Ira Glass

This is Ira Glass of This American Life. Each week on our show, we choose a theme, tell different stories on that theme. All right, I'm just going to stop right there. You're listening to an NPR podcast. Chances are you know our show. So instead, I'm going to tell you we've just been on a run of really good shows lately. Some big epic emotional stories, some weird funny stuff too.

This is Ira Glass of This American Life. Each week on our show, we choose a theme, tell different stories on that theme. All right, I'm just going to stop right there. You're listening to an NPR podcast. Chances are you know our show. So instead, I'm going to tell you we've just been on a run of really good shows lately. Some big epic emotional stories, some weird funny stuff too.

This is Ira Glass of This American Life. Each week on our show, we choose a theme, tell different stories on that theme. All right, I'm just going to stop right there. You're listening to an NPR podcast. Chances are you know our show. So instead, I'm going to tell you we've just been on a run of really good shows lately. Some big epic emotional stories, some weird funny stuff too.

Download us, This American Life. A note to our listeners.

Download us, This American Life. A note to our listeners.

Download us, This American Life. A note to our listeners.

Oh my God.

Oh my God.

But, like, how many minutes are we in to the story?

But, like, how many minutes are we in to the story?

That's unbelievable.

That's unbelievable.

Bridie and her dad Bryn have been playing the same game for decades. It's called a pinch and a punch.

Bridie and her dad Bryn have been playing the same game for decades. It's called a pinch and a punch.

Okay, so it can be any form. It just has to reach the other person before their pinch and punch reaches you. That's right. They first started playing this game when Bridie was really little. She can't really remember ever not playing it. It was just one of the many games they played.

Okay, so it can be any form. It just has to reach the other person before their pinch and punch reaches you. That's right. They first started playing this game when Bridie was really little. She can't really remember ever not playing it. It was just one of the many games they played.

Brynn traveled a lot for work when Bridie was young, and the games were a way for them to stay connected while he was gone. But pinch and punch, this is the game that stuck. It kept going. For years. It really leveled up when Bridie was in secondary school.

Brynn traveled a lot for work when Bridie was young, and the games were a way for them to stay connected while he was gone. But pinch and punch, this is the game that stuck. It kept going. For years. It really leveled up when Bridie was in secondary school.

These days, now that Bridie's grown up and moved out, most of the pinches and punches are low-key. A phone call, a text. Sometimes Bryn or Bridie will try to disguise the sentence in an email sent to the whole family. Bridie says her dad has learned to not open anything from her that's sent just to him on the first of the month.

These days, now that Bridie's grown up and moved out, most of the pinches and punches are low-key. A phone call, a text. Sometimes Bryn or Bridie will try to disguise the sentence in an email sent to the whole family. Bridie says her dad has learned to not open anything from her that's sent just to him on the first of the month.