Ira Glass

Host/Producer

This American Life

You can criticize yourself to a point to do something better, or you criticize yourself to a point where you inhibit yourself.

About Ira

Grew up in an area where smart kids were expected to become doctors, but he always had an interest in media.
Took two summer jobs, one at a hospital, one at NPR: "At the end of that summer, it was seemed very clear which one was more appealing."
Says the best thing to do is force yourself into doing the work, and the skills will eventually come; believes hard work can make a person talented.
He was bad at his job for a long time; says, "even the stuff you're really good at, you're not good at right away."
Started producing shows at age 19; says early tapes show he had "no talent at all" for reporting, but he was good at editing.
His parents hated the choices he was making; they'd worked hard to get into the middle class, constantly worried he wouldn't "succeed."
Says the least pleasant part of his job is actually being on the radio: "all you can do is screw it up...there are so many ways to ruin it."
Believes he will wake up with doubt and worry every day, but he's made peace with that, uses feelings of inadequacy to motivate him.