Host Ira Glass explains that today's show begins in 1865 and ends today. Ira reads briefly from Lincoln's Second Inaugural address, which describes slavery as America's Original Sin of sorts.

Ira talks with a gang kid who turned to Jesus with the same ferocity and dedication with which he served his old street gang.

Hollywood is all about the idea of getting something for nothing, and no show on the subject would be complete without a Hollywood story. Writer Sandra Tsing Loh provides it.

Tony Starbucks, interviewed by Dierdre Dolan and Paul Tough.

Sandy Tolan interviewed Susan's friends and family to make an unusual and powerful documentary about who she was and about the world she inhabited.

Host Ira Glass, with a recording of a 1962 Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., appearance at the Villa Venice, a club outside Chicago. What's fascinating about Sinatra is how he is so many different people at once, and they're all on display in this recording: sentimental crooner, cruel woman-baiter, bully, goofball.

Ira reads from In Dreams Begin Responsibilities. (7 minutes)

Jay Allison's story about Leo Brillo in Los Angeles who saves animals.

The day Lawrence Steger left the AIDS clinic for the big road trip.

Samantha Martin trains raccoons to play basketball and rats to bowl. She says that what we want from animals is for them to imitate humans.

A look at the Chicago political machine in the days before our story begins.

Julia Sweeney reads this story. She's a former Saturday Night Live cast member and star of the sad and comic memoir of life with cancer, God Said, "Ha!," which played on Broadway.

Beau O'Reilly tells the story of a man who tried to run for President as a utopian nudist.

Dishwasher Pete on Letterman.

A medieval village, a 1900-pound brass kettle, marauding visigoths, and a plan to drench invaders with boiling oil that goes awry. From Ron Carlson's book The Hotel Eden, read by Chicago actor Jeff Dorchen.

An odd occurrence at 124 East Fourth Street in Manhattan's East Village. For the last five weeks, a singer named Nick Drakides has stood on the stoop singing Sinatra songs late at night to the delight of his neighbors.

Writer David Sedaris on an unwelcome surprise in a toilet — a turd.

Joel Lovell tells a story about working in a mental institution, and what it's like when it feels like your grip on the keys isn't so steady.

A history of the brief mayoral career of Harold Washington, and its lessons for Black and white America, as told by people close to him. Many are activists and politicians: Lu Palmer, Judge Eugene Pincham, Congressman Danny Davis, and then-alderman Eugene Sawyer.

A family dreams of life in rural Maine, moves there, and then things get really complicated.

David Sedaris recounts his shameful career as a performance artist. Recorded before a live audience by KUOW Seattle.

Writer David Sedaris on parents' dreams and children's nightmares.

David Sedaris play, with Toby Wherry and Penelope Boyer.

Short fiction by George Saunders.