Getting Out

People trying to escape all kinds of seemingly impossible situations. Prologue: We hear a phone call from this week between Kirk Johnson in California, and Ajmal, a man standing in a canal outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. (2 minutes) Act One: Nancy Updike tells the story of the phone call from the prologue. (17 minutes) You Can Check Out Anytime You Like, But You Can Never Leave: Host Ira Glass talks to producer Elna Baker about the time she and her siblings found themselves trapped in a hotel room with an unexpected visitor. (13 minutes) You Can’t Go Your Own Way: Carmen Maria Machado tells the story of being stuck in an abusive relationship as a “Choose Your Own Adventure” tale. This chapter of Carmen’s memoir, “In The Dream House,” was read for us by actor Zoë Winters. (12 minutes) Blue Kid on the Block: Leo’s family moved away from Rochester, NY, leaving behind all of Leo's friends and stranding him in a new — and in his opinion, much worse — middle school. (10 minutes)