If you don’t have a long commute or simply use an iPod rather than the car radio then chances are that you are not an NPR junkie like myself.  It makes me sad that you don’t listen to NPR.  Hey, I like to rock out to my iPod too, but NPR is like Jamba Juice – it tastes good and is good for you!  NPR has become my main (if not sole) outlet for news and information, and continuing education.  On Fridays I know that I’m going to learn something cool about Science thanks to Ira Flatow.  I’m always interested by the guests and conversations on the Dianne Rehm Show.  Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett has far and away the most intelligent conversations about religion and Fresh Air with Terri Gross is reason enough to turn off the iPod and check out your car’s radio.  Unless of course you podcast these shows like I do.  Then they’re with you anytime you want.

BUT far and away THE best reason to check out NPR is a show from Chicago called “This American Life.”  Be warned, TAL is addictive.  I first encountered TAL driving around Kansas City when I was in Seminary, and before I knew it I was hooked on whatever story was being told.  I have a distinct memory of being so captivated by a story of a little American girl who became pen-pals with Manuel Noriega that I sat in my car in the parking lot of Blockbuster for 45 minutes listening to the story.  I couldn’t get out of the car to go rent a movie for fear that I would miss even a minute of the story.

This began to happen more frequently until I figured out what that crazy show was that kept me trapped inside my car, so that I could just subscribe to the podcast and not fear being trapped in my car again.

The next distinct episode I remember hearing was about prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and stories of how they got there.  It made my blood boil.  I haven’t missed an episode since.  TAL is why I donate to NPR now.  But what IS This America Life?  Is it a news show?  Is it just stories?  Well it’s hard to say, but usually they have a theme for the week and bring us several stories relating to that theme.  Most are true, some are audio from stand-up comedians, it really is rather unpredictable.  Some weeks there is one story that is just so compelling that the whole hour is devoted to it.  For instance they’ve done three shows now explaining the economic collapse “for the rest of us” who don’t speak economic-ese.  The first episode “Giant Pool of Money” explained the sub-prime mortgage crisis in a way that was both incredibly understandable and fun (or at least funny).  There latest economy episode explains the banking crisis we’re in now.  That episode is called “Bad Bank” and it will enlighten you to what the heck is going on in our world right now and why we might care… again done in a way that was ridiculously easy to understand and fun to listen to.

So seriously go check out This American Life right now.  Then subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

Then give them like $5 or $10 a year to help pull your own weight and pay for the bandwidth.