All Clips from When It Mattered

Curated byChitra Ragavan, Podcaster

51 CLIPS1 HR 24 MINS

Clip 1 of 51

Nina Totenberg on How Nancy Drew Inspired Her to Be a Reporter

Here’s NPR’s superstar legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg on what inspired her to become a reporter.

Nina Totenberg on How Nancy Drew Inspired Her to Be a Reporter

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 2 of 51

Nina Totenberg's Formative Experiences at the Peabody Times

A hilarious anecdote from NPR’s legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg about her formative early years working for the Peabody times in Peabody, Massachusetts. From the podcast When It Mattered.

Nina Totenberg's Formative Experiences at the Peabody Times

When it Mattered

52 SECS

Clip 3 of 51

Nina Totenberg on Her Friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg

NPR’s legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg remembers how she first became friends with the late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Nina Totenberg on Her Friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 4 of 51

How Nina Totenberg Dealt with a Mental Health Crisis

A candid moment of reflection from NPR’s legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg on her greatest moment of adversity and the helpful advice she got both from her mom and from Ruth Bader Ginsburg. From the podcast When It Mattered.

How Nina Totenberg Dealt with a Mental Health Crisis

When it Mattered

3 MINS

Clip 5 of 51

When Nina Totenberg Got Run Over by a Boat

Here's NPR's legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg talking about a near death experience in her life. From the podcast When It Mattered.

When Nina Totenberg Got Run Over by a Boat

When it Mattered

3 MINS

Clip 6 of 51

Nina Totenberg's Perspective On the #metoo Movement

NPR’s chief legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg compares what it was like for women to work back in the day when she was a pioneer in the journalism workforce to what it’s like today with the #MeToo movement. From the podcast, When it Mattered

Nina Totenberg's Perspective On the #metoo Movement

When it Mattered

2 MINS

Clip 7 of 51

Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg on Educating Football Players on Brain Trauma

Here’s legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg, describing the moment of clarity when he realized that he had to help his players understand football’s damaging effects on the brain. From the podcast When It Mattered

Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg on Educating Football Players on Brain Trauma

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 8 of 51

Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg On the Ethics of Football and Brain Injury

If you know that football causes brain concussion, can you as a sports agent represent athletes in good conscience? I posed that question to legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg. From the podcast When It Mattered.

Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg On the Ethics of Football and Brain Injury

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 9 of 51

Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg On How he Works with Atheletes

Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg has represented the best of the best across many sports. Here he shares what draws so many great players to him. From the podcast When It Mattered.

Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg On How he Works with Atheletes

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 10 of 51

How Leigh Steinberg Helped Write "Jerry Maguire"

In 1993, Hollywood writer director Cameron Crowe used legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg as his inspiration for the sports agent character Jerry Maguire, played by none other than Tom Cruise. From the podcast When it Mattered.

How Leigh Steinberg Helped Write "Jerry Maguire"

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 11 of 51

Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg On Overcoming Adversity

Here’s Leigh Steinberg, the legendary sports agent talking how he overcame his greatest adversity, his long battle with alcoholism. From the podcast When It Mattered.

Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg On Overcoming Adversity

When it Mattered

2 MINS

Clip 12 of 51

When Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg Realized He Needed to Stop Drinking

Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg remembers the exact moment he realized he needed to get help for his alcoholism. From the podcast When It Mattered.

When Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg Realized He Needed to Stop Drinking

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 13 of 51

Great Advice from Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg

Advice to his younger self, from the legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg. From the podcast When It Mattered

Great Advice from Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 14 of 51

COVID-19 Insights from Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg

I’ve asked recent guests to share their “viral insights” from the COVID-19 pandemic, that moment of clarity brought upon by a crisis. Here’s Leigh Steinberg, the legendary sports agent sharing his viral insights. From the podcast When It Mattered.

COVID-19 Insights from Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 15 of 51

Vaccine Expert Paul Offit On the Childhood Trauma that Inspired his Career

Here’s Dr. Paul Offit looking back on six terrible weeks of his childhood that set him on the path to becoming one of the most accomplished and recognized vaccine experts in the world. From the podcast When It Mattered.

Vaccine Expert Paul Offit On the Childhood Trauma that Inspired his Career

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 16 of 51

Vaccine Expert Dr. Paul Offit on Being Protested Against

Dr. Paul Offit is one of the world’s most authoritative and respected vaccine experts. But it has come at a steep price including death threats from anti-vaccers.Here he shares how difficult that experience has been. From When It Mattered.

Vaccine Expert Dr. Paul Offit on Being Protested Against

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 17 of 51

How Dr. Paul Offit Deals with Anti-Vaccers

Globally recognized vaccine authority, Dr. Paul Offit has enraged anti-vaccers. Here he reflects on how he has dealt with the fallout. From the podcast When It Mattered.

How Dr. Paul Offit Deals with Anti-Vaccers

When it Mattered

2 MINS

Clip 18 of 51

Dr. Paul Offit On COVID-19 and How Bad Humans are at Determining Risk

Here’s Dr. Paul Offit, globally recognized vaccine expert on how humans are bad at determining risk and why that could affect the success of a COVID-19 vaccine. From the podcast When It Mattered.

