The vexing difficulty of finding the perfect gift.
-
Download Control-click (or right-click) Tap and hold to download
- Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Subscribe
- Transcript
Prologue
Act One
Make A Joyous Noise Unto Your Mom
Ian Brown tries, after decades of failure, to give his mother the perfect Christmas gift. He and his brother attempt something they haven't done since they were kids: Rehearse and sing her a program of Christmas carols. (19 minutes)
Act Two
A Christmas Memory
We play a 1959 original recording of Truman Capote reading his holiday story A Christmas Memory. (18 minutes)
Act Three
Secret Santa. Very Secret Santa.
Caitlin Shetterly reports on a true-life holiday fable from rural Maine, complete with a misunderstood recluse with a heart of gold, a deserving family in need, and a very special Christmas tree farm with secrets of its own. (16 minutes)
Related
If you enjoyed this episode, you may like these
Act Two: Seasons Greetings To Our Friends And Family!
Julia Sweeney reads this story.
Act One: Jarhead
Anthony Swofford reads an excerpt from his memoir, Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles, about his experience fighting in the first Gulf War in 1991, as a Marine sniper.
Act One: Pregnant, Pause
Connie Wang tells the story of a championship window she didn't realize she was in — until it was too late. (14 minutes)Connie is the author of the book Oh My Mother! We got the idea to do this story from Aaron Reiss.
Staff Recommendations
Secrets
Why we tell them, and what happens after we do.
Americans in Paris
David Sedaris takes Ira on a tour of his favorite spots in Paris.