This American Life

484: Doppelgängers

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We got a tip about a meat plant selling pig intestines as fake calamari, wondered if it could be true, and decided to investigate. Doppelgängers, doubles, evil twins and not-so-evil twins, this week. Fred Armisen co-hosts with Ira Glass.

Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

• Prologue: Fred Armisen worked up an imitation of Ira and put it into a sketch on Saturday Night Live a couple of years ago. But when they rehearsed it with an audience, there was not a roar of recognition; it seemed like Ira might not be famous enough to be mocked on network TV. Armisen finally gets a go as Ira’s doppelgänger in our studios by co-hosting this episode. (4 minutes)
• Act One: Ben Calhoun tells a story of physical resemblance — not of a person, but of food. A while ago, a farmer walked through a pork processing plant in Oklahoma with a friend who managed it. He came across boxes stacked on the floor with labels that said “artificial calamari.” So he asked his friend “What’s artificial calamari?” “Bung,” his friend replied. “Hog rectum.” Have you or I eaten bung dressed up as seafood? Ben investigated. (26 minutes)
• Act Two: For decades, the writer Alex Kotlowitz has been writing about the inner cities and the toll of violence on young people. So when he heard about a program at Drexel University where guys from the inner city get counseling for PTSD, he wondered if the effect of urban violence was comparable to the trauma that a person experiences from war. Kotlowitz talks to a military vet from Afghanistan and a guy from Philadelphia who’s lived in some pretty bad neighborhoods to find out if they are doubles of some sort. (23 minutes)

Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org

This American Life privacy policy.
Learn more about sponsor message choices.

More Great Podcasts:

Russell Westbrook May Be on The Move... Again

The NBA's Russell Westbrook will become a free agent at the end of the month. RussellWestbrook #NBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices... Read more

Lead Like a Superhero

Today, we're sharing an episode of the Superhero Leadership podcast, hosted by Marvel's former CEO and legendary turnaround expert, Peter Cuneo. Each week, Peter is... Read more

E1583: Get Ready to MAXIMIZE Your Solar Power with the BuddiPole PowerPro MPPT Controller

Check out the new Buddipole PowerPro MPPT Solar Charge Controller in this YouTube video! Designed for ham radio and off-grid enthusiasts, this innovative DC power... Read more

Erica and Mark The Phone Call - Episode 57

This Phone Call was recorded 6 5 25 Marks trip to Tejas... Eric's Mark meme is making its way around the Podcast Play Ground...Mark uses... Read more

VivaTech : Cathay Innovation à «fonds» sur l’IA

Cathay Innovation veut investir un milliard de dollars dans l’IA avec l’appui d’industriels français. Il mise avant tout sur des start-up. Dans « La Story », le... Read more

[Part 2] Alzheimer’s and Brain Health - feat. Dr. Kellyann Niotis

THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: ⁠TENMILE DISTILLERY ⁠In honor of Father’s Day, all Interview listeners will receive 10% off their order when they... Read more

The Big Bad Broadcast EP 181 -- Cris Johnson

In this episode of the Big Bad Broadcast, we dive into a lighthearted and humorous conversation with our guest, Cris Johnson, a versatile magician known... Read more

Candid with Kimbra: Interview with Wayne Thomas Yorke (Episode #28)

Kimbra talks about Hollywood History and the career and times of guest actor/historian Wayne Thomas Yorke.  ... Read more

What to know about Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear program

CBS reports on Israel’s strikes on nuclear sites in Iran. Bloomberg has more details of the Air India crash — and the remarkable story of the... Read more

Older posts