Stories about mysteries that exist in relationships we thought couldn't possibly surprise us, the strangeness of putting our wants on the line with someone who may not share them at all, and how much we're willing to risk for someone we may never see again.
-
Download Control-click (or right-click) Tap and hold to download
- Share a clip
- Transcript
Prologue
Ira talks to Rachel Rosenthal, who spent years trying to figure out who had stolen her identity. She was closing bank account after bank account, getting more and more paranoid, until she realized she knew exactly who the thief was. (5 1/2 minutes)
Rachel’s Getting Harried
Ira’s conversation with Rachel Rosenthal continues. She tells the story of why it took her so long to break up with her boyfriend, even after she figured out that he had stolen from her. We heard about Rachel's story via the podcast Risk! (9 minutes)
Why Can’t We Be Friends?
Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow
Comedian Kyle Mizono, in a live performance, tells about the time she met her hero, spent a week working with him every day, and it went really well. And then, she emailed him. (10 minutes)
Break It Down
A short story by Lydia Davis about trying to calculate the cost of a love affair. The story is read by actor Matt Malloy. (12 minutes)
Lydia’s new book of collected essays is called Essays One.
Related
Act Three: How Did I Get Here?
Act Two: Why Talk?
Act Two: Commento Mori
Staff Recommendations
The Problem We All Live With - Part One
There’s one thing that has been proven to cut the achievement gap between black and white students by half: integration.
The Night in Question
Conspiracy theories about the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin continue to shape Israel's politics and future.