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
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
Grease and starch just always win over protein. In food as in so many things. Look around you, that's what our whole country is based on. It's amazing that Michael Jordan can be an iconic figure because he's basically just protein. Ira Glass amazebasebasically share on social
I feel like in an interview situation, it's a kind of intimacy that I can understand and handle - versus in real life, when I'm much more of a bumbler and have a hard time. Ira Glass bumblerfeelhandle Change image and share on social
Radio is more powerful the closer we mimic the way we actually speak to each other. That's why Howard Stern is such a great radio talent. People on his show are actually speaking to each other. You might not like what they're saying, but they're real conversations. Ira Glass closeconversationgreat share on social
'Smallville' is like a Domino's pizza. While you're eating, you're thinking, 'This is good, and it reminds me of pizza, but there's not enough flavor in each bite.' That's the feeling you have the entire time with 'Smallville' - that it's just about to be good, but it never is. Ira Glass bitedominoeat share on social
Any story hits you harder if the person delivering it doesn't sound like some news robot but in fact sounds like a real person having the reactions a real person would. Ira Glass deliverfacthard Change image and share on social
One reason I do the live shows - and the monthly speeches at public radio stations - is to remind myself that people hear the show, that it has an audience, that it exists in the world. It's so easy to forget that. Ira Glass audienceeasyexist share on social
The flakier your mission, the fiercer you have to be on the business side. Ira Glass businessfierceflakier Change image and share on social
It's not a terribly original thing to say, but I love Raymond Carver. For one thing, he's fun to read out loud. Ira Glass carverfunloud Change image and share on social
