Stories of good ideas gone bad: a cop gets trapped in his own car, a cast believes they'll win the lottery, a couple's accountant goes off the rails. The power of belief, financial woes, and unexpected twists make for a rollercoaster of events.
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Quick takeaways
Taking risks in pursuit of financial success can sometimes lead to disappointment and unexpected outcomes.
Trusting professionals with personal finances can have unforeseen consequences, highlighting the importance of due diligence.
Underestimating the consequences of seemingly harmless actions can quickly escalate into desperate situations, emphasizing the need for caution and awareness.
Deep dives
Discovery of a Violent Escape in a Police Car
A police officer working a night shift accidentally locks himself in the back of his patrol car in a parking lot, leading to a series of events involving confusion, urgency, and an unexpected rescue from a fellow officer. The incident unfolds in a comedic yet tense manner as the trapped officer tries to seek help while facing unexpected challenges.
A Daughter's Strategic Approach to Bonding with Her Dad
An 11-year-old girl devises a clever plan to connect with her distant father by enrolling in his class on the function of the heart. By posing intelligent questions and actively participating in the class, she seeks to break through the communication barrier between them and gain a better understanding of her father's profession and personality.
Unexpected Revelations in a Morning TV Show
An author shares his experiences of appearing on various morning TV shows during a book tour, recounting amusing and sometimes chaotic incidents with fellow guests and hosts. From surprising segments with distressed animals and unruly birds to mishaps with guests and unintentional revelations during live broadcasts, the author's encounters highlight the unpredictable nature of morning TV appearances.
Lessons Learned on Parental Expectations and Self-Expression
A daughter reflects on a moment from her childhood where she enthusiastically participated in her father's class despite her mother's later advice to be quieter. The incident serves as a poignant realization that she should stay true to her enthusiastic nature and strategic thinking, accepting the clash between parental expectations and personal expression.
Additional Information
The episode also features ads for BetterHelp Online Therapy and highlights a range of themes including family dynamics, parental relationships, unexpected challenges, and the nuances of self-discovery and expression across different experiences shared within the podcast episode.
A girl signs up for a class. A couple hires an accountant. A group of co-workers decides to pool their money and buy a couple of lottery tickets. In the beginning, they're full of hope and optimism — and then something turns. Stories of good ideas gone bad.
Prologue: Paul was a cop. One night he was pulling second shift when he had a perfectly good idea: He'd stretch out in the back seat and take a little nap during his break. He fell right asleep, and slept well until he woke up and realized the funny thing about the back seats of cop cars: The doors don't open from the inside. Paul is author of the book Bad Cop: New York's Least Likely Police Officer Tells All. (8 minutes)
Act One: It was two months into the tour. Katie Else and the rest of the Riverdance cast had been performing eight shows a week. They decided to pool their money for the Mega-Millions lottery. Lotto fever gripped the cast. They started to genuinely believe they would take home about $2 million each, and quit Riverdance the next day. They took the stage the night of the drawing and pulled off their best performance ever, "For the Lotto!," trying to direct their energy towards the win. An hour later, at the hotel bar, the numbers came in. (17 minutes)
Act Two: After years of neglecting their personal finances, Joel and his wife finally decide to sort things out. They hire a tax accountant named Len, whose casual manner is a real comfort, at first. But then, "casual" turns into "drunk" and then it's clear that he's just plain delinquent. Joel tries to take his business elsewhere, but Len refuses to let go of their file. He begs for a second chance, which it seems, came too late. Joel Lovell is executive editor at Pineapple Street Media. (8 minutes)
Act Three: Davy Rothbart was on a 136-city tour appearing on morning TV talk shows to promote his book Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World. Just before one appearance he had what seemed like a great idea at the time. Without letting the host know, he tested it out, live, on-air. Davy is the creator of Found Magazine and author of the book of essays My Heart Is An Idiot. (6 minutes)
Act Four: When Elspeth was a girl, she wanted nothing more than her father's attention. He was busy, a doctor, and distant. One day he agrees to put on a volunteer seminar for their church, about his area of expertise: "The Function of the Heart." Elspeth and her best friend are the only two kids who show up, and Elspeth is attentive and engaged, the perfect student. It was an incredible experience for her, the best day she's ever spent with her dad...she thinks. That is, until her mother takes her aside and explains her big mistake. (8 minutes)