cover of episode 832: That Other Guy

832: That Other Guy

2024/6/2
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This American Life

Chapters

Leroy Smith's high school basketball tryout experience with Michael Jordan, where Jordan was initially placed on the JV team, became a recurring narrative in Jordan's career, highlighting his competitive drive and creating an unexpected link between the two.
  • Michael Jordan frequently mentioned Leroy Smith in interviews and public appearances, citing him as motivation.
  • Jordan's repeated references to Smith, even naming shoes after him, demonstrate Jordan's focus on competition.
  • Smith, despite being less famous, maintains a positive attitude about his connection to Jordan.

Shownotes Transcript

People tethered to one particular other person, whether they want to be or not.

  • Prologue: Guest host Emmanuel Dzotsi talks to Leroy Smith about how one high school basketball tryout forever changed Leroy’s relationship to a childhood friend. (7 minutes)
  • Act One: A man finds himself sucked into an intense head-to-head running competition against a perfect rival – all for free burritos from Chipotle. (18 minutes)
  • Act Two: Writer Simon Rich grapples with an A.I. chatbot that threatens to make him obsolete. (21 minutes)
  • Act Three: For writer Marie Phillips, moving in with her partner meant finding herself deeply connected to the woman who came before her. (12 minutes)

Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org)