I’m a long time fan of This American Life. I freakin’ love that show- the radio version especially. The TV version is pretty cool too, but there’s something about having just the audio that makes it what it is.

One thing I really love about the show is that it appeals to so many different types of people. You know how sometimes you have your “dieting” friends who you can talk about weight-loss with, your “aware” friends who you can talk about current issues and politics with, your “redneck” friends (or family, mostly) who you can talk about dune-buggying and shooting guns with, and your “catty” friends who you can make fun of people with? (Sorry about ending all those phrases with a preposition, by the way.) Well, this is a show that I discuss with friends from each of those groups. Each episode is unique, and really pokes fun at all of us in one way or another, and Ira just seems to always ask the best questions. When he interviews someone, it sounds like they’ve been friends for years.

Anyway, a while back I listened to an episode called The Fix Is In. Normally they will tell a few different stories in one episode all based on a theme but drastically different, but once in a while they’ll devote an entire episode to one story. This was one of those times. If you listen to the episode, you’ll see why- the story is quite amazing. Now I don’t want to hype it up too much- it’s not one of those incredible “Man Saws Off Own Arm” stories- but it did make me look around and think, “Huh.” And then get kind of angry, and then just marvel at what goes on in the world right under our (and the FBI’s) noses, and then marvel some more about some other stuff they talk about. Am I being cryptic enough? Just go listen.

And after you’ve listened, rent The Informant with Matt Damon.

Killer.