Behind the Beanie Babies: The Secret Life of Ty Warner
A profile of the reclusive billionaire who orchestrated a collectible toy craze.
A profile of the reclusive billionaire who orchestrated a collectible toy craze.
Bryan Smith Chicago Magazine Apr 2014 20min Permalink
An interview with Barry Diller about Aereo and the past, present and future of TV.
Previously: Vanessa Grigoriadis on the Longform Podcast.
Vanessa Grigoriadis New York May 2012 10min Permalink
The scientists working to free those trapped between life and death.
Roger Highfield Mosaic Apr 2014 35min Permalink
Why some immigrants can never escape their parents’ battles.
Andrew Lam Boom Apr 2014 10min Permalink
On the fast food workers of St. Louis.
Sarah Kendzior Medium Apr 2014 20min Permalink
On the future of Iraq.
Dexter Filkins New Yorker Apr 2014 45min Permalink
Finding peace and quiet in the high Canadian Arctic.
Previously: The Longform Guide to Silence.
Tom Bissell VQR Jun 2005 40min Permalink
The story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter’s exoneration.
William Nack Sports Illustrated Apr 1992 1h10min Permalink
One man's transition from military to civilian life.
Previously: Eli Saslow on the Longform Podcast.
Eli Saslow Washington Post Apr 2014 Permalink
A small town in Upstate New York, and one family in particular, endures a five-year string of car accidents, suicides, and murders.
E. Jean Carroll Spin Jun 2001 30min Permalink
On the appearance of an angel.
For a daily short story recommendation from our editors, try Longform Fiction or follow @longformfiction on Twitter.
Gabriel García Márquez New American Review Jan 1971 10min Permalink
A conversation with the author of Calvin and Hobbes.
Bill Watterson, Richard Samuel West The Comics Journal Feb 1989 30min Permalink
Investigating the burning of ancient books by rebels in Timbuktu.
Patrick Symmes Outside Apr 2014 25min Permalink
An execution in war-torn Cuba.
Richard Harding Davis New York Journal Feb 1897 10min Permalink
On Silicon Valley's newfound interest in the weed business.
Previously: Mat Honan on the Longform Podcast.
A season with the American Football League of China.
Christopher Beam The New Republic Apr 2014 30min Permalink
“In journalism just one fact that is false prejudices the entire work. In contrast, in fiction one single fact that is true gives legitimacy to the entire work. That’s the only difference, and it lies in the commitment of the writer. A novelist can do anything he wants so long as he makes people believe in it.”
Peter H. Stone, Gabriel García Márquez The Paris Review Dec 1981 35min Permalink
Why 18th-century French police obsessively tracked elite sex workers.
Nina Kushner Slate Apr 2014 15min Permalink
Sixty years after Brown v. Board of Education, Southern schools have been resegregated.
Nikole Hannah-Jones ProPublica Apr 2014 40min Permalink
Barack Obama wanted to endorse gay marriage on his own timetable. Joe Biden had other plans.
Jo Becker New York Times Magazine Apr 2014 25min Permalink
Inside the lack of an investigation into Florida State Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston.
Walt Bogdanich New York Times Apr 2014 20min Permalink
Sam Biddle writes for Valleywag.
"It's a lot of overgrown, entitled manchildren pulling price tags out of the ether and passing them around. Considering Silicon Valley worthy of contempt is the first premise that we work from."
Thanks to TinyLetter for sponsoring this week's episode.
Apr 2014 Permalink
On addiction and addiction narratives.
Lauren Quinn Vela Apr 2014 10min Permalink
Do jellyfish have minds?
Oliver Sacks New York Review of Books Apr 2014 15min Permalink
Deep inside the world of Cartoon Network’s most popular show.
Maria Bustillos The Awl Apr 2014 35min Permalink