Every week, millions of devoted fans tune in to This American Life, The Moth, Radiolab, Planet Money, Snap Judgment, and other narrative radio shows. The pieces that we hear are captivating, funny, heartbreaking, and moving. They use personal stories to illuminate big ideas, to explore other worlds, and to help us understand ourselves just a bit better. Though the shows have very different styles, they all deliver stories that are brilliantly told and produced. Out on the Wire is an exploration of this new storytelling that is regularly captivating radio listeners. With the help of This American Life's Ira Glass, Jessica Abel, a cartoonist and devoted fan of narrative radio, goes behind the scenes at five of the most popular storytelling shows on the radio to look at the ways that they construct a narrative--and we get some great insider details. Within these pages, we listen to Jad Abumrad of RadioLab talk about chasing moments of awe with scientists, we hear Robert Smith of Planet Money talk about his slightly goofy strategy for making interviewees feel comfortable, and we see how mad--really mad--Ira Glass of TAL becomes when he receives edits from his colleagues. Out on the Wire is informative, funny, and engaging, and it demonstrates that in the midst of all the other media that consumes us, radio is still very much alive. A Library Journal Best Book of 2015 Go behind the scenes of seven of today's most popular narrative radio shows and podcasts, including This American Life and RadioLab, in graphic narrative. Every week, millions of devoted fans tune in to or download This American Life, The Moth, Radiolab, Planet Money, Snap Judgment, Serial, Invisibilia and other narrative radio shows. Using personal stories to breathe life into complex ideas and issues, these beloved programs help us to understand ourselves and our world a little bit better. Each has a distinct style, but every one delivers stories that are brilliantly told and produced. Out on the Wire offers an unexpected window into this new kind of storytelling-one that literally illustrates the making of a purely auditory medium. With the help of This American Life's Ira Glass, Jessica Abel, a cartoonist and devotee of narrative radio, uncovers just how radio producers construct narrative, spilling some juicy insider details. Jad Abumrad of RadioLab talks about chasing moments of awe with scientists, while Planet Money's Robert Smith lets us in on his slightly goofy strategy for putting interviewees at ease. And Abel reveals how mad-really mad-Ira Glass becomes when he receives edits from his colleagues. Informative and engaging, Out on the Wire demonstrates that narrative radio and podcasts are creating some of the most exciting and innovative storytelling available today.