Radiolab – "Helicopter Boy"

Date: November 3, 2009
Hosts: Jad Abumrad & Robert Krulwich
Guests: Jennifer Babbage & her son, Blake

Episode Overview

This episode explores the story of Blake, a curious and inventive seven-and-a-half-year-old who, after attempting flight with his homemade helicopter contraption, finds himself injured and comforted by an episode of Radiolab. The narrative unfolds through interviews with Blake and his mother, Jennifer Babbage, revealing the powerful ways stories can comfort, educate, and mesmerize—even amid crisis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Making of a Young Inventor (03:04–06:41)

• Blake's Passion for Flight:
  Jennifer introduces her son Blake, “When he grows up, he's going to be an inventor. And what he likes to build most of all is airplanes. Airplanes and helicopters.” (03:04)
• Early Experiments:
  Blake starts by arranging Tupperware in the shape of airplanes, later advancing to cutting propeller blades from cardboard and duct taping them together.
• Prototype Testing:
  The propeller manages to hover momentarily when tossed from the balcony, but attempts to power it with toy motors fail due to lack of strength. Blake improvises by making a duct tape harness, intending to use his own strength to spin the blades (04:52).

2. The Great Leap—and Its Consequences (06:41–08:03)

• Escalation:
  Blake dons his harness and ventures outside. “...he walks through the... doors to go into the backyard... For whatever reason, this did not arouse our suspicion.” – Jennifer (06:41)
• The Accident:
  After a crash from a tree, Jennifer and her husband rush out to find Blake tangled and bleeding, his leg bearing a “foot long gash.” Jennifer and Blake’s father free him from the duct tape harness and bring him inside (07:24–08:03).

3. Radiolab as First Aid (08:09–11:09)

• Distraction & Comfort via Radio:
  Struggling to get a look at Blake's wound due to his squirming, Jennifer puts on Radiolab to distract him. “I put on Radiolab and he can listen to the bit about parasites. ...He was instantly fascinated.” – Jennifer (08:29, 08:44)

• Enhanced Attention:
  The show calms Blake so Jennifer can clean his wound, and he listens to an entire 45-minute episode without fidgeting.

• Amazing Recall:
  When Jennifer pauses the show to ask if he understood, Blake repeats the segment (about parasitic wasps) nearly verbatim (09:28–10:49).

  “The parasitic wasp is flying around, then it finds the cockroach.... And it lays eggs inside the cockroach. And then the eggs hatch.” – Blake (09:44–10:40)

• Quote:
  “But I don't understand when people are talking to me.” – Blake (11:01)

4. Audio Storytelling vs. Everyday Lectures (11:09–12:25)

• Jennifer’s Reflection:
  She jokes about wishing she could deliver parental lessons with the same captivating power as Radiolab.
• Host’s Response:
  “Maybe we should put Blake on, huh?” – Robert (09:32) Jad suggests producing a “radiolabified” sticky lesson about thinking things through to the end for Blake.

5. Crafting a “Sticky” Lesson about Caution (12:25–15:13)

• Parental Wisdom Remixed:
  Using music and sound, the hosts repeat Jennifer’s mantra: “You have to think things all the way through to the end.” (12:37)

• Inventorship & Risk:
  Jennifer encourages experimentation, referencing Thomas Edison and stressing both learning from failure and imagining best/worst-case scenarios (13:34–14:28).

• Practical Application:
  Jad narrates imaginative outcomes—Blake soaring or crashing—highlighting the importance of considering consequences (14:23–15:00).

  “In both cases, what you do is you make up a little movie in your head and you play it all the way through...” – Jad (14:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------------|-------| | 03:04 | Jennifer Babbage | “When he grows up, he's gonna be an inventor. And what he likes to build most of all is airplanes. Airplanes and helicopters.” | | 08:44 | Jennifer Babbage | “He was instantly fascinated. He listened to the whole entire podcast... and I was able—I got his wound cleaned off. To get a child like that to stop moving... you had his attention from the first moment.” | | 09:44 | Blake | “The parasitic wasp is flying around, then it finds the cockroach…” | | 11:01 | Jennifer/Blake | Jennifer: “You do understand what you hear?” Blake: “Yes, but I don't understand when people are talking to me.” | | 12:18 | Jennifer Babbage | “You have to think things all the way through to the end.” | | 14:47 | Jad Abumrad | “In both cases, what you do is you make up a little movie in your head and you play it all the way through, and hopefully the good one will happen… but just in case, you'll now be prepared...” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Blake describes his inventions – 03:04–04:52
• Accident, injury & rescue – 06:41–08:03
• Radiolab as comfort & distraction – 08:09–09:44
• Blake recites parasitic wasp story – 09:44–10:49
• Discussion about learning & 'sticky' lectures – 11:01–12:25
• Radiolab remixes parental advice – 12:25–15:13

Episode Tone and Takeaway

Energetic, playful, and deeply empathetic, the episode beautifully showcases the blend of curiosity, risk, and learning inherent in childhood. Through Blake’s story, Radiolab emphasizes the power of audio storytelling to both captivate and comfort, illustrating how a well-told tale can soothe pain, foster learning, and perhaps even enhance parenting.

Summary by: [Radiolab Podcast Summarizer]