Numbers

#88 - 2 January 1998

Numbers lie. Numbers cover over complicated feelings and ambiguous situations. In this week's show, stories of people trying to use numbers to describe things that should not be quantified.

A Very Special Sedaris Christmas

#87 - 19 December 1997

Stories from David Sedaris's book of Christmas stories, Holidays on Ice, read onstage by David, Julia Sweeney and actor Matt Malloy.

How to Take Money from Strangers

#86 - 12 December 1997

Two stories of how to get money from strangers. In both stories, the money is made by people who make the strangers feel good about themselves and about their nation. NOTE: This episode originally included a story by reporter Stephen Glass, which we have removed because of questions about its truthfulness. This story is included in the transcript only for reference.

Poultry Slam 1997

#85 - 5 December 1997

Humans have turned chicken and turkey into what we want them to be. Which means that chickens and turkeys are a mirror of ourselves.

Harold

#84 - 21 November 1997

A parable of politics and race in America. The story of Chicago's first black mayor, Harold Washington, told two decades after his death. Washington died on November 25, 1987.

One of Us

#83 - 14 November 1997

Stories of outsiders who want to be insiders, and vice versa.

Haunted

#82 - 31 October 1997

Stories of people who are haunted, not by ghosts or phantoms, but by other people.

Guns

#81 - 24 October 1997

Americans who love their guns...and the Americans who love them.

Running After Antelope

#80 - 17 October 1997

Stories of people engaged in a battle with nature — a battle they don't stand much chance of winning. Most of the show is Scott Carrier's story of trying for twelve years to chase down and catch an antelope by foot.

Stuck in the Wrong Decade

#79 - 10 October 1997

People stuck in the wrong decade — or simply carrying a lot of the props from another decade. NOTE: This episode originally included a story by reporter Stephen Glass (no relation to Ira), which we have removed because of questions about its truthfulness. This story is included in the transcript only for reference.