New Podcast Explores Gene-Editing Breakthrough And Its Ethical Stakes.

The gene-editing tool known as CRISPR is still in its early development, but the team at the science and technology podcast company Kaleidoscope say it has the power to rewrite human destiny. However, most people are unaware of it, and that is where its mission to utilize audio to educate about the intersection of technology, science, and culture comes into play. The New York-based podcasting company is launching a new limited-run series that guides listeners through the story of Jennifer Doudna, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who co-created the CRISPR technology.

“‘On CRISPR' is a story of discovery, competition, and consequences that touches every one of us,” host Walter Isaacson says. “Through this podcast, listeners will get a front-row seat to the drama of science in action, and to the ethical questions that will shape our lives for generations to come.”

Isaacson is joined by fellow journalist Evan Ratliff in hosting the give-episode series that explores the promise, peril, and ethical dilemmas with the technology, from the first whispers of genetically edited babies in China to lifesaving treatments for rare diseases.

“Jennifer Doudna’s story is a tale of how great scientific discoveries really happen,” said Ratliff. “Hearing it through the prism of Walter’s reporting gives you a deep sense of the personal curiosity, scientific collaboration, ruthless competition, and ethical dilemmas that created and still surround one of the most significant advancements of our time.”

Kaleidoscope was founded by Oz Woloshyn, host of TechStuff, and Mangesh Hattikudur, co-founder of the online magazine Mental Floss and former Senior VP of Podcast Development at iHeartMedia. Its mission is to tell stories that unpack the new scientific renaissance across both traditional scientific fields, as well as technology. The story told in the “On CRISPR” series intersects both.

“It’s stunning the way that CRISPR has changed the medical landscape, and to be able to shine a light on Jennifer Doudna’s story and breakthrough is a privilege,” said Hattikudur. “Evan and Walter capture the human drama, Jennifer’s story, and the ethical stakes in a way that feels urgent, gripping, and relevant.”

The podcast will zero in on Doudna, the Nobel Prize-winning biochemist, including her own personal trajectory, and that of her collaborators and competitors. The producers say it is a story filled with global stakes and fiery competition, but also one that touches upon the ethical considerations that gene-editing brings.

“What excites me about ‘On CRISPR’ is that it’s not just a science podcast, it’s a story about people, power, and the future of humanity,” said Woloshy. “Jennifer Doudna’s journey and Walter Isaacson’s insight make this series both intimate and epic, and we’re thrilled to bring it to audiences with iHeartPodcasts.”

“On CRISPR” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is available on all major podcast platforms. New episodes will be released every Tuesday.

The addition to Kaleidoscope’s expanding slate of shows follows the company’s recent Series A fundraising, co-led by Burda Principal Investments and North Base Media, which is fueling the growth of its podcast platform.

The show is the latest addition to Kaleidoscope and iHeartPodcasts’ growing slate, joining their flagship show "TechStuff” with hosts Oz Woloshyn and Karah Preiss; "America’s Crime Lab"; "Levittown"; "Part-Time Genius"; "Kill Switch"; "No Such Thing"; and "On Musk With Walter Isaacson," among others.