Ira (Reluctantly) Gives a Graduation Speech
This American Life
05/01/26
•8m
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Ira always hated commencement speeches. Then he felt like he had to give this one.
Previous Episode
466: Blackjack
April 26
•64m
The casino game everyone thinks they can beat.
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- Prologue: Host Ira Glass and producer Robyn Semien get a blackjack lesson from Andy Bloch, who played for the MIT blackjack team. He teaches them the basics of card-counting, the technique that gives players an advantage against the house — enough of an advantage that most casinos will ask you to leave if they catch you doing it. (9 minutes)
- Act One: Jack Hitt tells the story of the Christian card-counting team featured in the documentary Holy Rollers, and why they see no contradiction in being devout Christians who spend their days in casinos. (18 minutes)
- Act 2: Ira and Robyn go to the casino to try out their newfound card-counting skills. (5 minutes)
- Act Two: Producer Sarah Koenig tells the story of a woman who sued the casino where she lost her inheritance, saying that it was to blame, not her. (25 minutes)
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Next Episode
886: Blackout
May 4
•54m
Since the war began in Iran, we've heard very little from people inside the country — and there's a reason for that. The entire country has been under an internet blackout. We worked with reporters Roxana Saberi and Fatemeh Jamalpour to get voice memos out of the country. Even though it was dangerous and difficult, people wanted to be heard.
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(00:00:00) Prologue: Shirin's parents suddenly disappear into the blackout. (5 minutes)
(00:06:37) Act One: It’s a war and a blackout. People want to talk about both. (17 minutes)
(00:16:26) Act Two: What happened before America and Israel went to war with Iran. (9 minutes)
(00:26:48) Act Three: Iranians have many opinions about the war, and about each other. (12 minutes)
(00:37:25) Act Four: What happened inside Iran the night President Trump threatened that "a whole civilization could die." And a clue about where the internet blackout is headed. (19 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org / This American Life privacy policy. / Learn more about sponsor message choices.
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