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WNPR News sports coverage brings you a mix of local and statewide news from our reporters as well as national and global news from around the world from NPR.

Adrenaline: America's Favorite Hormone

Betty Wants In
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Since its discovery in 1900, adrenaline and pop-culture have gone hand-in-hand. From extreme sports, to the latest energy drinks, to pulse pounding Hollywood blockbusters, the rush of this hormone is portrayed in countless ways.

But these portrayals seldom tell the whole story. So what exactly is adrenaline, and why does our society seem so keen on celebrating it?

This hour we take a closer look at America's favorite hormone. From its place in athletics and entertainment, to the term "adrenaline junkie," to its surprising roles in human behavior and health.

GUESTS:

  • David Swink- Co-founder of Strategic Interactions Inc.,  and former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health Training Program in Psychodrama and Group Psychotherapy at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital
  • Brian Hoffman- Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and former Chief of Medicine at VA Boston Health Care System. He’s the author of the book, Adrenaline
  • Christopher Graham- Freelance writer for The Morning News from Toronto, Ontario. He’s the author of Diary of a Post-Adrenaline Junkie

MUSIC:

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Colin McEnroe and Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired February 23, 2016.

Josh was a producer for WNPR's talk shows. He has produced for Where We Live and was a producer for The Colin McEnroe Show until 2020.

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