Kaleidoscope and Iheartpodcasts Launch on Crispr: The Story of Jennifer Doudna With Walter Isaacson, a New Podcast Exploring the Gene Editing Revolution

Kaleidoscope and Iheartpodcasts Launch on Crispr: The Story of Jennifer Doudna With Walter Isaacson, a New Podcast Exploring the Gene Editing Revolution

Hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff, the five-part series features bestselling author Walter Isaacson and tells the story of Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and the birth of CRISPR

New episodes air every Tuesday

Listen Now HERE; Download show cover art HERE

NEW YORK - September 18, 2025 - Kaleidoscope, the New York-based podcasting company redefining science and technology storytelling, and iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher according to Podtrac, today announced that ON CRISPR: The Story of Jennifer Doudna with Walter Isaacson has joined its slate of educational audio at the intersection of technology, science, and culture. Hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff with insights from acclaimed biographer and journalist Walter Isaacson, this five-part series guides listeners through the story of Jennifer Doudna, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who co-created the revolutionary gene-editing tool known as CRISPR. The podcast follows previous series from Walter Isaacson, including On Musk and On Benjamin Franklin. New episodes are released every Tuesday.

From the first whispers of genetically edited babies in China to lifesaving treatments for rare diseases, ON CRISPR explores the promise, peril, and ethical dilemmas of a technology powerful enough to rewrite human destiny. The series traces the intense global competition, personal stakes, and moral questions that define this new frontier in biology, what Isaacson calls the "third great revolution" of modern times.

"ON CRISPR is a story of discovery, competition, and consequences that touches every one of us," said Walter Isaacson. "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."

"Jennifer Doudna's story is a tale of how great scientific discoveries really happen," said Evan Ratliff, Host of ON CRISPR. "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."

The addition of ON CRISPR to Kaleidoscope's expanding slate of shows follows the company's recent Series A raise, co-led by Burda Principal Investments and North Base Media, which is fueling the growth of its genre-defining podcast platform. ON CRISPR is the latest addition to Kaleidoscope and iHeartPodcasts' growing slate of acclaimed shows, joining their flagship show TechStuff with hosts Oz Woloshyn and Karah Preiss; America's Crime Lab, a gripping new podcast with Othram uncovering the truth behind unsolved crimes across America; Levittown, a deepfake AI true crime series in collaboration with Bloomberg; Part-Time Genius hosted by Mangesh Hattikudur and Will Pearson; Kill Switch hosted by Emmy-winning journalist Dexter Thomas; No Such Thing hosted by journalists and longtime friends Manny Fidel, Noah Friedman, and Devan Joseph; and On Musk With Walter Isaacson among others. With ON CRISPR, Kaleidoscope continues advancing its mission to tell groundbreaking stories of science and discovery that shape humanity's future.

"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 Mangesh Hattikudur, Co-founder of Kaleidoscope. "Evan and Walter capture the human drama, Jennifer's story, and the ethical stakes in a way that feels urgent, gripping, and relevant. We're proud to share this content with listeners everywhere."

"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 Oz Woloshyn, Co-founder of Kaleidoscope. "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 now on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcast platforms. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

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ABOUT ON CRISPR: The Story of Jennifer Doudna with Walter Isaacson

A single scientific breakthrough changed the future of humanity, setting off the third great revolution of modern times. As with any revolution, things didn't happen neatly or quietly. One figure stood at the center of it all: Jennifer Doudna, the Nobel Prize-winning biochemist who co-created CRISPR. Her invention signified the arrival of a newfound ability to edit our genes, as simply as we edit a sentence, with a word processor. From Walter Isaacson - the bestselling biographer behind Musk, Einstein, and Steve Jobs - and journalist Evan Ratliff (Mastermind, co-host of the beloved Longform podcast) comes a behind-the-scenes look at the story of Jennifer Doudna. Her personal trajectory, and that of her collaborators and competitors, tells the story of how we arrived at this new frontier of gene editing. It's a story filled with global stakes and fiery competition. And a story that touches upon the ethical considerations that gene editing brings.

About Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is the leading science and technology podcast network, telling thrilling stories of consequence that unpack the new scientific renaissance. Founded by Oz Woloshyn and Mangesh Hattikudur in 2022, Kaleidoscope's network reaches millions of listeners and is home to hit shows including On Musk: with Walter Isaacson and The Last Soviet: with Lance Bass. Visit www.k-scope.com for more information.

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with nine out of ten Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart's broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the size of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, with five times more followers than the next audio media brand, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.