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October 5, 2012

What Doesn’t Kill You

Stories of how people cope after brushes with death. Sometimes death comes as a disease. Sometimes it swims up and bites you. And sometimes it's a pen or pencil, sitting there, just waiting for you to ingest it.

Prologue

Ira talks to comedian Tig Notaro, who recently had a bunch of horrible things happen to her all in the course of 4 months. (3 minutes)

Act One

Too Soon?

In July, Tig was diagnosed with cancer. A week later she went on stage on Los Angeles and did a now-legendary set about her string of misfortunes. This is an excerpt of the full performance, which is available on the album LIVE. (13 minutes)

Act Two

Just Keep Breathing

A teenage girl gets bitten by a shark, rushed to the doctor's office, stitched up, and told she'll be totally fine. Crisis averted, right? Not so much. Ira tells the story. (21 minutes)
Act Three

A Real Nail Biter

Jessica Benko tells the story of a woman named Cathy who was almost killed several times by a thought that she just couldn't get rid of. (15 1/2 minutes)