The pledge drive has everything going against it as broadcasting. It's repetitive. It's ad-libbed by people who can't ad-lib. It's about asking for money, which is something nobody wants to hear, even from their own relatives. Ira Glass broadcastdrivehear share on social
It took, for me, a long time to develop this idea of what to do on the radio. But from the beginning of my time in radio, I had pretty non-traditional tasks. Ira Glass begindevelopidea Change image and share on social
When I started 'This American Life', one of the reactions I got was, 'When is the adult going to show up who will host the show?' At some point, people just got used to it. Ira Glass adultamericanhost Change image and share on social
I think people who live in New York don't realize just how much time they spend talking about the subway. Ira Glass livepeoplerealize Change image and share on social
When I say something untrue on the air, I mean for it to be transparently untrue. I assume people know when I'm just saying something for effect. Or to be funny. Ira Glass airassumeeffect Change image and share on social
I'm a big Penn & Teller fan. But I myself was never very good; I was a teenage magician who performed at kids' parties. I can still perform a vanish, credibly, and I still, in special circumstances, will make a balloon animal. Ira Glass animalballoonbig share on social
Honestly, there are so many things about structuring a story for film and telling a story for film that are really different from doing radio. Ira Glass filmhonestlyradio Change image and share on social
I was a temp secretary for a long time, and I went at it with a passion, and I tried to do a nice job in all my jobs. Ira Glass joblongnice Change image and share on social
When you're working in public radio, you don't have any money to advertise. Ira Glass advertisemoneypublic Change image and share on social
When I was a bad writer, I would consciously imitate other NPR writers who I thought were wonderful. I suppose that everyone's artistic practice is different. But I collaborate and sometimes don't agree at all with my collaborators' opinions. It forces you to understand why you don't agree with something: what's the fight you're picking. Ira Glass agreeartisticbad share on social