This American Life 883: Call Your Parents
45 snips
Mar 22, 2026 
Shirley Glass, psychologist and therapist known for her work on parent–child relationships, appears throughout the conversation offering reflections and advice. Short interviews revisit parental expectations, giving advice vs. walking on eggshells, and uneasy moments about sex and career choices. Intimate radio exchanges reveal how public conversations rewrote private family dynamics.
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Radio Brought Ira Closer To His Parents
- Ira Glass credits putting his parents on his early radio show with healing a distant, tense relationship built on disapproval and financial worries.
- Including them publicly made them part of a valued project, gave them attention, and softened their criticism over time.
Mom Ran A Talk On Adult Children
- Shirley Glass led a Hadassah discussion about relationships with adult children and described parents' disappointment criteria like marriage, grandchildren, proximity, appreciation, and success.
- Ira interrupts with dry asides about his unmarried life, revealing real tension under the lighthearted segment.
First Episode Call Turned Critical Career Check
- On the first show Ira called his parents for advice; Shirley immediately asked about target audience and warned the show could be 'artsy' and narrow.
- Shirley compared Ira to Hugh Grant and pushed the pragmatic idea of TV, reflecting parental concern about career and money.