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Full episode
510: The Seven Things You’re Not Supposed to Talk About

Prologue

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Sarah's mom, Mrs. Matthiessen, doubts that the staff of This American Life can find great stories about her conversational no-nos. (7 minutes)

More in Mothers

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863: Championship Window
June 27, 2025

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.
828: Minor Crimes Division
Apr. 5, 2024

Act One: Harriot Vs Harriot

Writer Michael Harriot reexamines the DIY criminal justice system his mom invented to deal with his bad behavior as a child. (20 minutes)
808: The Rest of the Story
Aug. 18, 2023

Act Two: Oh Mother Where Art Thou?

Contributor Samuel James thought he knew what happened to his mother.

Staff Recommendations

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46
Dec. 13, 1996

Sissies

A family where the father was one kind of sissy and the son was another kind, and how the family was destroyed despite the fact that no one wanted it to be.

419
Nov. 12, 2010

Petty Tyrant

The rise and fall of a school maintenance man in Schenectady, New York who terrorized his staff and got away with it for decades.

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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