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12
January 31, 1996

Animals

Stories about the animalness of animals, the irreducible ways in which they are not human.

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American Rabblerouser

Prologue

Samantha Martin trains raccoons to play basketball and rats to bowl. She says that what we want from animals is for them to imitate humans. (6 minutes)

By

Ira Glass
Act One

Food Chain In A New York Apartment

This American Life contributor Paul Tough visits Catherine Chalmers. She raises small animals and insects in her apartment, feeds them to each other, and photographs them eating each other. (23 minutes)

By

Paul Tough

Song:

“Insect Collector” by Shonen Knife
Act Two

More Animals Eating Other Animals

An original radio drama called "Kathleen on the Carpet," in which animals talk and hold their own "animal court." It's a comedy by David Sedaris, starring our own radio theater company, the Pinetree Gang. (14 minutes)

By

The Pinetree Gang
David Rakoff
David Sedaris

Song:

“Rocky Raccoon” by Lena Horne
Act Three

The Moment When Humans Stopped Being Animals

Anthropologists agree that humans stopped being animals when they started walking upright, on two legs. But scientists don't agree on why our ancestors did this. Ten years ago, Scott Carrier decided to do his own research on the subject. He is the author of Running After Antelope. (13 minutes)

By

Scott Carrier

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Act Four: The Day Mom And Dad Fell In Love

Scott interviews his 11-year-old daughter about his marriage.
618: Mr. Lie Detector
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Act Two: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Ira discusses James Comey’s Senate testimony this week, testimony that called the president a liar.

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218
Aug. 9, 2002

Act V

A group of inmates at a high-security prison stage a production of the last act of Hamlet.

110
Sept. 4, 1998

Mapping

The world redrawn by the five senses.

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