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
612
March 17, 2017

Ask a Grown-Up

Stories from people who need a grown-up. Featuring teenage girls asking for advice about their love lives and Ira's tribute to his very grown-up friend Mary.

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

A screenshot of Comedian Hannibal Buress in a video for Rookie Magazine's series Ask A Grown.

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

Prologue

Ira talks to producer Sean Cole about a video he found of the rap duo Run the Jewels—giving advice to teenage girls. (6 1/2 minutes)

By

Sean Cole
Ira Glass
Act One

Are You There, Ad-Rock? It's Me, Margaret

Sean continues his story about Rookie Magazine's Ask A Grown, and goes through some particularly interesting moments of advice from famous people to regular teen girls. Watch more videos from Ask A Grown. (14 1/2 minutes)

Ira's Ask A Grown Video

By

Sean Cole
Act Two

The Enemy of The People vs. The People.

Mike Wilson, the editor of the Dallas Morning News, recently got some hate mail from conservative readers. They think that the media—and his paper—are biased. So he invites them to visit and tell him why. Producer David Kestenbaum tells the story. (19 minutes)

By

David Kestenbaum
Act Three

Ask My Grown-Up Kid

We searched for a parent who had a question for their kid...that they could only ask them after their kid was an adult. Then we found Ken Gethard, comedian Chris Gethard's dad, who had some really meaningful questions he wanted to ask his son. This is their conversation. Chris' one-man show that will be airing on HBO in May. (7 1/2 minutes)

By

Chris Gethard
Act Four

Ask A Very Grown Woman

Ira's good friend Mary Ahearn died this week. She was thirty years older than him...so, decidedly more grown-up than he. But that's not really what their relationship was about. (8 1/2 minutes)

Learn how to download a podcast from Ira and Mary

By

Ira Glass

Related

If you enjoyed this episode, you may like these
113: Windfall
Oct. 16, 1998

Act Three: Money Is Good

How one woman learned to stop worrying and start spending.
642: The Impossible Dream
Apr. 6, 2018

Act Four: It’s Our Prerogative

The government shuts down, and Flake tries to get the senate to ignore what the White House wants. Unsuccessfully.
756: But I Did Everything Right
Dec. 10, 2021

Act Two: Brian and Peg

Brian and Peg disagree over a very important thing.

Staff Recommendations

View all
355
May 9, 2008

The Giant Pool of Money

The surprisingly entertaining story of how the U.S. got itself into a housing crisis.

465
May 25, 2012

What Happened at Dos Erres

A Guatemalan immigrant living near Boston gets a phone call with some very strange news about his past.

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