Good Pledge = Good Radio

Ira Glass hosts This American Life, heard on most public radio stations, and whose stellar TAL team single-handedly propelled the podcast into popular culture.

If you've been around public radio for a while, you'll remember that Ira produced a wildly effective series of audio spots in support of pledge drives. These spots ranged from enthusiastic pitches for TAL premiums, to friends turning in public radio-freeloading friends, to heart-rending stories of how radio reporting affects listeners' lives. When asked why he used such drastically different pledge messages Ira responded "You have to play every note on the piano."

Ira understands that good pledge is good radio. Here's his short audio essay about that.

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Ira Glass

Host of This American Life