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745
August 27, 2021

Getting Out

People trying to escape all kinds of seemingly impossible situations.

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  • Transcript

Victor Chang

Prologue

Prologue

We hear a phone call from this week between Kirk Johnson in California, and Ajmal, a man standing in a canal outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (2 minutes)

By

Nancy Updike
Act One

Act One

Nancy Updike tells the story of the phone call from the prologue. (17 minutes)

Act Two

You Can Check Out Anytime You Like, But You Can Never Leave

Host Ira Glass talks to producer Elna Baker about the time she and her siblings found themselves trapped in a hotel room with an unexpected visitor. (13 minutes)

By

Elna Baker
Act Three

You Can’t Go Your Own Way

Carmen Maria Machado tells the story of being stuck in an abusive relationship as a “Choose Your Own Adventure” tale. This chapter of Carmen’s memoir, “In The Dream House,” was read for us by actor Zoë Winters. (12 minutes)

By

Carmen Maria Machado
Act Four

Blue Kid on the Block

Leo’s family moved away from Rochester, NY, leaving behind all of Leo's friends and stranding him in a new — and in his opinion, much worse — middle school. (10 minutes)

By

Sarah Koenig

Song:

“We Gotta Get Out of This Place” by The Animals

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Act Three: Minor Authorities

Jyllian Gunther visits The Brooklyn Free School, where there are no courses, no tests and no homework, and where the kids decide everything about how the school is run, including discipline.

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