Best Wolves After Dark Podcasts (2025)

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How Do Bacteria Talk To Each Other? 23:28

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4h ago23:28

23:28

Bacteria have been around for billions of years. Could they have come up with complex behaviors that we just don’t understand yet? Could they have their own language? Their own culture? Their own complex societies playing out right under, and in, our noses? Microbiologist Bonnie Bassler has been studying these questions for more than 30 years. She …

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Oct. 24, 2025: A man who considers all things; AI and air quality; The musical family behind BRŪHA 49:12

3d ago49:12

49:12

All Things Considered Host Ari Shapiro, who has just left NPR after 25 years, came to Denver to receive a prestigious award. We spoke at this year's Damon Runyon dinner. Then, the disproportionate toll domestic violence takes on children. Plus, how your Google search affects the air you breathe. And Denver band BRŪHA is a family affair.…

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9 MUST-ADD Players After Week 1 of Fantasy Basketball 42:40

3d ago42:40

42:40

Ken, Shannon and Alex discuss the news and answer listener questions before diving into their favorite waiver wire adds, plus DFS/Pick'Em plays for Friday's games. Waiver adds include Aaron Gordon, Davion Mitchell and Ryan Kalkbrenner. Timestamps 00:05 Start 00:45 Thunder/Pacers 04:40 Warriors/Nuggets 07:40 Injury Updates 10:00 Listener Q&A 10:10 W…

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A Lab-Grown Salmon Taste Test And More Foodie Innovations 30:19

3d ago30:19

30:19

After years of development, lab-grown fish is taste-test ready for the public. Four restaurants in the US are serving up cultivated salmon made by the company Wildtype. Producer Kathleen Davis gives Host Flora Lichtman a rundown on how Wildtype tastes, initial public perception, and the upstream battle to take cultivated meat mainstream. Plus, SciF…

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Oct. 23, 2025: What's next in the government shutdown? 'Make A Circle' looks at early childhood development 49:04

4d ago49:04

49:04

The government shutdown will hit federal workers hard tomorrow as they miss their first paychecks. What will it take to find a solution? We'll check-in with our Washington, D.C. reporter, Caitlyn Kim. Then, the cost of child care can often rival college tuition. At the same time, child care workers have traditionally been underpaid and undervalued.…

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Players PLUMMETING Down Fantasy Basketball Rankings 44:53

4d ago44:53

44:53

Kirien Sprecher and Ryan Ward discuss players plummeting down the 2025-26 fantasy basketball rankings, including Joel Embiid, Jarrett Allen and Dyson Daniels. 00:00 Intro 01:25 PHI/BOS 07:25 Prosper Trading 08:05 DAL/SAS 15:00 POR/MIN 17:30 NY/CLE 23:00 ATL/TOR 25:25 LAC/UTA 30:30 Dabble 32:35 Viewer Questions New users get $25 FREE when signing up…

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What Did It Feel Like To Be An Early Human? 18:47

4d ago18:47

18:47

Do science documentaries need a refresh? What if the goal wasn’t just teaching you something, but making you feel something? A new series from the BBC, airing on PBS, called “Human” tries to do just that. It tells the tale of our ancient family tree, embracing the complex and dramatic sides of the story. It asks: Who were the different species of h…

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October 22, 2025: Historic context for this moment in politics; Finding unity across the divide 49:09

5d ago49:09

49:09

We continue "If You Can Keep It," our series to get historic context about this moment in presidential politics; political scientist Seth Masket from the University of Denver joins us. Then, a Denver man hopes to create a brand for unity in America to show people are less divided than it seems. Later, will Halloween be a trick or a treat this year?…

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NBA Experts Predict 2025-26 MVP, ROTY, Draft Busts and Draft Bargains 41:08

5d ago41:08

41:08

Kirien Sprecher and Mike Barner predict who'll be the MVP, ROY and MIP for fantasy basketball in 2025-26, including the usual candidates like Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. 00:00 Intro 00:50 OKC/HOU 05:50 LAL/GSW 08:30 Dabble Ad 09:00 MVP Predictions 13:15 ROY Predictions 16:00 Draft Bargains 22:15 Draft Busts 28:15 Prosper …

