In Part 1 of this interview, W. Bernard Carlson, author of Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age, describes Tesla’s cultural background and childhood in Serbia, his work at Thomas Edison’s lab, and two of Tesla’s best-known inventions—the Tesla coil and the alternating current motor. He also discusses the fact and fiction of Tesla’s fabled “Death Ray.”
A production of the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center. Hosted by Laurel Fritzsch, podcast program manager. Audio production by Laurel Fritzsch. Art Molella, executive producer. Joyce Bedi, webmaster. W. Bernard Carlson was originally interviewed by Joyce Bedi on 31 July 2013. Theme music is “Toby’s Theme” by Brandon Belman and outro music is “Home” by Brandon Belman, both used with permission. Podcast released on 25 November 2013.