Lulu Miller

Lulu Miller is an American journalist, radio producer, and author known for her work exploring the intersection of science, history, and human nature. She is a co-creator and former co-host of the acclaimed NPR and WBEZ podcast Invisibilia, which examines the invisible forces that shape human behavior. Miller has also been a significant contributor to the Peabody Award-winning program Radiolab and is the author of the bestselling hybrid memoir and biography Why Fish Don't Exist.

Early life and education

Lulu Miller was born in 1983 in New York City and spent part of her childhood in Virginia. Her father, Ken Miller, is a prominent biologist and co-author of a widely used high school biology textbook, which influenced her early interest in science and inquiry. Miller attended Swarthmore College, where she studied art history and creative writing, graduating in 2005. Her interdisciplinary academic background laid the groundwork for her future career in narrative journalism that blends scientific concepts with personal and historical storytelling.

Career

Miller began her career in radio as an intern and later a producer for the PRI program Living on Earth. She subsequently joined the team at WNYC Studios' Radiolab, working under hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich. At Radiolab, she produced and reported on episodes that delved into topics ranging from quantum physics to color perception, honing a distinctive style that makes complex ideas accessible and emotionally resonant. Her work there contributed to the show winning several awards, including a Peabody Award. In 2015, she co-created the podcast Invisibilia with Alix Spiegel, which quickly became one of the most downloaded new podcasts in Apple Podcasts history.

Radio and podcast work

At Invisibilia, which is co-produced by NPR and WBEZ Chicago, Miller served as co-host and reporter, exploring themes like fear, expectations, and emotions through a blend of personal narratives and psychological research. The show featured interviews with scientists like Lisa Feldman Barrett and stories that challenged conventional understanding of reality. After several seasons, Miller stepped back from hosting to focus on writing but remains involved with the program. She continues to contribute to public radio, including occasional stories for Radiolab and other outlets, and has been a guest on programs like Fresh Air with Terry Gross to discuss her literary work.

Writing

Miller is the author of Why Fish Don't Exist, published in 2020 by Simon & Schuster. The book intertwines a biography of the troubled but determined taxonomist David Starr Jordan, the first president of Stanford University, with Miller's own personal memoir, exploring themes of chaos, order, and the human desire to categorize the natural world. The work was critically acclaimed, named a Best Book of the Year by NPR and the Los Angeles Times, and was a finalist for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. Her writing has also appeared in The New Yorker, VQR (The Virginia Quarterly Review), and The Paris Review.

Personal life

Lulu Miller is married to writer and editor Jesse Barron. The couple lives in New York's Hudson Valley. She has spoken openly about her struggles with depression and how her journalistic inquiries into science and history have often intersected with her personal quest for meaning and stability. Miller is also a dedicated surfer, an activity she has cited as a crucial counterbalance to the intensive research and introspection involved in her work.

Category:American journalists Category:American radio producers Category:American podcasters Category:Swarthmore College alumni Category:1983 births Category:Living people