Episodes - This American Life

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47: Christmas and Commerce

Dec. 20, 1996

Act One: Toys R Us

Host Ira Glass goes to one of the epicenters of modern Christmas — the world's biggest toy store — minutes before closing on Christmas Eve. (5 1/2 minutes)

Writer David Sedaris's true account of two Christmas seasons he spent working as an elf at Macy's department store in New York. When a shorter version of this story first aired on NPR's Morning Edition, it generated more tape requests than any story in the show's history to that point.

Act Four

Tapes recorded in a Chicago home Christmas morning, more than 50 years ago.

39: Halloween

Oct. 25, 1996

Act Four: The Evil Within

Julie Showalter, on a costume she wore as a kid.

Act Six: Screams

Greg Whitehead, with screams from the This American Life audience.

13: Love

Feb. 7, 1996

Prologue

Host Ira Glass explores a self-help cassette tape that promises to bring the listener peace about being single. The only problem is that it achieves this by having you envision your perfect romantic partner.