Met him 20 years ago. Taller than I expected. He's introverted. I will always be grateful for TAL introducing me to Sara Bowell, David Rakoff, David Sedaris, Mike Birbiglia, et al.
I don't listen to Ira Glass because he is so bad at radio. His stories are interesting but his presentation is terrible. He knows this and has commented on it himself. He refuses to improve, which is how I know that he isn't too worried about his audience. That is arrogance.
I met Ira Glass and Sarah Vowell once and was too awkward and idiotic to say anything and just nodded and arranged my face into what I hoped was a smile but probably looked like I was about to fart, confirming to them and everyone else around that I am indeed an awkward idiot. But I did not fart.
Funny how this requires an article. This applies to almost anyone. You have your professional persona, and then how you really are. Almost everyone comes across more pleasant in a professional setting than behind the scenes. Unless there is a big disconnect between the two, this sounds normal.
It's clear to me that people in this comment section don't listen to TAL and didn't open this article to read or listen to this segment of Wild Card. Trolls are now here on BlueSky and this comment section proves it.
I listen, only because he wakes me up on the best available station, but hate everything about the program. But I don't resent the fact I'm adding to the measurable audience figure that keeps him going. NPR deserves better imho.
"Fuck legacy. Fuck people of the future. Fuck people who will be after all of us are dead. Fuck the people who will be alive, having lunch and seeing movies. Fuck them. I hate them. I'm not making a radio show for them. I'm making a show for people who hear it now."
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So he's a pretty normal guy? Everyone is like that. I'm a lot more vulgar in my personal life than I am on Teams calls at work. At work I'm professional and pleasant to my colleagues, when I'm not working I allow myself to express... myself more.
I remember him being such a dick about wanting Car Talk to leave the air completely after Tommy died, to 'make room for other shows' when his and other shows had an audience because Tom and Ray built it and formed that listening habit.
It's really driven home by his clearly vain attachment to his uber-bass heavy microphone. You know he has this normally whiny voice, but you can tell he carries his mic around in a vanity case like a 50s pool shark.
Comments
Sheesh. Do y’all even look in the mirror anymore?
Book it.
I think you are very right
I think his answer is valid.
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