This American Life 212: The Other Man
25 snips
Apr 5, 2026 
Heather O'Neill, novelist and mother navigating new domestic life. Jonathan Goldstein, writer and podcaster integrating into a small family and bonding awkwardly with a child. Davy Rothbart, writer and Found Magazine founder whose mother channels a spirit named Aaron. They talk about channeling and family belief, political name tricks, and the awkward, funny work of becoming part of a family with a resistant child.
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Growing Up With A Household Spirit
- Davy Rothbart grew up with his mother channeling an ancient spirit named Aaron who dictated Buddhist sutras and taught meditation to locals.
- The household normalized nightly meditation classes, vegan snacks, and visiting students, making Aaron an ordinary family presence rather than a spectacle.
A Spirit Can Change Family Dynamics
- Aaron's arrival gave Erin a renewed purpose and social role, easing her isolation after sudden deafness.
- That shift reduced family conflict and helped Davy's father manage his anger, stabilizing a previously tense household.
Belief Forces Uncomfortable Choices
- Belief in Aaron posed categorical choices: accept a vast spiritual world or conclude Erin is deluded, making the question emotionally fraught for the family.
- Davy frames his faith in Aaron as faith in his mother, not proof of the spirit.