Radiolab

The War on Our Shore

May 12, 2023

Nick Farrago and Karen Duffin, reporters uncovering hidden wartime stories, share fascinating insights from World War II. They discuss the eerie phenomenon of balloon bombs that silently drifted onto U.S. soil, causing chaos and fear. Karen elaborates on the complex lives of Nazi POWs, revealing their surprisingly humane treatment in America, which challenges conventional narratives. Together, they explore the moral dilemmas of wartime ethics, encouraging listeners to reflect on empathy and the human experience in the midst of conflict.

01:01:08

Creator website

Episode guests

Karen Duffin

Nick Farrago

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Balloons of War: The Unseen Threat

14min

Wartime Pressures and Local Resilience

4min

Tragedy and Trauma: A Day of Lost Innocence

14min

Unearthing POW History

7min

Understanding the Geneva Conventions and Their Impact on Warfare

2min

Prisoner Perspectives: Humanity Amidst War

15min

Moral Dilemmas in Wartime Ethics

2min

The Ethical Dilemma of Soldier Treatment

3min

Foreign enemies have seldom brought war to U.S. soil… right? In this episode from 2017, we tell you strange stories of foreign enemies landing on our shore.

From bombs floating across the country without a sound (or even a discussion), to Nazi prisoners of war leading placid lives in towns nationwide, listen to how war quietly wormed its way into the heartland of the United States.

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Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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