883: Call Your Parents

Ira Glass reflects on how his radio show, *This American Life*, profoundly improved his relationship with his parents. By including them on the show, Glass created a shared project that fostered connection and provided a public affirmation of their roles as parents. He shares excerpts from early episodes featuring his mother and father, revealing their personalities and dynamics. These clips include discussions about adult children's relationships with their parents, his father's brief radio career, and his mother's unexpected role as a "sexpert" in Marie Claire. Glass recounts a pivotal, off-air conversation with his father that led to emotional resolution and contrasts it with his more challenging relationship with his mother. Ultimately, the act of broadcasting these conversations created a space for understanding and acceptance, transforming their family dynamic.