Find shows
you love
Build your personal media library. Follow your favorite people, shows, and topics

Building Emotional Calluses

656. The Ku Klux Klan: Birth of a Nation (Part 3)

884: The Idiot
M. Gessen returns to our show with a true-crime story that takes place entirely within their own family. This story comes to us from the producers at Serial Productions—who invented the true-crime podcast more than a decade ago—and from The New York Times.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.
- Act One: M Gessen tells Ira Glass about the surprising events that prompted them to begin reporting on their own family for their new podcast, The Idiot. They play the first episode of the series. (14 minutes)
- Act Two: Ira Glass and M Gessen continue to talk through the story of M’s cousin, Allen Gessen. They play more clips from the podcast, and we finally hear about the big, shocking thing that snapped their family apart. (20 minutes)
- Act Three: M Gessen tells Ira Glass about Allen’s trial, and we hear a recording of his conversation with the undercover agent. (21 minutes)
Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org
This American Life privacy policy.
Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Trump’s Health Collapses as War gets Out of Control!!!!

Melania Goes Missing as Her Fixer Surfaces

All Hell Breaks Loose as Zelenskyy Strikes Hard in Russia

The Silent Partner: How Your Network Dictates Your Net Worth

Can Soccer Save the World?
How is the world reacting to America's World Cup? Did Trump's red card interference ruin all the fun? And will the U.S. men's national team ever be good? Gary Lineker, host of The Rest Is Football and English soccer legend, joins Tommy to talk about the excitement, anxiety, and geopolitics surrounding the 2026 World Cup. Gary offers some advice to America on how to become a true soccer nation, discusses the successes and failures of this World Cup, and reminisces about his time playing in the 1986 World Cup — where he won the Golden Boot and played in the historic "Hand of God" match.
For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com.


