National GeographicScience
National GeographicScience

About

Come dive into one of the curiously delightful conversations overheard at National Geographic’s headquarters, as we follow explorers, photographers, and scientists to the edges of our big, weird, beautiful world. Hosted by Peter Gwin and Amy Briggs.

  • Trapped in the icy waters of the Northwest Passage
    On the trail of a doomed 19th century polar expedition, modern explorers met the same danger: devastating, unpredictable sea ice.
  • Playback: Modern Lives, Ancient Caves
    Look down! The subterranean realm has a lot to teach us about life on the surface; these modern-day cave dwellers will help us get comfortable in the dark.
  • Playback: This Indigenous Practice Fights Fire with Fire
    As massive wildfires continue to wreak havoc in the American West, Indigenous people are reviving centuries-old cultural burning practices to protect their communities.
  • Playback: Rooting, from Into the Depths
    In the last installment of Into the Depths, National Geographic Explorer Tara Roberts meets the living descendants of the Africans aboard the Clotilda, the last known ship from the transatlantic slave trade to reach the United States. They inspire Tara to look into her own family’s past in her hometown, where she makes some surprising discoveries.
  • Playback: Ancient Orchestra
    Humans have been turning objects into musical instruments for tens of thousands of years. Take a listen to what prehistoric music might have sounded like.
  • Playback: A Skeptic's Guide to Loving Bats
    Bats get a bad rap. Rodrigo Medellín, a National Geographic Explorer at Large also known as the Bat Man of Mexico, is here to save the day with the help of facts, science... and tequila.
  • How queer identity shapes Nat Geo Explorers
    To celebrate Pride, two scientists swap stories from field expeditions and explain how their identity inspired them to become “protectors of the Earth.”
  • A Mexican Wolf Pup’s Journey into the Wild
    The Mexican gray wolf was on the verge of extinction in the 1970s. To save the iconic predators, biologists and a Texas trapper joined forces on an ambitious plan that continues today.
  • Playback: Deep Inside the First Wilderness
    Nat Geo photographer Katie Orlinsky has a fireside chat with Overheard host Peter Gwin about telling stories through pictures.
  • She Sails the Seas Without Maps or Compasses
    A Hawaiian navigator describes how she sails the seas without maps or modern instruments to keep Polynesian wayfinding traditions alive.
  • How Anne Frank’s Diary Survived
    How a Dutch couple sheltered Anne Frank’s family and preserved her account of life under Nazi occupation.
  • The Dark Reality Behind India’s Festival Elephants
    In Indian culture, elephants are revered like gods. But in reality, these temple elephants endure much reported abuse, which animal welfare advocates are bringing to the public’s attention.
  • What Will it Take to Save the Savanna Elephant?
    Wildlife warrior Paula Kahumbu talks about the past, present, and future of African Savanna Elephants.
  • The Woman Who Knows What Elephants Are Saying
    Get to know the sounds of elephants—and what they’re saying.
  • Exploring Ramadan and Earthlike Exoplanets
    Discover the wonder of exoplanets with Munazza Alam, an astronomer and National Geographic Explorer, who also reflects on shared Ramadan traditions with Overheard’s Davar Ardalan.
  • From the Frontlines to the Shorelines
    A war photographer reflects on his career while kayaking one of the most dangerous lakes in the world.
  • Can You Picture That? This Photographer Can and Does
    From capturing bats in flight to making it rain indoors, National Geographic staff photographer Mark Thiessen shows us how he tackles challenging assignments—usually with creativity, curiosity, and a lot of fun.
  • Scenes from Nigeria's Baby Boom
    Africa's most populous country faces a host of challenges as it continues to grow.
  • What Women in China Want
    Chinese women are having fewer babies. China's population is declining, and the government wants to turn it around—but will it work?
  • The Soul of Music: Meklit Hadero tells stories of migration
    Nat Geo Explorer and musician Meklit Hadero is joined by Nat Geo Explorer and wildlife cinematographer Jahawi Bertolli to discuss the intersection of nature, migration, and music.