This American Life on Public Radio

[DesertShark]

There's an awesome radio show that I got turned on to called This American Life. Their website: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Default.aspx
It covers a broad range of topics and does an excellent job of explaining different things happening in America. They did an excellent multi-episode break down of the credit crisis, what was going on at Gitmo during the Bush administration, etc. along with stories about people who are actually making a difference, like the man who created Baby College in Harlem, NY.
I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have.

[Pawn Power]

"Awesome" probably isn't the best adjective to use when describing any show on NPR-- including This American Life.

Though Ira Glass has a cool name and a funny voice.

[ellipsis]

This American life is awesome and so is NPR because otherwise I wouldn't get any half descent news. This American life actually talks about some pretty good topics, I missed a recent show where they talked about that FBI rat in common ground.

[which doctor]

This American Life is a fantastic radio show. I've probably listened to about half of all the episodes, and while some are pretty uninteresting, others are really powerful. They're best to listen to on long car rides as they keep you really interested and engaged in the story for a long time.

[DesertShark]

"Awesome" probably isn't the best adjective to use when describing any show on NPR-- including This American Life.

Though Ira Glass has a cool name and a funny voice.
Why is that? Have you actually listened to any episodes of This American Life or any shows on NPR?

[DesertShark]

They're best to listen to on long car rides as they keep you really interested and engaged in the story for a long time.
Agreed, that's how I first got turned on to the show. I did a lot of driving this summer and an old roommate of mine gave me a bunch of episodes of it and it made staying awake while driving extremely easy.

[Pawn Power]

If you think that NPR broadcasts "half-decent news" then you have dismally low standards for what counts as "news."

And, yes, I do listen to npr, probably too much of it.

[Pawn Power]

Today, npr had a piece on the US military reaching their recruitment goals for the first time in over thirty years.

Their analysis was that it is because they offer such good health and education benefits along with great sign-on bonuses. They then proceeded to play an Army ad.

I bet npr might have something to do with increased recruitment. With "news" like this who needs military ads at all!

[ellipsis]

If you think that NPR broadcasts "half-decent news" then you have dismally low standards for what counts as "news."

And, yes, I do listen to npr, probably too much of it.

On the spectrum of what I can listen to on the way to work, it is at the top of the list. I wish that I got Democracy Now or Alternative Radio in my area but I don't. It is by no means revolutionary but I would rather stay "informed" through them than nothing at all.

[MarxSchmarx]

On the spectrum of what I can listen to on the way to work, it is at the top of the list. I wish that I got Democracy Now or Alternative Radio in my area but I don't. It is by no means revolutionary but I would rather stay "informed" through them than nothing at all.


If your car has a cd player or cd player to tape-dec converter, you can download mp3s of both these, burn it to a cd and play that. I did that for years when I had a long commute.

[ellipsis]

I am cursed with dial-up... zut allures

[ellipsis]

I have noticed that they run a lot of AP and that a lot of their guests for interviews are from mainstream media and think tanks, like the rand corporation.

[MarxSchmarx]

I have noticed that they run a lot of AP and that a lot of their guests for interviews are from mainstream media and think tanks, like the rand corporation.


Are you surprised?

[ellipsis]

No but it took me years of listening before I was like "wow they do very little independent reporting." Still love it.

[MarxSchmarx]

No but it took me years of listening before I was like "wow they do very little independent reporting." Still love it.


I agree, on balance what they do do, they try to be object with. For a major news organization, I think they do a better job focusing on regular people's lives than other broadcast outlets.