The Academy Center of the Arts is proud to welcome Jad Abumrad, creator and host of RadioLab, to our stage. His one man show, “Gut Churn,” is kicking off a new speaker series where professionals can share their stories, inspirations, and experience.
About Jad Abumrad
Before beginning a career in radio, Abumrad composed film scores. This experience later influenced the sound of RadioLab, which he launched in 2005. Today, RadioLab is broadcast on 524 stations across the nation and downloaded more than 9 million times a month as a podcast. Most days, Radiolab is the 2nd most popular podcast, just behind This American Life. In addition to RadioLab’s success, Abumrad was awarded a MacArthur Genius Award in 2011. We are excited to welcome one of the pioneers of the podcast boom to the our stage to speak on his ups and downs in the business world. Local NPR listeners, podcast fans, aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners will enjoy Abumrad’s presentation.
RadioLab
Each week on Radiolab, Abumrad and others weave stories and science music-rich documentaries. Topics vary from week to week, with past episodes covering stories such as:
- Debunking America’s poverty myths
- A girl who has lived in the U.S. her entire life but can not prove she exists
- The rules of judging a figure skating competition
- Staph infections
- The Periodic table and why it is arranged the way it is
No matter the topic, RadioLab attempts to approach broad, difficult topics such as “time” and “morality” in an accessible and light-hearted manner and with a distinctive audio production style. To read more about their programming, click here.
“Gut Churn”
What is gut churn? Abumrad describes the phrase as the radical uncertainty that is a core part of any creative process, and really pushes the envelope. Gut Churn happens when you enter unknown territory and have to navigate without a map. During the “Gut Churn” talk, Abumrad pulls from experiences in his life and the creation of RadioLab to illustrate the benefits of negative feedback. He also points out how we can look out for “pointing arrows” that can help guide our work, even when it hurts. The show is a live version of what RadioLab does week after week, which is an in-depth investigation of science and humanity.
Ticket Options
The Academy has a ticket option for everyone. Those with a student ID can purchase a discounted ticket for $18. Senior tickets are $28, and regular admission is $35. Thanks to Opportunity Lynchburg, we are able to provide a VIP Meet and Greet experience before the show, beginning at 6 P.M. VIP Tickets are $100.
Show Times and Information
The show is April 8 at 7:30 P.M., and will take place in the Academy’s Warehouse theater. This can be accessed in from the entrance found between 5th and 6th and Commerce Street. Patrons are encouraged to park in the Pacific Life lot, which is located next door to the theater. There will be directional signage pointing the way on show days, but look for the large yellow mural depicting a woman and a keyboard. Parking in this lot is free.
