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Full episode
169: Pursuit of Happiness
Act One

One Man's Treasure Is Another Man's Trash

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David Rakoff tells a story about an actual pursuit—a scavenger hunt—that takes hundreds of hours to create ... done for the sheer pleasure of it. (18 minutes)

By

David Rakoff

Song:

“Everybody's Gonna Be Happy” by The Kinks

More in New York City

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818: Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Dec. 15, 2023

Act One: No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn

Producer Valerie Kipnis follows a group of people who’ve just arrived at their new home, a tent shelter in the middle of nowhere. (11 minutes)Reporting help from Jika Gonzalez.
818: Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Dec. 15, 2023

Act 5: Harlem Shuffle (podcast only)

One woman needs to find shelter for 27 young men in a matter of hours. (15 minutes)
818: Stand Clear of the Closing Doors
Dec. 15, 2023

Act Two: 150 Days of Bummer

Producer Diane Wu talks to an asylum seeker trying to hustle his way through bureaucratic limbo. (11 minutes)

More by David Rakoff

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470: Show Me the Way
July 27, 2012

Act Two: Oh! The Places You Will Not Go!

A man who believes he's turning into a cockroach reaches out to a world famous doctor for advice.
464: Invisible Made Visible
May 18, 2012

Act Three: Stiff as a Board, Light as a Feather

David Rakoff tells this story, about the invisible processes that can happen inside our bodies and the visible effects they eventually have.
433: Fine Print 2011
Apr. 15, 2011

Act Two: Occupancy May Be Revoked Without Notice

David Rakoff tells the story of a contract between a son and his visiting mother.
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This American Life is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange.

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