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TikTok Is Shaping How We Think About ADHD 18:27

5d ago18:27

18:27

TikTok and other social media sites are full of mental health content—often short, grabby, first-person videos detailing symptoms for conditions like ADHD and autism. But what does this mean for teens and young adults who spend hours a day scrolling? A new study published in PLOS One analyzes the 100 most viewed TikTok videos about ADHD to assess b…

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#134 From Smart to Human: Speak So People Actually Listen with Message Design Consultant, Brian Miller 48:00

5d ago48:00

48:00

Being smart isn't the problem. You can be brilliant and still invisible. What may be super clear to you doesn’t always resonate to others. And as a result, people don’t remember or care about what you have to say. Genea talks with Brian Miller, a message design expert who teaches people how to explain big ideas in ways that actually stick. Brian wo…

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October 21, 2025: Pettersen on federal cuts to mental, behavior health care; Honoring Demaryius Thomas 49:05

6d ago49:05

49:05

U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat who represents the state's 7th Congressional District, is concerned that federal layoffs, furloughs, and funding cuts to grants, will have a devastating effect on mental and behavioral health services, including helping people trying to break addiction. Then, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we re-share a …

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Footage Shows How Narwhals Use Tusks To Hunt And Play 12:55

6d ago12:55

12:55

We’re taking a polar plunge into the science of sea unicorns, also known as narwhals! Narwhals are mysterious arctic whales with long, twirly tusks protruding from their foreheads, like a creature out of a fairy tale. And it turns out that we don’t know too much about them, partly because they live so far north in the remote Arctic. An internationa…

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Opening Week Preview + Final Fantasy Basketball Advice 53:49

7d ago53:49

53:49

Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha preview Opening Week in the NBA, headlined by Rockets-Thunder and Warriors-Lakers on Tuesday night. The guys take live viewer questions throughout the show and talk Scottie Barnes, Cam Johnson, Payton Pritchard, Taylor Hendricks and more before discussing which games they're most looking forward to watching this week. 0…

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Oct. 20, 2025: Two statewide ballot measures on the menu; Authors at odds with AI settlement 49:16

7d ago49:16

49:16

There are two statewide ballot issues in the November election. Voters will decide the future of Colorado's "Healthy School Meals for All" program; Purplish explains both related measures. Then, Colorado authors respond to a massive settlement with an A.I. company that's been using their work. Plus, the "Wired, Wired West" explores the power needed…

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Have Astrophysicists Spotted Evidence For ‘Dark Stars’? 13:04

7d ago13:04

13:04

Astrophysicists may have spotted evidence for “dark stars,” an unusual type of star that could possibly have existed in the earliest days of the universe, in data from the James Webb Space Telescope. Instead of being powered by nuclear fusion as current stars are, the controversial theory says that these ancient dark stars would have formed by mixi…

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Oct. 17, 2025: Where Hickenlooper won't budge; Remembering Susan Stamberg 49:24

10d ago49:24

49:24

Democratic U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper is a holdout on re-opening government until there's a plan to keep health insurance premiums down. We ask about paths for compromise and his frustration with cuts to green energy. Then, we remember NPR founding mother Susan Stamberg. Plus, Pueblo-born musician and composer Mary D. Watkins on honoring the Bl…

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6 BOLD Fantasy Basketball Predictions (2025-26) 39:44

10d ago39:44

39:44

Ken, Shannon and Alex reveal 6 bold predictions for 2025-26 fantasy basketball. Can Alex Sarr become a top-50 player? Is Josh Giddey a first-round pick? 👑Get YOUR Draftkings Bonus HERE https://bit.ly/42ydqJL Download Chalkboard today and use promo code ROTONBA to get $20 free with no deposit required! https://streaks.chalkboard.io/cUPZ/j9... 🏀 Try …

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AI Was Supposed To Discover New Drugs. Where Are They? 17:59

