For over a century, National Geographic has been bringing the wonders of our world into our lives through stunning photography and groundbreaking storytelling, and “Overheard at National Geographic” continues that legacy in audio form. This podcast pulls back the curtain on the incredible adventures, scientific discoveries, and breathtaking moments that National Geographic’s explorers, photographers, scientists, and journalists experience in the field. Each episode feels like eavesdropping on fascinating conversations at National Geographic headquarters, where you’ll hear firsthand accounts of tracking elusive wildlife, uncovering ancient civilizations, documenting climate change on the front lines, and capturing those once-in-a-lifetime shots that define the magazine.
With a rich archive of episodes covering every corner of our planet and beyond, I’ve curated the very best episodes that will inspire your sense of adventure and deepen your appreciation for the natural world.
What Women in China Want
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More than 8 billion people live on Earth, says the United Nations. For years, China led as the world’s most populated country, but its population is now shrinking. It may soon lose that top spot. Photographer Justin Jin documented this turning point, capturing young Chinese women who’ve decided against motherhood. Instead, they’re spending money on dog care, karaoke, and entertainment. As Women’s History Month approaches, we examine why these women are choosing their own paths despite government pressure to marry and have kids.
Modern Lives, Ancient Caves
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A hidden continent lies beneath us, yet remains largely unexplored. We’ll examine humanity’s complex connection to underground spaces, understood instinctively but not physically, partly due to our fear of darkness. Photographer Tamara Merino ventures into caves across Utah, Australia, and Spain, where today’s cave dwellers show us how to beat the heat.
The Glass Stratosphere
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What if women had joined the first moon missions? In the 1960s, a NASA physician believed it was possible. After creating tests for male astronauts, he administered them to women who thought their results would earn them a spot in space. Two participants share what actually happened.
What the Ice Gets, the Ice Keeps
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In 1915, Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance sank near Antarctica, leaving his crew stranded on ice. Shackleton rescued all 28 men, but the wreck’s location remained unknown for over a century, until now. Photographer Esther Horvath witnessed the discovery of the ship 10,000 feet below the polar ice.
How Anne Frank’s Diary Survived
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Many know Anne Frank and her diary from World War II, when her family hid during Amsterdam’s German occupation. Few know Miep and Jan Gies, who sheltered the Franks and saved Anne’s diary after her capture. Alison Leslie Gold, who co-wrote Miep’s memoir, explores their legacy. The creators and star of National Geographic’s A Small Light discuss how ordinary people can become heroes.
The Triumph and Tragedy of Indian Independence
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When India and Pakistan split from Britain, a new border triggered mass violence and one of history’s largest forced migrations, killing over 1 million people. As both nations near 75 years of independence, survivors are aging, this may be our final chance to hear their stories. National Geographic Explorer Sparsh Ahuja documents these partition survivors and uses virtual reality to reconnect them with their ancestral homes.
The Search for History’s Lost Slave Ships
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Historic shipwrecks carrying enslaved Africans to the Americas rest on ocean floors worldwide. Only a few have been found, but National Geographic explorer Tara Roberts documents Black scuba divers and archaeologists searching for more to uncover their stories.
A Skeptic’s Guide to Loving Bats
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Bats are often seen as scary villains, but that’s mostly fiction. National Geographic Explorer Rodrigo Medellín, known as the Bat Man of Mexico, has spent decades showing how essential bats are, from our clothing to tequila production. As COVID-19 fuels new bat myths, he reminds us that bats are the hero we need, even if not the one we want.
A Reckoning in Tulsa
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A century ago, Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood thrived as a vibrant Black community. In spring 1921, a white mob rioted, killing up to 300 Black residents and destroying homes and businesses. Archaeologists are now working to uncover this largely unknown incident of racial violence in American history while searching for the victims’ unmarked graves.
The Aquarius Project
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A meteorite plunged into one of Earth’s largest lakes, and scientists couldn’t locate it. They turned to an unlikely team for help: an actor and a group of teenagers.
Queens of the High Seas
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Pirates like Blackbeard and Captain Jack Sparrow create the illusion that piracy was male-dominated. However, historians and the National Geographic book Pirate Queens: Dauntless Women Who Dared to Rule the High Seas reveal a different story. Zheng Yi Sao, a woman from southern China, commanded roughly 70,000 pirates at her height during the early 19th century.
Trapped in the icy waters of the Northwest Passage
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For centuries, explorers sought the Northwest Passage, a sea route linking the Atlantic and Pacific through northern Canada. National Geographic Explorer Mark Synnott sailed his boat through it, retracing Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition. All 129 of Franklin’s men perished, but their exact fate remains unknown.