Ira (Reluctantly) Gives a Graduation Speech

伊拉(不情愿地)发表毕业演讲

This American Life

2026-05-01

8 分钟
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Ira always hated commencement speeches. Then he felt like he had to give this one. thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners
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  • Hey, it's Ira Glass.

  • Here's a free sample of the newest bonus episode that we made for our This American Life partners.

  • It starts this way.

  • Hey, everybody, Ira here.

  • I went to a high school graduation last year around this time.

  • And can I say, chat GBT has not been good for graduation speeches.

  • Honestly, like most graduation speeches were pretty bad before AI, right?

  • Like, I don't know.

  • That's been my experience going to graduations.

  • Maybe it's been yours too.

  • Though I think graduation speeches are bad for reasons that are really built in and nobody's fault.

  • When students give them, understandably, they feel like they have to say something about the experience

  • that they just went through being in school.

  • And unless something very unusual and dramatic happened that year in school with that particular class,

  • those stories all kind of, you know, just sound the same.

  • Then there's a section acknowledging and thanking teachers and parents.

  • And there should be a section like that.

  • Like, no question.

  • Of course there's a section like that.

  • But.