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
1
November 17, 1995

New Beginnings

Our program's very first broadcast.

  • Download
    Control-click (or right-click) Tap and hold to download
  • Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Subscribe
  • Transcript

Prologue

Ira talks with Joe Franklin, host of the longest running talk show in television history, to get advice for his new radio show. (6 minutes)

By

Ira Glass

Song:

“Destination Moon” by Dinah Washington
Act One

Act One

After he goes to Jerusalem and sleeps on what is supposedly the very spot where Jesus was crucified, Kevin Kelly has a revelation: that he should live the next six months as if he would die at the end of them. So he gives away nearly everything he owns, and tries to live each day as if his death is imminent — which turns out to be a great challenge. This story was eventually used in a much later program, Shoulda Been Dead. At the time of this interview, Kevin Kelly was executive editor of Wired magazine. Now he's a contributing editor there, and also runs the Cool Tools website. (23 minutes)

By

Ira Glass
Act Two

Act Two

Ira calls his parents Shirley Glass and Barry Glass in Baltimore to ask them for advice about his new radio show. (7 minutes)

By

Ira Glass
Act Three

Act Three

When filmmaker and performance artist Lawrence Steger found out he was HIV positive, he was just about to go out on across country road trip with a friend of his. (13 minutes)

By

Lawrence Steger

Song:

“(Uh-Oh) Get Out of the Car” by The Treniers
Act Four

Act Four

Ira talks with Ed Ryder, who was wrongly imprisoned for twenty years and recently released. The whole time Ryder was in prison, he dreamt of starting up a band. Now, out of prison, he's done just that. Ira asks him if music means different things to him now that his future is more his own. We replayed his rendition of "God Bless the Child" in the show Lockup. (9 minutes)

Related

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like these
332: The Ten Commandments
May 4, 2007

Commandment Six: You Shall Not Murder

Alex Blumberg talks to Lt.
313: Parental Guidance Suggested
May 19, 2006

Act One: Two Possibilities, Both Bad

When Gene Cheek was ten years old, his mother began dating a black man.
146: Urban Nature
Dec. 10, 1999

Act Five: Waiting For The End Of The World

We end our show with a story of city life and the natural world co-existing peacefully.

Staff Recommendations

View all
472
Aug. 17, 2012

Our Friend David

Favorite stories by our longtime contributor and friend David Rakoff.

266
June 4, 2004

I'm From the Private Sector and I'm Here to Help

Nancy Updike goes to Iraq to try to figure out what it's like to be a private citizen working in the middle of a war zone.

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