Abumrad was raised in Tennessee where his Lebanese father, Naji Abumrad, is a doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center[3] and his mother Nada Abumrad worked as a scientist. Abumrad attended Oberlin College, where he studied creative writing and music composition with a special interest in electronic and electroacoustic music,[4] receiving his B.A. in 1995.[5]
From 2002 to January 2022, Abumrad produced and co-hosted the nationally syndicated program Radiolab.[5] His background in music has influenced the sound of Radiolab, which inspired a generation of podcasters.[7]
Abumrad was named a 2011 MacArthur Fellow; the foundation cited his "engaging audio explorations of scientific and philosophical questions" which "captivate listeners and bring to broadcast journalism a distinctive new aesthetic", while using "his background as a composer to orchestrate dialogue, music, and sound effects into compelling documentaries that draw listeners into investigations of otherwise intimidating topics."[5]
Abumrad also produced and hosted The Ring & I, a look at the enduring power of Wagner's Ring Cycle. It aired nationally and internationally and earned ten awards, including the prestigious 2005 National Headliner Grand Award in Radio.[8]
In 2016, Abumrad launched Radiolab's first ever spin-off series, More Perfect, a podcast that tells the stories behind the U.S. Supreme Court's most famous rulings.[9]
In 2018 Abumrad hosted the four-part podcast series "UnErased," which tells the stories of survivors of gay conversion therapy.[10]
In 2019, Abumrad hosted, produced and edited the nine-episode podcast Dolly Parton's America, an in-depth exploration of the life, career, and enduring appeal of country music star and songwriter Dolly Parton.[11] Abumrad interviewed Parton extensively for the podcast. In addition to his journalistic access to her, he also has a familial connection: Parton and Jad's father, Naji, have been friends since Naji was her doctor in the aftermath of a minor car accident.[12] The series won seven national awards, including a George Foster Peabody Award.
In 2007, he married Karla Murthy, whom he met in college. Murthy works as a film maker and television producer.[15] The couple have two children,[16] and live in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.[17]
