What 100 Million Volts Do to the Body and Mind episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 3, 2026 · 21 MIN

What 100 Million Volts Do to the Body and Mind

from The Atlantic Out Loud

The odds of being struck by lightning in America in a given year are one in 1.2 million. How does the experience reorient a person’s sense of chance, of fate? By Jacob Stern From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠April 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The odds of being struck by lightning in America in a given year are one in 1.2 million. How does the experience reorient a person’s sense of chance, of fate? By Jacob Stern From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠April 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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What 100 Million Volts Do to the Body and Mind

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This episode was published on April 3, 2026.

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The odds of being struck by lightning in America in a given year are one in 1.2 million. How does the experience reorient a person’s sense of chance, of fate? By Jacob Stern From the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠April 2026 issue⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get more from your...

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