Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery

Karen Silkwood’s death 50 years ago this November continues to haunt Oklahoma and the nation. The 28-year-old plutonium plant worker died in a fatal crash while driving to meet a reporter with The New York Times allegedly to deliver evidence documenting unsafe conditions at the plant. Two reporters who covered the Silkwood story in 1974 have spent years trying to piece together what many in Oklahoma speculate: Karen Silkwood may have died for what she knew. Fifty years later, hear newly-discovered investigative tapes, deathbed conversations and long-awaited interviews reexamining what happened that night.

Episodes

Trailer: 'Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery'

October 23, 2024 • 2 mins

Mark as Played

Ep. 1: The Tapes

November 12, 2024 • 42 mins

Who was Karen Silkwood and why was her death so captivating that it spawned a Hollywood movie? We’ll meet two Oklahoma reporters determined to run down the facts. An investigator’s tapes rediscovered in a dusty storage vault raise the voices of the dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark as Played

Ep. 2: A Powerful Company

November 19, 2024 • 54 mins

Karen Silkwood worked for Kerr-McGee, an oil and gas behemoth that was expanding into the nuclear power industry. Escalating production quotas lead to more accidents at the plant, and Karen quietly travels to Washington DC to report concerns about worker safety to her union and to regulators. Before leaving, she volunteers for a risky assignment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark as Played

Ep. 3: Contaminated

December 3, 2024 • 62 mins

We retrace the final days of Karen’s life: she’s been so badly contaminated by radioactive material that men in hazmat suits show up to inspect her apartment, strip much of it down to the studs, and seal her possessions into 55-gallon drums for disposal. Karen grows fearful the contamination will kill her. Years after her death, Karen's family sues Kerr-McGee for the contamination and for the first time, her allegations against the...

Mark as Played

Ep. 4: The Investigators

December 10, 2024 • 59 mins

Three investigators tried to solve the mystery of what happened to Karen Silkwood on that dark highway the night of November 13th, 1974. An accident investigator hired by the union believed so strongly that Karen’s car had been forced off the road that he saved the bumper as evidence, handing it down to his daughter on his deathbed. A private eye pieced together a theory that Silkwood was under surveillance. And a state trooper lau...

Mark as Played

Ep. 5: The Phantom Vehicle

December 17, 2024 • 44 mins

Fifty years later, what can that original bumper tell us about the cause of Karen's accident? In our final episode, an accident reconstructionist combs through the original evidence, creates a computer simulation of the crash, and reveals his findings to the Silkwood family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark as Played

The Crime Scene: Tupac Murder Suspect Speaks Out

March 26, 2025 • 30 mins

New from ABC Audio, "The Crime Scene Weekly" is a new podcast for the true crime-obsessed (and -curious). Each week, "The Crime Scene Weekly" focuses on what everybody's talking about in true crime: what all your favorite shows and podcasts are covering, and what's taking over your TikTok feed. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen. In this week's episode, the question of who killed Tupac...

Mark as Played

Introducing "The Hand in the Window"

November 5, 2025 • 27 mins

Today, we're sharing the first episode of our new series from 20/20 and ABC Audio, "The Hand in the Window." A 911 call becomes the first step in an investigation that would reveal sinister and shocking crimes. To catch new episodes early, follow "The Hand in the Window" for free on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Amazon Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choice...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics

Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.

Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the XXV Winter Olympics We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Milan Cortina Winter Olympics so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.

iHeartOlympics: The Latest

Listen to the latest news from the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Advertise With Us

Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Trailer: 'Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery'

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Ep. 1: The Tapes

Ep. 2: A Powerful Company

Ep. 3: Contaminated

Ep. 4: The Investigators

Ep. 5: The Phantom Vehicle

The Crime Scene: Tupac Murder Suspect Speaks Out

Introducing "The Hand in the Window"

Popular Podcasts

Trailer: 'Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery'

Ep. 1: The Tapes