This American Life

S02E06 John Smith

This narrative unfolds through the experiences of various individuals named John Smith across the nation. In South Carolina, baby John Smith is just 11 weeks old, and his parents are still processing the shock of sonograms that indicated they were expecting a girl. Fast forward to 23, and John Smith finds himself in Laramie, Wyoming, facing the consequences of his past decisions in front of a judge. At 46, he’s in Texas, joyfully welcoming his eldest son home from Iraq. The story provides intimate glimpses into the lives of men navigating fatherhood, marriage, and masculinity in contemporary America.