handy, the voice is our species' greatest attribute. We rely on it to communicate and collaborate, woo our mates and protect our children, win wars and make podcasts. John would know. A vocal injury changed his relationship with his instrument and set him on a path to better understand what his voice means to him — and what the voice means to humanity.