Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the Radiolab podcast: The quest for the hightest-stakes hold music of all time.
Two years ago, the United States did something amazing. In response to the mental health crisis the federal government launched 988 — a nationwide, easy to remember phone number that anyone can call anytime and talk to a counselor. It was 911 but for mental health and they hoped that it would save lives. However, if you call 988 today the first thing you hear isn’t a sympathetic counselor. What you hear is hold music.
Today, the story of the highest stakes hold music in the universe, the three men who created suicide prevention and the two women trying to fix it.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank discussions having to do with the topic of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, there’s help available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24 hours a day by calling or texting 988. There’s also a live chat option on their website: 988lifeline.org
Special thanks to Dr. Matt Wray, Sherbert Willows, Dani Bennett and Monica Johnson, Shari Sinwelski and the folks at Didi Hirsch, David Green, Jay Kennedy S. Carey and JagJaguwar Records, and George Colt for sharing his cassette taped interviews of Ed Schneidman with us.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by Simon Adler.
Produced by Simon Adler.
Fact-checking by Natalie Middleton.
Edited by Pat Walters.
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Photo illustration by Jared Bartman
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
From the Radiolab podcast: The quest for the hightest-stakes hold music of all time.
Two years ago, the United States did something amazing. In response to the mental health crisis the federal government launched 988 — a nationwide, easy to remember phone number that anyone can call anytime and talk to a counselor. It was 911 but for mental health and they hoped that it would save lives. However, if you call 988 today the first thing you hear isn’t a sympathetic counselor. What you hear is hold music.
Today, the story of the highest stakes hold music in the universe, the three men who created suicide prevention and the two women trying to fix it.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank discussions having to do with the topic of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, there’s help available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is open 24 hours a day by calling or texting 988. There’s also a live chat option on their website: 988lifeline.org
Special thanks to Dr. Matt Wray, Sherbert Willows, Dani Bennett and Monica Johnson, Shari Sinwelski and the folks at Didi Hirsch, David Green, Jay Kennedy S. Carey and JagJaguwar Records, and George Colt for sharing his cassette taped interviews of Ed Schneidman with us.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by Simon Adler.
Produced by Simon Adler.
Fact-checking by Natalie Middleton.
Edited by Pat Walters.
🎧 Subscribe to Radiolab wherever you listen to podcasts: bit.ly/3trXDLe
🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
🖋 Subscribe to Radiolab’s Newsletter: radiolab.org/newsletter
🌱 Check out Radiolab's Starter Kit Playlist: bit.ly/3sX8f4P
👍 Like this video ✏️ and leave us a comment!
Follow Radiolab:
Instagram — instagram.com/radiolab
X (Twitter) — twitter.com/Radiolab
Facebook — facebook.com/Radiolab
Threads — threads.net/@radiolab
Our newsletter comes out every Wednesday. It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up here: radiolab.org/newsletter
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today: radiolab.org/the-lab
Photo illustration by Jared Bartman
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
