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293
July 22, 2005

A Little Bit of Knowledge

Stories about the pitfalls of knowing just a little bit too little.
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Robert Stadler installation in St. Paul church, Paris. Image by Dominik.

Prologue

Host Ira Glass describes the thing that we all do at some point: Talk expertly about something we don't actually know anything about. It's so common, explains This American Life contributing editor Nancy Updike, that some friends of hers invented an imaginary magazine devoted to such blathering. It's called "Modern Jackass." (4 minutes)

By

Ira Glass
Nancy Updike
Act One

Small Thoughts In Big Brains

This American Life producer Alex Blumberg investigates a little-studied phenomenon: Children who get a mistaken idea in their heads about how something works or what something means, and then don't figure out until well into adulthood that they were wrong. Includes the tale of a girl who received a tissue box for Christmas, allegedly painted by trained monkeys. (13 minutes)

By

Alex Blumberg

Song:

“Zing Zing, Zoom Zoom” by Perry Como
Act Two

And Daddy Makes Three

Six-year-old DJ has two dads, Dan Savage and Terry Miller. DJ is being raised by two gay men, but he has a preschooler's understanding of what gay means. Which is to say, he doesn't understand it at all. Though he does oppose gay marriage. Dan, the author of the syndicated column and book Savage Love, tells the story. (12 minutes)

By

Dan Savage
Act Three

Sucker Mc-squared

Bob Berenz had a good job as an electrician. But he wanted to do something bigger. He came up with an idea for an invention. But as he studied physics texts to see if his invention could work, he happened upon the biggest idea of his life: A revelation about physics that would disprove Einstein, and Newton. That is, if Bob's right. Bob's friend, Robert Andrew Powell, reports the story. He's a sports writer and the author of We Own This Game, about youth football. (16 minutes)

By

Robert Andrew Powell

Song:

“Modern Physics in Five Easy Verses” by Bruce Lesnick
Act Four

The Art Of Adult Conversation

Writer Alexa Junge tells about the time when she was thirteen and she decided to have a "grown-up" conversation with her beloved grandmother. (10 minutes)

By

Alexa Junge

Related

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Nov. 16, 2001

Act Two

Adam Beckman continues his story.
190: Living the Dream
Aug. 3, 2001

Act One: Girls Girls Girls

Over the last ten years in Los Angeles, there's been a noticeable increase in the number of transsexual teenagers, kids who were born as boys but live as girls, and vice versa.
157: Secret Life of Daytime
Apr. 14, 2000

Act Four: Invisible Man

A postman explains how it is that he can be so much a part of the scenery that people commit crimes in front of him, on quiet daytime streets, as if he's not there. This American Life producer Alex Blumberg spent a day with postman on Chicago's west side, to find out what he sees...and who sees him...and who doesn't see him, even though he's right there.

Staff Recommendations

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487
Feb. 15, 2013

Harper High School - Part One

We spent five months at a high school in Chicago where in the last year 29 current and recent students were shot.

488
Feb. 22, 2013

Harper High School - Part Two

Part two of our program on Harper High School in Chicago, where in the last year 29 current and recent students were shot.

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