In the Seat Next to You, or Maybe in Your Seat

A year ago or so, a friend turned me onto to the podcast, This American Life. I was quickly hooked, listening to episodes whenever I could - walking the dog, walking to work, or going to bed. Months later, I discovered the spin-off podcast, Serial, and its first season and story, which ran over 12 episodes. Again, hooked. And now, Strangers, a podcast which "featur(es) true stories about people we meet, the heartbreaks we suffer, the kindnesses we encounter, and those frightful moments when we discover that we aren't even who we thought we were." I love these podcasts, and I think it is because they all make me feel more connected to the world I live in, and more connected to myself.

On my way to work this morning, I listened to an episode of Strangers titled, The Teacher Who Couldn't Read, the story of a man, who through resourcefulness, charm, and desperation, made his way through high school, college, and professional life, without being able to read. It is about how we educate, why we educate, and how difficult it can be for an adult to return to learning. I will write no more. Just listen to it if you have a few moments.

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Some other recommendations: Act V - what happens when a passionate drama instructor teaches in a high-security prison; Harper High - stories from a school in Chicago that has seen more than its fair share of violence; 275: Two Steps Back - "the rise and fall of school reform."