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Full episode
278: Spies Like Us
Act One

The Lobbyist

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When Burt Covit was programming his VCR one day, he accidentally tuned in to a channel showing the lobby of a building. He started to watch, and couldn't stop. Then a mysterious woman appeared, wearing a pill-box hat. Burt told this story on the CBC radio program Wiretap. Jonathan Goldstein, a contributing editor to This American Life, is the host of Wiretap. This story is a work of fiction, staged as a radio interview. (12 minutes)

By

Jonathan Goldstein

Song:

“Television” by Robyn Hitchcock

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851: Try a Little Tenderness
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Act One: The Big Nap

A hardened PI works the toughest case of his very young life. (18 minutes)ALL IN: COMEDY ABOUT LOVE is written by Simon Rich and stars John Mulaney, Richard Kind, Fred Armisen, and Chloe Fineman.
851: Try a Little Tenderness
Jan. 10, 2025

Act Four: The Feels on the Bus

Writer Etgar Keret reads his story about a bus driver who refuses to open the doors for late passengers. (9 minutes)This story is from Etgar's book, The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories.
803: Greetings, People Of Earth
June 23, 2023

Act Two: Meat Cute

A short piece of fiction from the perspective of aliens who’ve been scouting Earth, from writer Terry Bisson.

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728: Lights, Camera, Christmas!
Dec. 25, 2020

Act Three: Replacement Claus

Jonathan Goldstein tells the story of Santa Claus, who, after losing his wife, Martha Claus, sets out to find love once again.  Jonathan is the host of the podcast, Heavyweight.
725: Turkey in a Face Mask
Nov. 27, 2020

Act Three: Lunchtime With The King Of Ketchup

Jonathan Goldstein talks about his friend Howard who gets amazing treatment from people in the service industry.
702: One Last Thing Before I Go
Apr. 24, 2020

Act Two: Uncle's Keeper

Jonathan Goldstein tries to convince his uncle and his father to get into the same room and have a conversation for the first time in decades, before it’s too late and one of them dies.
This American Life

This American Life is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange.

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