Why is it always harder than you think it'll be? We explore several case examples of the annoying gap between theory and practice.
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Prologue
Host Ira Glass talks to two people about their real-life stories of theory and practice. Subject 1: Michael. Theory: A couple years of boxing lessons will prepare you for a street fight with a real-world harasser. Practice: You slap harasser like little girl, cause him no pain, run away. Subject 2: Heather. Theory: if you have to go to the bathroom really bad and you pee on the school bus, no one will notice the pee, and if they do, they can't trace it to you. Practice: Spend the rest of elementary school known as peezilla. (5 minutes)
Act One
Rock, Paper, Computer
Reporter Jack Hitt explains the alarming difference between theory and practice when it comes to computerized voting machines—specifically, those made by a company called Diebold. (16 minutes)
Act Two
Detroit Is In The House
Alex Blumberg spends three days with Michigan state representative Steve Tobocman. He ran for office because he thought that would be the best way to change things for his neighborhood in Detroit. Can you change things from the inside without changing on the inside yourself? (26 minutes)
Act Three
Zero Divided By Zero Is Still Zero
What happens if you're poor, and do everything right, all your budgeting, all your choices...are you actually any better off? Actor Liza Colón-Zayas reads a passage from Adrian Nicole LeBlanc's book Random Family. (7 minutes)
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