We use cookies and other tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. If you continue to use our site, you agree to the use of such cookies. For more info, see our privacy policy.
Skip to main content

Hi. We love you. Be our Life Partner.

Support the show to get ad-free listening, bonus content, and our new Greatest Hits Archive.

Learn more
This American Life Partners logo
00:00
00:00
  • Transcript
  • Share
This American Life
  • Life Partners
  • How to Listen
  • Episodes
  • Recommended
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Announcements
    • Fellowships
    • Jobs
    • Music
    • Make Radio
    • On The Road
    • FAQ
    • Submissions
    • Merch
    • Contact Us
    • Our Other Shows
  • Merch
  • Follow Us
  • Life Partners
677
June 14, 2019

Seeing Yourself In the Wild

Stories of those unexpected moments when we see who we really are.

  • Download
    Control-click (or right-click) Tap and hold to download
  • Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Subscribe
  • Transcript

Sophie Gilmore

Note: The internet version of this episode contains un-beeped curse words. BEEPED VERSION.

Prologue

Prologue

Sean Cole guest hosts. He was attacked in the street and happens to have a recording of the moment right afterwards. (10 minutes)

By

Sean Cole
Act One

You Don’t Have to Be a Star to Be in My Show

Zack McDermott was a lawyer who moonlighted as a comedian. One day, he walked out onto the set of his TV pilot he was starring in, although no one else knew it. Zack is the author of "Gorilla and the Bird: A Memoir of Madness and a Mother's Love." (30 minutes)

By

Sean Cole
Act Two

Distant Replay

Producer Emanuele Berry and her dad only talked about basketball. But they never talked about a game that her dad had botched. They sit down to watch it. A version of this story first aired on The Nod. (20 minutes)

By

Emanuele Berry

Song:

“You Can’t See What I See” by Heavy D and the Boyz

Related

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like these
296: After the Flood
Sept. 9, 2005

Act Three: Social Studies Lesson

We compare Fox TV talk show host Bill O'Reilly's ideas about the hurricane's aftermath with those of Ashley Nelson, an 18-year-old who lives in the Lafitte Housing projects in New Orleans, in one of the flooded neighborhoods.
299: Back from the Dead
Oct. 7, 2005

Act Three: Friday Night Floodlights

About fifteen miles from Pearlington, Bay St.
269: Someone to Watch Over Me
July 16, 2004

Act One: Doctoring The Doctor

Jo Giese's husband, a doctor named Douglas Forde, had spent his life caring for other people.

Staff Recommendations

View all
241
July 11, 2003

20 Acts in 60 Minutes

All kinds of little stories that we ordinarily can't use on the radio show because they are just too short.

640
Mar. 2, 2018

Five Women

A different kind of #MeToo story, about several women who worked for the same man.

This American Life

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

  • How to Listen
  • Episodes
  • Recommended
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Announcements
    • Fellowships
    • Jobs
    • Music
    • Make Radio
    • On The Road
    • FAQ
    • Submissions
    • Merch
    • Contact Us
    • Our Other Shows
  • Merch
  • Contact
  • Life Partners
  • Serial
  • S-Town
© 1995 - 2025 This American Life Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Subscribe

  • on Spotify
  • in Apple Podcasts

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email