598: My Undesirable Talent

757: The Ghost in the Machine

This American Life - 787: Baby's First Christmas

People experiencing Christmas in brand new ways, giving the holiday even more meaning.

787: Baby's First Christmas

Alan is not the real Santa Claus, a guy in the North Pole.

Obviously, I said the standing little kids who might be listening to me right now, that guy in the North Pole is amazing.

Alan is not that guy. Alan's just a guy who dresses up as Santa sometimes.

Alan doesn't have Santa's flying reindeer. Alan doesn't have weachens of elves, backing him up.

And most of all, Alan doesn't have his years of experience.

This is my first year as Santa, my first...

He's driving to his very first chair gig.

Okay. I'm so nervous. I'm nervous. I'm really, really nervous.

A chair gig. You're sitting in chair, talk to kids about what they want for Christmas.

One of our producers that you'd acquaintled, rode with him to this job.

This was in Redlands, California, an hour or so east of Los Angeles.

Alan is an earnest guy with a kind face, who, and he would tell you this himself,

Really, he told a Viva. He's not sure what to expect at this gig.

So he's just been trying to prepare for everything by making some lists, checking them twice.

Last night, I made checklists on my phone for all the things that I would need

and all the things I would potentially need.

I have a backup for almost everything that I wear.

Well, in case a baby spits up, I need another shirt.

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	Alan is not the real Santa Claus, a guy in the North Pole.
0:05.0	Obviously, I said the standing little kids who might be listening to me right now, that guy in the North Pole is amazing.
0:11.0	Alan is not that guy. Alan's just a guy who dresses up as Santa sometimes.
0:16.0	Alan doesn't have Santa's flying reindeer. Alan doesn't have weachens of elves, backing him up.
0:22.0	And most of all, Alan doesn't have his years of experience.
0:26.0	This is my first year as Santa, my first...
0:30.0	Oh, I'm going the wrong way.
0:32.0	He's driving to his very first chair gig.
0:35.0	Okay. I'm so nervous. I'm nervous. I'm really, really nervous.
0:44.0	A chair gig. You're sitting in chair, talk to kids about what they want for Christmas.
0:49.0	One of our producers that you'd acquaintled, rode with him to this job.
0:52.0	This was in Redlands, California, an hour or so east of Los Angeles.
0:56.0	Alan is an earnest guy with a kind face, who, and he would tell you this himself,
1:01.0	tends to overthink things at all.
1:04.0	Really, he told a Viva. He's not sure what to expect at this gig.
1:08.0	Like, what could go wrong?
1:10.0	So he's just been trying to prepare for everything by making some lists, checking them twice.
1:15.0	Last night, I made checklists on my phone for all the things that I would need
1:21.0	and all the things I would potentially need.
1:23.0	I have a backup for almost everything that I wear.
1:27.0	How come?
1:29.0	Well, in case a baby spits up, I need another shirt.
	...

787: Baby's First Christmas

This American Life

This American Life

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