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Fresh Air opens the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics. Fresh Air Weekend collects the best segments from the week's programs and crafts them together for great weekend listening.
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Fresh Air Weekend

Fresh Air opens the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics. Fresh Air Weekend collects the best segments from the week's programs and crafts them together for great weekend listening.

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The Pulse

The Pulse Episode Archive

Millions of Americans take antidepressants. (fizkes/Bigstock)
The Pulse
Health

Quitting Antidepressants: From Withdrawal to Tapering One Step at a Time

Erica Gerard tried to find the right antidepressant for over two decades, one where the positive impact on her mood outweighed the debili ...

Air Date: August 14, 2026

Listen 49:29
(agsandrew/bigstock)
The Pulse
Science

The Science of Imagination: Transforming How We Think, Feel, and Live

On this episode, psychologist Cassandra Vieten shares how imagination affects our health and our relationships with others.

Air Date: August 11, 2026

Listen 29:00
(Joruba/Bigstock)
The Pulse
Science

Think Inside the Box: How Limits Fuel Creativity

A look at how constraints can fuel the creative process — and how too much freedom can do the opposite.

Air Date: August 7, 2026

Listen 24:12
(Kindel Media/Pexels)
The Pulse
Health

The Future of Pain Relief: Managing Chronic Pain, Laughing Gas and Safer Opioids

Exploring new research on the causes of — and potential solutions to — different kinds of pain.

Air Date: July 31, 2026

Listen 49:34
Sick woman on airplane with headache.
The Pulse
Health

Jet Lag, Cruise Outbreaks and Vacation Constipation: How to Deal with Travel Health Woes

An exploration of vacation health hazards, and how to keep them from wrecking your fun.

Air Date: July 24, 2026

Listen 49:34
In this Friday, March 2, 2012 photo, Allyson Goble, a forensic scientist at the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center in Albany, N.Y., screens a pair of blue jeans for biological evidence.
The Pulse
Science

How Reliable Is Forensic Science? The Truth About Criminal Profiling and Investigations

How science is used in criminal investigations — and what happens when it’s not as reliable as we might think.

Air Date: July 17, 2026

Listen 49:34
In India, tea gardens often attract wild herds of Asian elephants, causing wildlife to clash with civilization. (Avijan Saha)
The Pulse
Science

Chasing Wildlife: From the Golden Toad to Giant Elephants

Tales of adventure from the wild — in search of lost and elusive species.

Air Date: July 10, 2026

Listen 49:34
(DisobeyArt/Bigstock)
The Pulse
Health

From Buzz to Burnout: How Alcohol Affects the Brain and Body

We explore our relationship with alcohol — why we consume it, how it affects us, and when it’s time to quit.

Air Date: July 3, 2026

Listen 50:07
David Gary, the Associate Director of Collections at the American Philosophical Society, is showing Pulse Host Maiken Scott a telescope that was constructed by David Rittenhouse in the 18th Century. Rittenhouse used the telescope to track the Transit of Venus in 1769, just a few years before America declared independence from Great Britain.
The Pulse
Science

How Science and Ingenuity Built Early America

On this episode, we commemorate America's 250th anniversary, and we explore how science and innovation helped build a new nation.

Air Date: June 25, 2026

Listen 1:03:04
(Rido81/Bigstock)
The Pulse
Health

The Body Remembers: Exploring the Invisible Wounds Left by Serious Illness

A look at the lingering effects of serious medical events, and what true healing really means.

Air Date: June 19, 2026

Listen 49:34
(Vitaly Gariev/Pexels)
The Pulse
Science

You’ve Heard of ‘Dad Bod’ But How About ‘Dad Brain?’

On this Father's Day special, researcher Darby Saxbe talks about her new book, “Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men’s Lives.”

Air Date: June 16, 2026

Listen 41:57
(Grandfailure/Bigstock)
The Pulse
Science

How Music Shapes Memory, Emotion, and Imagination

What “musical daydreaming” is, and why it’s good for our brains.

Air Date: June 12, 2026

Listen 49:34
A small jar of marijuana is shown at Tropicanna Dispensary and Weed Delivery in Santa Ana, Calif., Thursday, April 23, 2026.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Pulse
Health

When Healthcare Meets the Law: Abortion, Cannabis, and Corporate Medicine

From abortion to medical marijuana, a look at how politics and the law impact our healthcare

Air Date: June 5, 2026

Listen 49:34
A happy couple laughing together. (Luiz Woellner Fotografia/Pexels)
The Pulse
Science

Engineering Happiness into our Daily Lives

A look at the science of designing a happier life — from reverse-engineering joy to moments of serendipity.

Air Date: May 29, 2026

Listen 49:34
An open palm hand with four colored light shinning on it —red, yellow, green and blue.
The Pulse
Science

The Strange Science of Color — And Our Quest to Understand It

We explore the world of color — from how we perceive it, to efforts to describe and differentiate its many shades.

Air Date: May 21, 2026

Listen 49:28
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The Pulse airs Fridays at 9am and Saturdays at Noon

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