Dr. Paul Offit On COVID-19 and How Bad Humans are at Determining Risk

When it Mattered

2 MINS

Clip 19 of 51

Democratic strategist James Carville on Quitting Law to Go into Politics

Democratic strategist James Carville remembers the pivotal moment when he undeniably knew that he was meant for a career in politics. From the podcast When It Mattered.

Democratic strategist James Carville on Quitting Law to Go into Politics

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 20 of 51

How James Carville's Mom Business Selling Encyclopedias Taught him to Sell

Here’s James Carville, democratic campaign strategist and kingmaker describing how he learned the art of selling from a master saleswoman — his mom. From the podcast When It Mattered

How James Carville's Mom Business Selling Encyclopedias Taught him to Sell

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 21 of 51

James Carville On How to Communicate the Dangers of Climate Change

Why are environmental activists failing to convince many in the public and in government about the growing crisis of global warming. Democratic political strategist James Carville says he knows exactly why. From the podcast When It Mattered.

James Carville On How to Communicate the Dangers of Climate Change

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 22 of 51

James Comey's Near-Death Experience

What was the terrifying encounter when he was a senior in high school that convinced former FBI Director James Comey to pursue a career in law enforcement? From the podcast When It Mattered.

When it Mattered

56 SECS

Clip 23 of 51

How the New York Mafia Convinced James Comey to Move to New York

Who were Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno, and Vincent The Fish Cafaro? And how did they convince former FBI Director James Comey as a 26 year old law clerk to become a federal prosecutor? From the podcast When It Mattered.

How the New York Mafia Convinced James Comey to Move to New York

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 24 of 51

James Comey on Getting Bullied and Being a Bully

How former FBI Director James Comey learned the hard way the terrible price of bullying -- both for the one doing the bullying and the one being bullied. From the podcast When it Mattered.

James Comey on Getting Bullied and Being a Bully

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 25 of 51

James Comey's Thoughts on Lying

Here’s former FBI Director James Comey parsing the human tendency to lie, about big things, about little things, and the repercussions of lying. From the podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 26 of 51

Stanley Alpert On Survival Skills

What does the term “All I Find All I Keep mean?” And how did it teach former federal prosecutor Stanley Alpert hone the survival skills that would save his life when he turned 38. From the podcast When It Mattered.

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 27 of 51

How Fed Prosecutor Stanley Alpert Survived Being Kidnapped at Gunpoint

Here’s former federal prosecutor Stanley Alpert on the core values that helped him survive being kidnapped at gunpoint and how he talked his dangerous captors into letting him go. From the podcast When it Mattered.

How Fed Prosecutor Stanley Alpert Survived Being Kidnapped at Gunpoint

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 28 of 51

Lessons Learned from Stanley Alpert's Kidnapping (Part 1)

What lessons did former federal prosecutor Stanley Alpert learn from being kidnapped at gunpoint and almost getting killed by his captors?

Lessons Learned from Stanley Alpert's Kidnapping (Part 1)

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 29 of 51

Lessons Learned from Stanley Alpert's Kidnapping (Part 2)

Being kidnapped and held at gunpoint and almost getting killed taught former federal prosecutor Stanley Alpert some unforgettable lessons on learning how to push past seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Lessons Learned from Stanley Alpert's Kidnapping (Part 2)

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 30 of 51

Anne Speckhard on a Therapists' Moral Dilemma

Psychologist and terrorism expert Anne Speckhard on the moral dilemmas of talking to terrorists. From the podcast When it Mattered.

Anne Speckhard on a Therapists' Moral Dilemma

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 31 of 51

How Anne Speckhard Used Sexism in her Favor

Terrorism expert Anne Speckhard describes how she once leveraged sexism in her favor to prevent potentially being taken hostage and used as a trading card by terrorists -- to get their leader released from prison. From the podcast When it Mattered.

How Anne Speckhard Used Sexism in her Favor

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 32 of 51

Anne Speckhard on Interviewing Terrorists

Terrorism expert and psychologist Anne Speckhard describes always being on knives edge when she traveled to dangerous hotspots to interview terrorists

Anne Speckhard on Interviewing Terrorists

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 33 of 51

Anne Speckhard's Viral Insights on COVID-19

Terrorism expert Anne Speckhard on the viral insights from COVID-19 and the tradeoffs in her life as she temporarily gives up traveling to the world’s most dangerous hotspots to talk to terrorists. From the podcast When it Mattered.

Anne Speckhard's Viral Insights on COVID-19

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 34 of 51

Musician Kevin Burt On his Early Life

Here’s blues great Kevin Burt describing being raised by a single mom of limited means and how a village of older women, in his neighborhood, “grandmas” he called them, taught him resilience in the face of hardship. From the podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

3 MINS

Clip 35 of 51

How Kevin Burt Was Tricked Into his Music Career

Blues great Kevin Burt describes how a tempting offer of cake launched his career in music. From the podcast When it Mattered.

How Kevin Burt Was Tricked Into his Music Career

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 36 of 51

Kevin Burt on 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis

Here’s Blues great Kevin Burt describing how fatigue and self-doubt almost prevented him from competing in the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee — an event in which he ultimately swept the awards in all three top categories.

