757: The Ghost in the Machine

786: It's a Game Show!

This American Life - 402: Save the Day

Stories about one person single-handedly taking charge of a situation gone wrong.

402: Save the Day

Luke was 11 when his family moved from the normal boring suburbs to what amounted to

His dad got this job as the manager of this tourist park called the Butterfly Farm.

That had domes filled with rainforest and exotic birds and butterflies and miniature train

track and pony rides and mini bike rides and launching ramp for the water skiers who

Also a spider house, a picnic area, a snake house and a guy named Vic who did a show with

It's this American like by the way from WBEC Chicago.

And the only bad thing about being 11 and living out in the countryside on the grounds

of such an incredible place was the school that Luke attended.

This was in Australia outside what was then a little town called Wilbur Forest and the

other students were these tough kids who didn't accept Luke at all.

Which is why it was such a great day for Luke when his whole class took a field trip to

It was my place, my kingdom, my turf and I felt extremely excited and filled with anticipation

that I could kind of relax and show off at the same time.

Show off especially because his dad had asked the snake handler Vic to come in and do a

Normally Vic didn't work during the week.

They weren't big enough crowds to justify it.

But Luke's dad, knowing this would be good for Luke, has them to come in special.

Each week we choose a theme. Then anything can happen. This American Life is true stories that unfold like little movies for radio. Personal stories with funny moments, big feelings, and surprising plot twists. Newsy stories that try to capture what it’s like to be alive right now. It’s the most popular weekly podcast in the world, and winner of the first ever Pulitzer Prize for a radio show or podcast. Hosted by Ira Glass and produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago.

0:00.0	Luke was 11 when his family moved from the normal boring suburbs to what amounted to
0:04.7	basically the coolest place on Earth.
0:07.7	His dad got this job as the manager of this tourist park called the Butterfly Farm.
0:12.1	That had domes filled with rainforest and exotic birds and butterflies and miniature train
0:19.1	track and pony rides and mini bike rides and launching ramp for the water skiers who
0:24.5	came in.
0:25.5	Also a spider house, a picnic area, a snake house and a guy named Vic who did a show with
0:29.4	this collection of deadly snakes.
0:31.6	It's this American like by the way from WBEC Chicago.
0:35.1	And the only bad thing about being 11 and living out in the countryside on the grounds
0:38.4	of such an incredible place was the school that Luke attended.
0:42.1	This was in Australia outside what was then a little town called Wilbur Forest and the
0:46.1	other students were these tough kids who didn't accept Luke at all.
0:50.0	Which is why it was such a great day for Luke when his whole class took a field trip to
0:54.2	the Butterfly Farm.
0:55.4	It was my place, my kingdom, my turf and I felt extremely excited and filled with anticipation
1:02.6	that I could kind of relax and show off at the same time.
1:06.4	Show off especially because his dad had asked the snake handler Vic to come in and do a
1:10.4	show for Luke's class.
1:12.4	Normally Vic didn't work during the week.
1:14.0	They weren't big enough crowds to justify it.
1:16.2	But Luke's dad, knowing this would be good for Luke, has them to come in special.
	...

402: Save the Day

This American Life

This American Life

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