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.
17:33
Bangladeshi Farmers Found A Way To Save Massive Amounts Of Water
By intensively using groundwater to irrigate, the country’s farmers are creating space to capture freshwater from monsoons.
39:09
The Hot And Cold Past Of The Air Conditioner
From the 1904 World’s Fair to deadly heat waves, we’re taking a look back at more than a century of AC. This story was originally published in 2021.
12:13
Why Is It So Hard To Agree On When Human Life Starts?
For decades, the U.S. medical establishment has adhered to a legally recognized standard for death. Why not for the inception of life?
4:17
Attracting Birds To Prime Habitat By Playing Recordings Of Their Calls
Researchers are broadcasting recorded bird calls to try to bring secretive rails to prime habitat where they can feed and mate.
7:00
Seagrass Oasis In Gulf Of Mexico Signals Good News For Manatees
Seagrass is the bedrock of the marine food chain. That makes it an important habitat to protect.
6:07
Remembering Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek’s Pioneering Lieutenant Uhura
The actress broke new ground on television, and inspired many viewers to enter science and technology careers.
12:13
Americans’ Knowledge Of Reproductive Health Is Limited
As the nation awaits a momentous Supreme Court decision, a poll looks at opinions of and knowledge about reproductive health issues.
9:51
Some Doctors Want To Change How Race Is Used In Medicine
Race is often conflated with biology in medicine. A more nuanced approach is emerging: using culturally competent care in treatment.
7:32
How A $2 Billion U.S. Plan To Save Salmon In The Northwest Is Failing
Despite billions of federal subsidies, salmon survival is predicted to decline by 90% in the next four decades.
16:42
How A Facebook Group Helps People Identify Mysterious Mushrooms
Over 200 international mycologists and botanists volunteer their time to help identify poisonous plants and mushrooms in a Facebook group.