Radiolab—Radiolab—Radiolab!

Oh my gosh, Radiolab, how did I not know you existed?

You are literally 10 years old and yet I'd never heard your name until YESTERDAY!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?

Well, we've corrected that problem, PRONTO.  STAT.  ALREADY.

I have now consumed three podcasts, proselytized them, and the kool-aid effects are well underway and flooding my system like adrenaline.  I'm officially an acolyte, a fan, an advocate and will sing your praises as if I were Captain von Trapp serenading the last remaining meadow of edelweiss.

Your 12/17/2012 episode on Bliss made me laugh, cry, ponder...and ultimately left me slack-jawed. 

Your reference to Aleksander Gamme's cheese noodle video made me howl and snort longer than I have in months.

Your story about Charles Bliss (aka Karl Blitz) and In the Land of Invented Languages left me, well, speechless.

Your use of music, storytelling and creative mixing is nothing short of art.  And, as far as I'm concerned, high art at that.  I finally understand (emotionally) how and why families once huddled around their radios as if they were fireplaces on cold, barren nights.

To prove the point, my wife, daughter and I sat motionlessly enraptured in our car outside a restaurant tonight and listened to your show for thirty minutes.  And, on the way home, we eagerly picked up where we left off.  Arriving home too quickly (!), we sat again in the garage for another twenty minutes to relish the end without delay. 

When you can successfully captivate the attention of one hungry man, one hungry woman, and one voracious ten-year-old girl, well, that's something.  No iPhones, no games, no tablets...just the desire to sit quietly and listen to a radio program...Wow.  That's crazy, right?  I mean...it's 2013, for cryin' out loud.  Who in the world listens to "talk radio" anymore?  The far right, the far left, rabid sports fans, and NPR types or chair-rockers tuning into Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, that's who.  And that's about it. 

Well, add me to the converted and faithful. 

But next time, I'll bring my own rocking chair, knife, whetstone, sapling branch, egg salad sandwich and sweet tea and plan on sitting a spell.  A nice, long, unrushed spell. 

I am indebted to my beloved Charlie Rose for bringing you to my attention. 

Gosh, I'm glad I found you—and look forward to tuning in for years to come.

XOXO