In2009, there were 25This American Life episodes.

• Episode 372 – "The Inauguration Show"
• Episode 373 – "The New Boss"
• Episode 374 – "Somewhere Out There"
• Episode 375 – "Bad Bank"
• Episode 376 – "Wrong Side of History"
• Episode 377 – "Scenes From a Recession"
• Episode 378 – "This I Used to Believe"
• Episode 379 – "Return to the Scene of the Crime"
• Episode 380 – "No Map"
• Episode 381 – "Turncoat"

Show description: Stories of people betraying, or perceived as betraying, their own people.

• Act 1:Code Red –Ira Glass andMy Thuan Tran (The Los Angeles Times reporter)
  • HowSan JoseCity CouncilwomanMadison Nguyen was first celebrated, thenred-baited and demonized by theVietnamese-American community that elected her.
• Act 2 & 3:My Way or the FBI Way –Michael May (reporter)
  • HowBrandon Darby, a radical activist against the United States government, became anFBI informant against his former community.
• Music interlude:Jamo Thomas – "I Spy (For the FBI)"
• Act 4:If the Shoe Fits –Matt Malloy
  • Reading ofEtgar Keret's short story "Shoes," about a Jewish boy and his love forGerman-madeAdidas shoes.
• Music interlude:Run DMC – "My Adidas"

• Episode 382 – "The Watchmen"

Show description: Stories produced by thePlanet Money team, about how the financial regulation and rating agencies, intended to prevent financial disaster, oversaw and permitted the risky activities that led to the2008 financial crisis.

• Prologue:Ira Glass andMichael Perrino, law professor atSt. John's University School of Law, discussFerdinand Pecora, lead attorney in the 1930sSenate Banking Committee hearings, who captured public and congressional attention regarding the causes of theWall Street crash of 1929.
• Act 1:Investigation Report #1 –Chana Joffe-Walt (Planet Money reporter)
  • While variousregulatory agencies were responsible for overseeing components ofAIG, there was no agency in charge oftheir most risky activities—or so it was said by some—despite primaryOffice of Thrift Supervision oversight, which was hampered by other issues.
• Act 2:Investigation Report #2 –Alex Blumberg (NPR correspondent,Planet Money reporter, TAL producer) andDavid Kestenbaum (Planet Money reporter)
  • The story of howcredit rating agencies,Standard and Poors,Moody's andFitch, gaveAAA ratings to therisky financial instruments that led to the2008 financial crisis.

• Episode 383 – "Origin Story"

Show description: Stories that explain or dispute the origins of institutions, creative work, the law, and people.

• Prologue:Ira Glass, business professorPino Audia, andFast Company columnistDan Heath discuss why so many corporate creation myths involve garages.
• Act 1:Mad Man – Sarah Koenig (TAL producer)
  • The story of the conflict over credit between two advertising legends,Julian Koenig and his former advertising partnerGeorge Lois.
• Act 2:The Secret Life of Secrets –Ira Glass (TAL host)
  • How the1953 U.S. Supreme Court case established the controversialState Secrets Privilege by accepting dubious government claims.
• Music interlude:Nedelle – "Friends and Ancestors"
• Act 3:Wait Wait... Don't Film Me –Ira Glass (TAL host) andPeter Sagal (host ofWait Wait... Don't Tell Me!)
  • How Sagal's original screenplay became acontrived movie sequel.
• Act 4:Bill Clinton’s 7-Year-Old Brother –Mary Wiltenburg (reporter)
  • ATanzanian boy in America struggles to decide his identity.
• Music interlude:John Lennon – "Dear John"

• Episode 384 – "Fall Guy"
• Episode 385 – "Pro Se"
• Episode 386 – "Fine Print"
• Episode 387 – "Arms Trader 2009"
• Episode 388 – "Rest Stop"
• Episode 389 – "Frenemies"
• Episode 390 – "Return to the Giant Pool of Money"
• Episode 391 – "More Is Less"
• Episode 392 – "Someone Else's Money"
• Episode 393 – "Infidelity"
• Episode 394 – "Bait and Switch"
• Episode 395 – "Middle of the Night"
• Episode 396 – "#1 Party School"

• This American Life's radio archive for 2009

• Lists of This American Life episodes
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• Use mdy dates from March 2025