75: Kindness of Strangers

This episode of "This American Life," a rerun from the 1990s, explores the theme of kindness, particularly the kindness of strangers, through stories set in New York City. The first act recounts an encounter on a subway platform where a man randomly decides who can stay and who must leave, highlighting the human desire for acceptance. The second act tells the story of a 14-year-old who runs away to live with Canada Lee, a Broadway star, and the unexpected impact of Lee's kindness on the boy's life. The third act contrasts these acts of kindness with a story of neighborhood conflict, where a woman's suspicion of her neighbor leads to a cycle of unkindness. Finally, the last act shares how a small act of kindness leads to the creation of a neighborhood street show.