"Liking" something on Facebook can be a mixed bag. You can be inundated with updates, or totally forget that you "liked" something and never get good updates.
David Sedaris' Facebook page, however, is excellent. It both posts his book tour dates and, more interestingly, posts archived Sedaris readings from live performances and appearances on This American Life from the 1990s, when I at least was not yet a Sedaris fanatic.
If you've listened to This American Life recently, you might have taken note of the live storytelling segments they've started to broadcast as one of the acts, usually the last in the show. The often funny and reflective pieces are actually part of The Moth, a non-profit storytelling organization based in New York that aims to bring live storytelling to audiences all over the country.
The live sessions are sort of a mash-up of stand-up comedy and literary reading, without so much of the awkwardness or pretentiousness usually associated with the two. Usually it's just one person on stage, telling their personal story, so although it is a performance, there is a sense of intimacy. Just like TAL, the stories work to help people understand things in a new light. Listen to a sample of stories here. Past notable performers include Ethan Hawke, Janeane Garofalo, Lewis Black, Jonathan Ames, Tim Gunn (yes! That Time Gunn) and Salman Rushdie.
The segments on TAL are great, but seeing these stories told live takes the meaningfulness behind the stories and the people who are brave enough to tell them to a different level. And you've got your chance tonight, as The Moth sponsors its one of its three L.A. StorySLAMs tonight at Busby's East. The StorySLAMs consist of ten stories/storytellers, limited to five minutes each, that follow a certain theme. The stories are scored by three audience member judges, who at the end of the night pick a winner to face off in a later GrandSLAM. Tonight's theme is "Inspired," and who knows, maybe it'll inspire you to get up on The Moth stage to tell your own tale.
The Moth StorySLAMs occur at Busby's East (5364 Wilshire Blvd.) every second Tuesday of the month, El Cid (4212 W. Sunset Blvd.) every third Tuesday of the month, and the Air Conditioned Supper Club (625 Lincoln Blvd.) every last Monday of the month, at 7:30pm for $8.
If you're a fan of This American Life (which you should be), it's time to check out one of their own favorites, Radiolab. Produced by WNYC, this radio show is like a science- and philosophy-oriented sister to TAL, using the same personal anecdote format to divulge further into certain themes. Hearing the words 'science' and 'philosophy' may throw some people off at first, but just as TAL is able to make the recession an interesting story, so can Radiolab with its own topics.
For example, Radiolab's show on "Numbers" followed a narrator to a convention of mathematicians, and focused on this peculiar way that these math geniuses identify themselves--by their Erdos number, or rather a sort of Six Degrees of Separation game played with a near-mythological mathematician named Paul Erdos as Kevin Bacon. There was also a show focusing on "Oops," which had hilarious stories about mistakes, minor and major, that people have made. And then there was "Words," which tried to imagine a world without words. Imagine! Radiolab tried. And they also had this fun video to go along with its podcast--can you 'see' all the words?: Radiolab airs on KCRW on occasional Sundays (like if This American Life is in reruns), but to fully catch up on the episodes, download the podcasts or stream online at the Radiolab website. It's another great (and sadly, rare) example of what radio can do, so go out and support it!
-- Chau Tu
ps. Also, doesn't co-host Jad Abumrad sound like Ira Glass? Major plus.
As members and valiant supporters of the industry, we here at theBEAT surely recognize, acknowledge and are curious about the difficulties facing journalism these days. One thing we know for sure: although journalism may be having its identity/survival crises right now, that doesn't mean the stories being churned out by its hard-working loyalists are any less wonderful, inspiring or important.
Take for example, the latest list compiled by True/Slant's Conor Friedersdorf of the best journalism of 2009. Spread across newspapers, magazines, online and, yes, even radio (go TAL!), the pieces chosen here are those of a caliber that shouldn't be ignored, forgotten or dismissed. They remind you that indeed, there was a purpose to this poor trade, and goshdarnit if it ever ceases to exist or matter.
Take some time to appreciate not only the great stories being told literally in these pieces, but also the stories of the times and atmospheres from which they originated. And no matter what, these pieces really are worth perusing.
For his wondrous skills of storytelling and an unbeatable combination of intelligence and genuineness, This American Life's valiant leader Ira Glass is one of my most favorite people in the world. (Plus, look at him, he's a stud.) And if he isn't one of yours yet, get on the boat already! You won't look back.
Here's another chance: Glass is bringing his live show "Radio Stories & Other Stories" to UCLA's Royce Hall on March 27th for two separate editions, one at 7pm and one at 10pm. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am--but note, you have to be a KCRW member to purchase (and you really should be subscribing anyway).
I saw this show back in 2007 at USC, and it was incredibly fun, insightful and inspiring. Glass, alone on the stage with his sound devices and players, brings all the great stories and moments that make This American Life fantastic and adds his own personal experiences into the mix, making everything intimate and personable. He'll also be taking questions at the end, but try to refrain from going on and on about your unabated love for him (I know it'll be difficult).
In downtown Los Angeles, years ago, we met while working as editorial assistants at the Los Angeles Times. Today, we're still young, thirsty female journalists, on various paths of life (Chau in Silver Lake and Leslie in Brooklyn), here to deliver our best finds from this city and beyond, via the BEAT of young los angeles. Get comfortable and stay a while. Check back often!
"Liking" something on Facebook can be a mixed bag. You can be inundated with updates, or totally forget that you "liked" something and never get good updates.
