The Untold History of Henrietta Lacks and Her Miracle Cells

·26 min·2 clips

Carla Holloway argues we must remember Henrietta Lacks as a person, not just a source of immortal cells.

This episode tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her consent in 1951 and became the first immortal human cell line (HeLa), revolutionizing medical research. Through an interview with scholar Carla Holloway, it explores Henrietta's life, the ethical violations surrounding her cells, and the ongoing legacy of her contribution to science.

As heard by us

A humane account of Henrietta Lacks that centers pain, consent, and consequence.

The episode treats Henrietta Lacks as a person first, not a case study. It lingers on the photo, the worsening cancer, and the pain that kept bringing her back to Johns Hopkins, while giving the consent issue real weight.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Hear Henrietta Lacks as a story about pain, consent, and what medicine took.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from No One Saw It Coming