Help Keep Our Podcast Free
This American Life on iTunes
Episode Archive Need Help?

Episode Archive

Free Podcast

Find Your Station

Our Favorites


2010
2009|2008|2007|2006|2005|2004|2003|2002|2001|2000
1999|1998|1997|1996|1995
2007      Jan |Feb |Mar |Apr |May |Jun |Jul |Aug|Sep |Oct |Nov |Dec
08.17.2007

Originally aired 07.12.1996

30-second Promo
Full Episode
  Email to a Friend
  Permalink
28: Detectives

Writer David Sedaris recalls the days when his mother and sister played armchair detective—until a very odd crime wave hit within their own home. Plus, host Ira Glass goes out on surveillance with a real-life private eye.

Act One. Detective Notebook.

Ira talks about one of the purest expressions of ordinary folks' desire to be detectives: a child's detective notebook—full of information, secret codes, cases, and an application to become an FBI agent. (10 minutes)

Song: "Raymond Chandler Evening," Robyn Hitchcock


Act Two.

Writer David Sedaris remembers the days his mother and sister played armchair detective, and the odd crime wave that hit their own home.

This story, titled "True Detective," appears in David's book Naked. (22 minutes)

Song: "Pusherman," Curtis Mayfield


Act Three.

Ira goes out on surveillance with a real private eye in Chicago, expecting it to be drudge work, with none of the glamour of movie detectives. He was wrong. (20 minutes)

Song: "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," Dionne Warwick




FAQ   |   Press   |   Contact Us   |   Facebook   |   MySpace   |   YouTube    Copyright © 2008, Chicago Public Radio and Ira Glass