The Longest Shortest Time

EPISODE #166: Dear Mister Rogers

When Ben was a kid, his mom helped him write an innocent letter to his favorite television friend. The reply took Ben by surprise, and changed the way they thought of his hero forever. Tune in for stories of how Fred Rogers left a mark, and why his words still resonate.

EPISODE #165: The 36 Questions to Ask Your Partner Before Having Kids

Stephanie never wanted kids…. but then she met Joey. Tune in to hear them answer a series of questions intended to help them determine if they want a future as parents together.

EPISODE #164: When Al Letson Met His Sons

When Al Letson was 23, he found out he was the father to a 6-year-old boy he’d never met. Years later, another son entered his life, and this one was white.

EPISODE #163: How to Hear a Smile

When Kristen’s son was 5 weeks old, she got an email from BabyCenter saying that all of her hard work would soon be repaid: she’d get to see her baby’s first smile. Problem is, Kristen can’t see. Tune in to hear Kristen’s creative solution to seeing a smile through blindness.

EPISODE #162: Cecile Richards on Troublemaker Moms

Cecile Richards, former head of Planned Parenthood, is a troublemaker — a quality she got from her mom, Ann Richards, who went from frustrated housewife to firecracker governor of Texas.

Episode #161: Imaginary Friends & Grown-ups

The imaginary friends you invent when you’re little can be great practice for dealing with hard stuff later on. Plus, a barfing troll and a little egg who raps!

Episode #160: Imaginary Friends & Kids

A glimpse into the weird, fun, and often dark world of imaginary companions.

EPISODE #159: A Killer Story

Poet Rachel Zucker is wrestling with the question, “Did I kill my mom… with words?” Tune in for a special Mother’s Day edition of our show.

EPISODE #158: Black Lives Matter for Middle Schoolers

In the novel Ghost Boys, a twelve-year-old unarmed black boy is shot by a white police officer. Jewell Parker Rhodes talks about why she wrote this story for middle schoolers, and why she’s counting on them to advance racial justice.

EPISODE #157: Car Births, Call-In Style

People who give birth in cars reeeally love telling the story. So we opened up our phone lines and invited them to call in.