The History of Concrete with John Wilson
Science Friday

The History of Concrete with John Wilson

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 5, 202615 min
  • Interview

John Wilson’s new documentary, “The History of Concrete,” has a subject matter that to most people may seem gray, drab, and boring. The film is anything but. Alongside facts about concrete’s reliance on dwindling sand reserves and New York City’s crumbling infrastructure, there are unexpected tangents. Following the idiosyncratic format of Wilson’s hit HBO show “How To,” he tells the stories of a struggling musician, a man who preserves tattoos, and a group of runners looping the same block for two months. Ira talks with documentarian John Wilson about the documentary and their shared appreciat...

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0:00

Hey, it's Ira and you're listening to Science Friday. When I first heard that I would be interviewing John Wilson about his new documentary called The History of Concrete, boy, it made me really excited because you know if you listen to this program how much I am enthralled with the world of concrete.

0:21

So when I heard there was another concrete geek out there making a film about it, well, We just had to talk and compare notes. Now I realize that to most people, concrete seems, well, gray, drab, boring. But the film is anything but.

0:37

In between facts about concrete's reliance on dwindling sand reserves, New York City's crumbling infrastructure, there's the story of a struggling musician, a man who preserves tattoos, and a group of runners looping the same block for two months. It follows the idiosyncratic format of Wilson's previous hit HBO show, How To.

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