Stories from the Edge: Three Lives in Transition

An Ira Glass-Style Reflection on This American Life

It’s a Wednesday morning — November 5th, 2025 — and I’m having my morning coffee, staring at a blank screen, trying to order my thoughts. Outside, the world stirs with the noise of history and headlines. Today marks Guy Fawkes Day in Britain—a vivid reminder of rebellion and renewal, complete with bonfires and reflection. Closer to home, it’s also the morning after a sweep of progressive Democratic wins in mayoral and gubernatorial races, from New York City’s youngest and first Muslim mayor Zohran Mamdani, to historic victories in Virginia and New Jersey. The air is threaded with change — with new faces and new hopes stepping into the spotlight, with voters sending a clear message about their expectations for America’s future.

But the stories I’m retracing, the ones pressing against my screen, are quieter—not TikTok trends or viral hashtags, but encounters with real people. In what follows, you’ll meet three: a young man reeling from a sudden car accident, a young father struggling to …