We use cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. If you continue to use our site, you agree to the use of such cookies. For more info, see our privacy policy.
Skip to main content

Hi. We love you. Be our Life Partner.

Support the show to get ad-free listening, bonus content, and our new Greatest Hits Archive.

Learn more
This American Life Partners logo
00:00
00:00
  • Transcript
  • Share
This American Life
  • Life Partners
  • How to Listen
  • Episodes
  • Recommended
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Announcements
    • Fellowships
    • Jobs
    • Music
    • Make Radio
    • On The Road
    • FAQ
    • Submissions
    • Merch
    • Contact Us
    • Our Other Shows
  • Merch
  • Follow Us
  • Life Partners
284
March 11, 2005

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Stories about people teetering on the edge of this question: Should they stay or go? A software writer loses his job, but refuses to go away. He continues to show up at work, sneaking in the door each day and putting in long hours on a project the company canceled. A student from Pakistan finishes four years of college in Philadelphia and has to decide whether to move back home. And other stories.
  • Download
    Control-click (or right-click) Tap and hold to download
  • Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Subscribe
  • Transcript
Jacob Enos

Prologue

Host Ira Glass talks to Bobby Morris about his decision to quit baseball's minor leagues after nine years and pretty good stats all the way. (5 minutes)

By

Ira Glass
Act One

The Karachi Kid

When Muhammad Kamran's Pakistani parents sent him off to college in Philadelphia, it was understood that he'd come back to Karachi after four years. But now that graduation is almost here, Muhammad thinks he might want to stay in America. On the other hand, he also misses his family terribly, and knows his parents will be heartbroken if he stays. He takes a trip home—his first since he left—knowing his family will do everything possible to convince him to return home permanently. He gets lectured by his relatives, goes to parties, gets introduced to marriageable women. Muhammad took a tape recorder with him to Karachi and recorded what happened. (22 minutes)

By

Muhammad Kamran
Act Two

Not Far From The Tree

Amy O'Leary tells the story of a software writer at Apple Computer whose job contract ends, but he refuses to go away. He continues to show up at work every day, sneaking in the front door, hiding out in empty offices, and putting in long hours on a project the company canceled. There were no meetings, no office politics, no managers interfering with his work. Soon, he had written a perfect piece of software. His final problem is figuring out how to secretly install it in Apple's new computers without anyone noticing. (12 minutes)

By

Amy O'Leary

Song:

“Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Picketts
Act Three

Because I'm The Mommy, That's Why

One day Virginia Holman's mother announced she was taking Virginia and her little sister to their cottage at the beach. At the time, Virginia didn't realize they were being kidnapped—that they'd be held for months, hostage to her mother's mental illness. Actress Catherine Keener reads this excerpt from Virginia Holman's memoir Rescuing Patty Hearst: Memories from a Decade Gone Mad. (18 minutes)

By

Virginia Holman
Catherine Keener

Related

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like these
859: Chaos Graph
Apr. 25, 2025

Act Two: Solving For Where

A woman watches her partner get taken in handcuffs with no explanation.
598: My Undesirable Talent
Oct. 7, 2016

Act Three: Disbarred

Wendy Whelan was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet until 2014.
757: The Ghost in the Machine
Dec. 31, 2021

Act One: Ghostwriter

Vauhini Vara lost her sister when she was in college.

Staff Recommendations

View all
489
Mar. 1, 2013

No Coincidence, No Story!

We asked listeners to send us their best coincidence stories, and we got more than 1,300 submissions!

165
July 28, 2000

Americans in Paris

David Sedaris takes Ira on a tour of his favorite spots in Paris.

This American Life

This American Life is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange.

  • How to Listen
  • Episodes
  • Recommended
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Announcements
    • Fellowships
    • Jobs
    • Music
    • Make Radio
    • On The Road
    • FAQ
    • Submissions
    • Merch
    • Contact Us
    • Our Other Shows
  • Merch
  • Contact
  • Life Partners
  • Serial
  • S-Town
© 1995 - 2025 This American Life Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Subscribe

  • on Spotify
  • in Apple Podcasts

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email