Kevin Burt on 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 37 of 51

Journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty On Deciding to Leave Christian Science

Journalist and author Barbara Bradley Hagerty describes the exact moment when she knew that she was done with the Christian Science religion in which she was raised.

Journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty On Deciding to Leave Christian Science

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 38 of 51

Barbara Bradley Hagerty's Near-Death Experinece

Journalist and author Barbara Bradley Hagerty remembers the hike from hell and how a pitch dark mountain and swollen stream that threatened her safety became her metaphors for life. From the podcast When It Mattered.

Barbara Bradley Hagerty's Near-Death Experinece

When it Mattered

3 MINS

Clip 39 of 51

Barbara Bradley Hagerty on Leaving NPR

Journalist and best-selling author Barbara Bradley Hagerty shares how a health crisis—losing her voice—signaled her to leave National Public Radio and what it taught her about her quest for identity and self worth. From the podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

2 MINS

Clip 40 of 51

Don MacKinnon's on Making Mixtapes

Every big artist starts small and the same holds true for legendary music producer Don MacKinnon. Little did he know it, but the simple idea of creating mixtapes to share his passion for music would lead him to revolutionize the music industry.

When it Mattered

32 SECS

Clip 41 of 51

Don MacKinnon on Building Hear Music

Here’s legendary music producer Don MacKinnon describing the evolution of his Hear Music company, from a magazine cataloging and recommending music. From the podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

3 MINS

Clip 42 of 51

Don MacKinnon On the Hear Music Store Experience

Don MacKinnon revolutionized the music industry and the way we discover, listen, share and build a community around music today through his Hear Music stores

Don MacKinnon On the Hear Music Store Experience

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 43 of 51

Don MacKinnon on Selling Hear Music to Starbucks

Here’s Don MacKinnon talking about the journey that led to him selling his Hear Music stores to Starbucks. From the podcast When it Mattered.

Don MacKinnon on Selling Hear Music to Starbucks

When it Mattered

39 SECS

Clip 44 of 51

Don MacKinnon On Knowing Steve Jobs' Favorite Composer

Here’s how Hear Music store owner Don MacKinnon found out who was Steve Jobs’ favorite music composer.

Don MacKinnon On Knowing Steve Jobs' Favorite Composer

When it Mattered

35 SECS

Clip 45 of 51

Don MacKinnon's Incredible Rolling Stones Story

Here’s Don MacKinnon talking about his 35th birthday when he got to interview every single member of the Rolling Stones.

Don MacKinnon's Incredible Rolling Stones Story

When it Mattered

3 MINS

Clip 46 of 51

What Was on The Rollings Stones' Rider?

Do you know what were all the riders in the contracts of the Rolling Stones? Legendary producer Don MacKinnon found out first hand, when he got to interview every member of the band on his 35th birthday. From the Podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

23 SECS

Clip 47 of 51

Don MacKinnon's Amazing Lou Reed Story

Here’s the legendary Don MacKinnon describing how he got the irascible Lou Reed to relax, make some tea and talk Doo-Wop. From the podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

48 SECS

Clip 48 of 51

Don MacKinnon On Meeting Tom Waits

One of Don MacKinnon’s favorite aspects of his career is interviewing top musical artists from around the world. The best moments came when he finally had the chance to talk to his idol, Tom Waits. From the podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 49 of 51

Don MacKinnon On Working with Bono on Project Red

Here’s Don MacKinnon describing his first meeting with Bono of U2, who stole MacKinnon away from Starbucks to spearhead Bono’s ground-breaking Product Red global corporate giving campaign to fight AIDS in Africa. Here’s what Bono said to MacKinnon.

Don MacKinnon On Working with Bono on Project Red

When it Mattered

55 SECS

Clip 50 of 51

Don MacKinnon on Creating Hark

Here’s legendary producer Don MacKinnon describing his vision for his new podcast curation platform, Hark. From the podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Clip 51 of 51

Don MacKinnon on COVID-19

What viral insights did Don MacKinnon have from the COVID-19 pandemic? From the podcast When it Mattered.

When it Mattered

1 MIN

Curated byChitra Ragavan

51 CLIPS1 HR 24 MINS

The best podcast moments curated by Hark Editors

We listen to 100s of podcasts and clip the most interesting moments
These clips are turned into themed Harklists
You’ll find harklists curated just for you in your feed, based on your interests

Latest Harklists

The Smartest Conversations
Burritogate!

The recent controversy over $20 burritos reflects a national outrage over affordability.
Matthew Horovitz
Hark Contributor
4 clips 18 MINS
The Rise of the D.S.A.
Democratic socialists are winning their primaries, from Michigan to Seattle, to New York. But can the D.S.A. solve the Democratic Party's identity crisis, or will it worsen it?
Hark Editors
5 clips 17 MINS
Listening, Watching, Reading
August 14, 2026

Anthony Bourdain, “The Invite,” Beastie Boys, Road Trip Novels and Siri.
Matthew Horovitz
Hark Contributor
5 clips 24 MINS