10d ago17:59

17:59

AI is everywhere these days, and though there’s debate about how useful it is, one area where experts think it could be game-changing is scientific research. It promised to be particularly useful for speeding up drug discovery, an expensive and time-consuming process that can take decades. But so far, it hasn’t panned out. The few AI-designed drugs…

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Oct. 16, 2025: What will Dominion sale mean for elections? Plus, Colorado's Voting Rights Act 49:09

11d ago49:09

49:09

Now that Colorado-based Dominion Voting Systems is being sold, there are questions about what that will mean to upcoming elections. We talk with county clerks who rely on the system that's been at the center of election lies and debunked conspiracies. Then, as the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to rollback another provision of the Voting Rights …

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8 Players Skyrocketing Up Fantasy Basketball Rankings 48:09

11d ago48:09

48:09

Kirien and Alex discuss the players who are rising up fantasy basketball rankings after strong preseason showings, including Reed Sheppard and Isaiah Jackson. 00:00 Intro 00:40 Preseason News 07:00 Isaiah Jackson 10:35 Ace Bailey 12:45 DraftKings 13:45 Reed Sheppard 17:30 Matas Buzelis 19:00 Chalkboard 20:30 Brice Sensabaugh 23:30 Austin Reaves 25:…

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How Math Helps Us Map The World 18:11

11d ago18:11

18:11

It’s easy to take maps for granted. After all, most of us have a pretty good map in our pockets at all times, ready to show us how to get anywhere on the globe. But to make a map useful, you have to decide what to keep in and what to leave out—and, most importantly, which mathematical equations to use. Beyond navigating from point A to point B, mat…

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Oct. 15, 2025: A Colorado author's trek to find 'The Wild Dark' of the night sky 49:06

12d ago49:06

49:06

Eighty percent of the world's population can't see the Milky Way. Light pollution interferes. Author and adventurer Craig Childs, of Norwood, Colorado, writes about a trek from light to dark in his new book. "The Wild Dark" takes readers from the incandescence of Las Vegas to the spangled skies of rural Nevada. Childs spoke with Sr. Host Ryan Warne…

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The 10 Biggest Draft BUSTS to Avoid in 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball 36:35

12d ago36:35

36:35

Kirien and Mike discuss who to avoid in fantasy basketball drafts, including LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Ja Morant. 00:00 Intro 00:55 DeMar DeRozan 04:45 LeBron James 07:30 Jimmy Butler 09:05 Ja Morant 10:50 DraftKings AD 12:05 Brandon Ingram 15:25 Josh Hart 17:40 Lauri Markkanen 20:10 Jordan Poole 22:30 Chalkboard AD 23:45 Viewer Questions 32:20…

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The Science Of Replacing Body Parts, From Hair To Hearts 18:38

12d ago18:38

18:38

It seems like every week, there’s a new headline about some kind of sci-fi-esque organ transplant. Think eyeballs, 3D-printed kidneys, pig hearts. In her new book, Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy, science writer Mary Roach chronicles the effort to fabricate human body parts—and where that effort sometimes breaks down. Host Flora Lichtm…

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#133 Your Decision-Making Mechanism Is Why Your Life (And Business) Still Feels Like a Six 30:55

12d ago30:55

30:55

On the surface, life and business look good. You're checking all the boxes. But something still feels off. In this episode, Genea reveals why most entrepreneurs feel like they're living a "level 6 (ir lower) life" even when they've achieved success on paper. The issue isn't your strategy, your work ethic, or your talent. It's your decision-making m…

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Oct. 14, 2025: Motorcycle crashes are up; state troopers say distracted driving is just one reason 49:05

13d ago49:05

49:05

More and more motorcycle riders are dying on Colorado roads. Last year, 165 motorcyclists died, the highest number ever recorded in our state. Sgt. Ivan Alvarado with the Colorado State Patrol explains some of the reasons behind the trend. Then, we speak with Laurie Montoya, the founder of the Lakewood-based non-profit, BikerDown Foundation, which …

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It’s Not Just You—Bad Food Habits Are Hard To Shake 18:36

