The First Known Earthly Voice

Key takeaways

The emergence of voice, whether in the universe or animal kingdom, signifies a fundamental aspect of existence, promoting connection.
Personal journeys and transitions reflect profound changes in identity and form of expression, particularly through music.
The loss of a song can lead to adaptation and evolution, showcasing resilience in nature and its parallels in human experiences.
Music serves as a powerful medium for expressing emotions, connecting with others, and navigating life's complexities.

Summary

The Emergence of Voice

In this segment, Lulu Miller introduces the theme of voices and their significance in the universe, starting from the origins of the universe itself to the first known animal voice – the rasp of a cricket. Sabrina Imbler’s essay 'Key Changes' serves as the core narrative, exploring the evolutionary underpinnings of song in the animal kingdom and its comparisons with human expression through karaoke. The theme emphasizes the inherent joy and nature of sound and communication across species.

The Personal Journey of Karaoke and Voice Transition

The podcast dives into Sabrina's personal reflections on their experience with karaoke and the evolution of their singing voice, particularly after starting testosterone. The narrative touches on the emotional ties they have with songs like 'Lips of an Angel,' and how transitioning has impacted their identity and self-expression. Sabrina's journey serves as a metaphor for broader themes of change, loss, and rediscovery of one's voice.

Loss and Adaptation in the Animal World

As the essay unfolds, it transitions to a unique biological phenomena where Pacific field crickets on Kauai have lost their original songs due to a parasitic fly. This section explores what happens to a species when it loses its means of communication, drawing parallels between the crickets' fate and human experiences with loss and adaptation in voice. Despite the loss, new songs emerge, which highlights resilience and the ability to evolve even in adverse situations.

The Power of Expression and Connection Through Music

The episode culminates with reflections on the power of music, not only as a form of expression but also as a means of connection and survival. Sabrina's exploration of their karaoke experiences illustrates the longing for belonging and acceptance. The concluding surprise segment featuring Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls reinforces the emotional weight of song in navigating loneliness, joy, and the complex nature of existence.

Show notes

What happens when a voice emerges? What happens when one is lost? Is something gained? A couple months ago, Lulu guest edited an issue of the nature magazine Orion. She called the issue “Queer Planet: A Celebration of Biodiversity,” and it was a wide-ranging celebration of queerness in nature. It featured work by amazing writers like Ocean Vuong, Kristen Arnett, Carmen Maria Machado and adrienne maree brown, among many others. But one piece in particular struck Lulu as something that was really meant to be made into audio, an essay called “Key Changes,” by the writer Sabrina Imbler. If their name sounds familiar, it might be because they’ve been on the show before. In this episode, we bring you Sabrina’s essay – which takes us from the beginning of time, to a field of crickets, to a karaoke bar – read by the phenomenal actor Becca Blackwell, and scored by our director of sound design Dylan Keefe. Stay to the end for a special surprise … from Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls!

Special thanks to Jay Gallagher from UC Davis.

EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by - Sabrina Imbler
Produced by - Annie McEwen and Pat Walters
with help from - Maria Paz Gutiérrez
Original music from - Dylan Keefe
Fact-checking by - Kim Schmidt
and Edited by - Tajja Isen and Pat Walters

EPISODE CITATIONS:

Articles -
Check out Queer Planet: A Celebration of Biodiversity, Orion Magazine (Spring 2025)
Read Sabrina Imbler’s original essay, “Key Changes,” Orion Magazine (Spring 2025)
Read Lulu Miller’s mini-essay, “Astonishing Immobility,” Orion Magazine (Spring 2025)
Check out Sabrina Imbler’s Defector column Creaturefector all about animals

Audio -
Listen to Amy Ray’s song “Chuck Will’s Widow” from her solo album If It All Goes South

Books -
How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures, by Sabrina Imbler

Signup for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!

Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.

Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.

Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.