Ira Glass

There are those amazing shots done from kid-level height as the little boy speeds down the hallways of this huge hotel on his big wheel. This made everything in the film seem very, very real to Seth. It just made it plausible.

Act 5, A Little Taste of the Big Sleep. So I started today's show by talking about how fear of sleeping, for me, goes hand in hand with the fear of death. And I used to be surprised that everybody didn't feel that way or regularly have that experience, these moments in bed when they felt so aware that death is really going to happen to them.

Act 5, A Little Taste of the Big Sleep. So I started today's show by talking about how fear of sleeping, for me, goes hand in hand with the fear of death. And I used to be surprised that everybody didn't feel that way or regularly have that experience, these moments in bed when they felt so aware that death is really going to happen to them.

And I have found that it is comforting that there are other people who do feel that. Here are some.

And I have found that it is comforting that there are other people who do feel that. Here are some.

Jane Marie, Leonard Davis, and G.J. Ekternkamp. I know that we almost never have poems on our show, and I already read one poem today, so, you know, whatever. But there's a Philip Larkin poem that is exactly about this subject that we're talking about. It's in his collected poems, which is published by Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, called Obad. And...

Jane Marie, Leonard Davis, and G.J. Ekternkamp. I know that we almost never have poems on our show, and I already read one poem today, so, you know, whatever. But there's a Philip Larkin poem that is exactly about this subject that we're talking about. It's in his collected poems, which is published by Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, called Obad. And...

It begins and it's nighttime and he writes at nighttime, you can see what's always been there, unresting death a whole day nearer now. And then I'm just going to pick up in the middle of this where he describes what he sees. The total emptiness forever, the sure extinction that we traveled to and shall be lost in always, not to be here, not to be anywhere.

It begins and it's nighttime and he writes at nighttime, you can see what's always been there, unresting death a whole day nearer now. And then I'm just going to pick up in the middle of this where he describes what he sees. The total emptiness forever, the sure extinction that we traveled to and shall be lost in always, not to be here, not to be anywhere.

And soon, nothing more terrible, nothing more true. This is a special way of being afraid. No trick dispels. Religion used to try. That vast, moth-eaten musical brocade, created to pretend we never die. And specious stuff that says, no rational being can fear a thing it will not feel. Not seeing that this is what we fear. No sight, no sound. No touch or taste or smell.

And soon, nothing more terrible, nothing more true. This is a special way of being afraid. No trick dispels. Religion used to try. That vast, moth-eaten musical brocade, created to pretend we never die. And specious stuff that says, no rational being can fear a thing it will not feel. Not seeing that this is what we fear. No sight, no sound. No touch or taste or smell.

Nothing to think with, nothing to love or link with. The anesthetic from which none come round. And so it stays just on the edge of vision, a small, unfocused blur, a standing chill that slows each impulse down to indecision. Most things may never happen. This one will. And realization of it rages out in furnace fear when we're caught without people or drink. Courage is no good.

Nothing to think with, nothing to love or link with. The anesthetic from which none come round. And so it stays just on the edge of vision, a small, unfocused blur, a standing chill that slows each impulse down to indecision. Most things may never happen. This one will. And realization of it rages out in furnace fear when we're caught without people or drink. Courage is no good.

It means not scaring others. Being brave lets no one off the grave. Death is no different whined at than withstood. Slowly light strengthens and the room takes shape. It stands plain as a wardrobe. What we know, have always known. Know that we can't escape. Yet can't accept. One side will have to go. Meanwhile, telephones crouch, getting ready to ring, in locked up offices.

It means not scaring others. Being brave lets no one off the grave. Death is no different whined at than withstood. Slowly light strengthens and the room takes shape. It stands plain as a wardrobe. What we know, have always known. Know that we can't escape. Yet can't accept. One side will have to go. Meanwhile, telephones crouch, getting ready to ring, in locked up offices.

And all the uncaring, intricate rented world begins to rouse. The sky is white as clay, with no sun. Work has to be done. Postmen, like doctors, go from house to house.

And all the uncaring, intricate rented world begins to rouse. The sky is white as clay, with no sun. Work has to be done. Postmen, like doctors, go from house to house.

Our program was produced today by Nancy Opdek and myself, with Alex Bloomberg, Jane Marie, Lisa Pollock, Robin Simeon, and Alyssa Shipp. Our senior producer for today's show is Julie Snyder. Production help from PJ Vogt and Tara Kuda. Help on today's rerun from Michael Comadese, Joan Nelson, Catherine Raimondo, Ryan Rumery, and Angela Gervasi.

Our program was produced today by Nancy Opdek and myself, with Alex Bloomberg, Jane Marie, Lisa Pollock, Robin Simeon, and Alyssa Shipp. Our senior producer for today's show is Julie Snyder. Production help from PJ Vogt and Tara Kuda. Help on today's rerun from Michael Comadese, Joan Nelson, Catherine Raimondo, Ryan Rumery, and Angela Gervasi.

Mike Birbiglia, who you heard earlier in the show, has his own podcast called Working It Out. And our latest bonus episode for Life Partners is his latest episode of his podcast where I am the guest and he critiques my skills as a stand-up comedian. If you want to become a life partner and get access to all of our bonus episodes, there are so many now.