This American Life 835: Children of Dave
17 snips
May 18, 2025 Boen Wang believes his life's misery stems from a moment before his birth. He journeys to Norman, Oklahoma, to meet the man who changed his parents' lives. Reflecting on family history, religious upbringing, and cultural identity, the podcast explores themes of forgiveness, self-loathing, and belonging.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1119 Bayard Street
- Ira Glass's family history revolves around 1119 Bayard Street, his great-grandfather's Baltimore grocery store.
- The stories passed down are mostly of hardship, like the slaughtering of chickens and bad bookkeeping.
Arrival in Oklahoma
- Boen Wang's father arrived in Oklahoma from Beijing, hoping for a new life.
- A Christian named Dave picked him up from the airport after the university failed to do so.
Conversion
- Dave introduced Boen's father to Christianity, giving him a Bible and inviting him to church.
- Both Boen's parents converted, raising him and his sister as Christians.