If you’re not a regular listener to This American Life, on WBOI at 2:00 pm on Sundays, you’re missing something, every week. This is the program that has introduced a whole lot of people to public radio and continues to amaze us with its creativity and spunk. Unbelievable journalism that really does change the way you look at the most diverse subjects.
Ira Glass, host of This American Life
If you missed TAL yesterday, April 11, you missed one of the most incredible pieces of journalism I’ve heard in awhile. The housing crisis described in words that we, regular, everyday, non-financial people can understand. (And it draws parallels with “The Producers” – hey, it’s possible to make more money off a flop than an success.)
If “tranche” and “shorting” and “Magnatar trade” are not part of your everyday vocabulary, this is for you.
When I listen to pieces like this, I’m pretty blown away at the work that goes into public radio journalism. This IS different – it sounds different, it reaches different conclusions, it draws you into the conversation in a different, more personal, more emotional way. And it sheds light on subjects, dimensions, and nuances that most of us would never see.
It makes you think. This is why we listen to public radio. This is why, among a hundred other reasons, this is worth supporting.
If you missed it, you can listen here. Look for the piece “Inside Job.” Let me know what you think.
Thanks for listening,
Joan
PS I’m not ignoring the second segment on yesterday’s TAL – the piece about the former cop who teaches people how not to get busted. Loved it, too.
I had to laugh, Joan. It’s “tranche,” not “tronch.” But I don’t fling that term around very much, either, so I don’t fault you for misspelling it one little bit.
I’ll definitely give Ira a listen, as I was outside yesterday trenching (unrelated to tranche) and did miss it.
I thought when I typed that “there’s no way that’s how that’s spelled” and failed to go back and look it up. Being corrected by you is a privilege : ).