His name is synonymous with public broadcasting. And his ability to weave extraordinary stories about seemingly ordinary people has garnered him legions of fans. American public radio meets Canadian public radio, in a conversation with Ira Glass--the host of This American Life.

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Ira Glass on Storytelling

For listeners to This American Life, host Ira Glass is a superstar. Millions listen to his weekly public radio program and download his podcasts. Since the show first hit the airwaves in 1995, he's won almost every major U.S. broadcasting honor, including a Peabody Award for excellence in journalism.

We aired a clip of what a This American Life episode sounds like. Each week, the show picks a different theme and breaks it into acts. we aired Act One from What Doesn't Kill You.

One of the hallmarks of the show is its intimate portraits of American lives. Ira Glass is a self-effacing host. He says it took him longer than anyone he knows to become good at what he does. And, as he said when accepting the Edward R Morrow award three years ago, not all his listeners love to hear him talk.

Ira Glass will be at Toronto's Massey Hall this weekend to talk about making radio. Today he joined us from his office in New York city.

Other segments from today's show:

Winnipeg Police Chief: Devon Clunis

Chinese migrant workers and illegal recruitment fees