860: Suddenly: A Mirror!

This episode of "This American Life," hosted by Aviva DeKornfeld, explores moments when people are confronted with unexpected truths about themselves. The episode features personal stories, including Aviva's own experience of prioritizing self-preservation over her sister, and Tobin Low's investigation into whether such moments lead to lasting change. The stories range from a man who grabbed his passport before his girlfriend during a fire, to a pharmacist who prioritized her plate of spaghetti over a medical emergency. The podcast also includes a segment on a woman who started making pet wigs to cope with a difficult time in her life, and a comedian, Mike Birbiglia, discussing how his daughter's questions reveal his own shortcomings. The episode concludes with a story about a woman who loses her shoes and initially suspects foul play, only to discover she simply misplaced them.