Contributor David Sedaris tells a story about discovering the possibilities—and pitfalls—of travel by hitchhiking.

Dwight Okita reads the poem "Farewell Samba" from his book Crossing with the Light.Ira Glass reads Philip Larkin's poem "Poetry of Departures." (3 minutes)

In the last few years, laws and sentencing guidelines have become much harsher. Sociologically this has had some good effects.

Peter Clowney reports on Christmas at the Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church. Music from Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church all through the hour.

Ira calls his parents Shirley Glass and Barry Glass in Baltimore to ask them for advice about his new radio show.

Verda Mae Grosvenor, host of NPR's Seasonings, shows Ira how to tell a chicken is done simply by listening the sound of the grease.

Former Harpers magazine editor and TAL contributor Jack Hitt wrote an editorial about Susan Smith, who murdered her two children in South Carolina. The editorial redirected the rage from Smith toward Hitt.