13d ago18:36

18:36

Remember “The Biggest Loser”—the show where people tried to lose as much weight as quickly as possible for a big cash prize? The premise of the show was that weight loss was about willpower: With enough discipline, anyone can have the body they want. The show’s approach was problematic, but how does its attitude toward weight loss match our current…

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Preseason Standouts + Our Favorite Buy-Low Players 47:57

14d ago47:57

47:57

Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha highlight some preseason standouts before focusing in on their favorite buy-low players to target in fantasy basketball drafts. ----- DraftKings Claim your DraftKings bonus here! ----- Chalkboard Download Chalkboard today and use promo code ROTONBA to get $20 free with no deposit required! ----- 00:00 Intro 01:15 Keegan…

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Oct. 13, 2025: On Indigenous People's Day, how to get beyond acknowledgments and into action 49:19

14d ago49:19

49:19

Respect is the first law of the world's Indigenous peoples, says a man on a quest to right a historic wrong. On this Indigenous People's Day, Rick Williams has hope. We learn about his life mission in Colorado In Depth. Then, the two statewide ballot measures that voters will decide in November's election. And the Denver band, Bison Bone.…

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The Wind Through the Keyhole 2:20:01

14d ago2:20:01

2:20:01

We talk about the 2012 novel The Wind Through the Keyhole. Content warnings for: domestic abuse, sexual assault Follow Ranged Touch on Twitter! Support this show on Patreon! Buy some Just King Things merchandise! Buy books from our Bookshop.org page! Come hang out in our Discord channel. Geneva “Gensuta” Heyward did the theme for this show. Thomas …

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100 Years Later, Quantum Science Is Still Weird 18:39

14d ago18:39

18:39

In July 1925, physicist Werner Heisenberg wrote a letter to Wolfgang Pauli sharing his new ideas about what would eventually become known as quantum theory. A hundred years later, that theory has been expanded into a field of science that explains aspects of chemical behavior, has become the basis of a new type of computing, and more. But it’s stil…

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An Off-The-Grid Nobel Win, And Antibiotics In Ancient Microbes 18:31

16d ago18:31

18:31

This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to three people whose combined discoveries outlined the role of the peripheral immune system—how the immune system knows to attack just foreign invaders and not its own tissues and organs. But when the phone rang for Shimone Sakaguchi, Mary E. Brunkow, and Fred Ramsdell, only two of them picked…

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Oct. 10, 2025: This café is run by a food bank; We spend the night at a movie motel 48:47

17d ago48:47

48:47

A mission-driven restaurant in Grand Junction takes an innovative approach to hunger and nutrition. Then, the plight of federal workers amid layoffs, furloughs and the shutdown. Later, we check in to the Movie Manor in Monte Vista. Also, the filmmakers behind short horror movie "The Ant" who are crawling their way to the top. And, a choreography of…

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World Space Week And Promising Climate Tech Companies 25:26

17d ago25:26

25:26

It’s World Space Week, and we’re fueling up the rocket for a tour of some missions and projects that could provide insights into major space mysteries. Astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi joins Host Flora Lichtman to celebrate the wonders of space science, from the recently launched IMAP, which will study the solar environment, to the new Vera Rubin Obse…

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Draft Busts to Avoid in 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball 34:59

18d ago34:59

34:59

Ken (@KenCrites) and Alex (@BaruthaAlex) discuss Wednesday's preseason games and then reveal fantasy basketball busts for the 2025-26 NBA season. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Preseason action from Wednesday 01:10 Spurs/Heat 04:20 Celtics/Grizzlies 07:10 Jazz/Rockets 10:00 Blazers/Warriors 13:05 Raptors/Kings 18:10 Busts 18:20 Anthony Davis, DAL 20…

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October 9, 2025: Domino effect of wildfire impact on dragonflies; Small town football team takes on 'The Hill' 48:30

18d ago48:30

48:30

When it comes to the changing climate and increasing wildfires, you may not think of dragonflies, but it turns out they're a good test case to show the impact on an entire ecosystem. Then, Aging Matters looks into classes to help older Coloradans avoid scams. Plus, how a small town football team in Colorado started winning for the first time in gen…