A popular, progressive politician becomes...a talk show host. One you've probably heard of. A group of nuns leave the Catholic Church...only to find themselves essentially, remaining nuns. These and other stories of people leaving the situation they're used to—and striking off for something less familiar.
Prologue.Host Ira Glass talks with two Vietnam veterans about what it was like to leave the army and come back to civilian life. Both of them, to their surprise, missed the excitement of combat. (4 minutes)
Act One. I've Got a Secret I've Been Hiding From You.
This American Life producer Alex Blumberg tells the true story of Jerry Springer's life before he was a talk show host. It's the story of an idealistic and serious Jerry Springer, a progressive politician, and the most popular mayor ever of a certain American city. (31 minutes)
Act Two. God and Hockey.
Ira talks with Shalom Auslander, who was raised as an Orthodox Jew and who made a pivotal break with his faith at a Rangers game. Shalom Auslander is the author of a book of short stories, called Beware of God. (6 minutes)
Song: "The New York Rangers' Goal Song,"
Act Three. Nuns Amok.
Susan Drury reports on a group of Glenmary Sisters who chose to leave the Catholic Church in the 1960s but still stay nuns, more or less. Several of the former sisters, Monica Appleby, Helen M. Lewis, and Rosemary Radford Ruether, wrote a book about their experience, Mountain Sisters. Visit the online home of retirement community Elderspirit. (14 minutes)
Song: "Maria," The Sound of Music Soundtrack