🇺🇸 United States Episodes

Lee Camp is a comedian, author, and activist. His video series "Moment of Clarity" can be found on YouTube, with new videos twice a week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We spend a month at a Jeep dealership on Long Island as they try to make their monthly sales goal: 129 cars. If they make it, they'll get a huge bonus from the manufacturer, possibly as high as $85,000 — enough to put them in the black for the month. If they don't make it, it'll be the second month in a row. So they pull out all the stops. It’s mid-October, 2013. Freddie Hoyt tries to rally his sales staff to sell 129 cars and trucks by the end of the month. Freddie’s the General Manager at Town and Country Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram in Levittown, NY, on Long Island. Problem is, the customers are not cooperating. (7 1/2 minutes)Act One: How we found this car dealer. (2 minutes)Act Two: A quick primer of who’s who, and how the place works. (6 minutes)Act Three: Salesman Bob Tantillo has the fewest sales of anyone at Town and Country this month. Robyn Semien spoke to him. (4 minutes)Act Four: Salesman Jason Mascia has the most sales of anyone this month, as usual. Sean Cole spent a week with him watching how he does it. (8 minutes)Act Five: The next-to-last day of the month. Deals fall apart, but not all of them. (10 minutes)Act Six: The last day of the month begins. They have to sell nine cars by the end of the day. "God help us," Freddie says. (2 minutes)Act Seven: Joe Monti’s real name is Joe Montalbano. But when he started in the car business, he didn't want to lose a sale because a customer couldn’t keep his name straight so he simplified it for the job. He's one of the managers of the used cars department at Town and Country. Sarah Koenig reports on what it'll mean if he doesn’t make this month’s goal. (7 minutes)Act Eight: The last day of the month continues and the truism is accurate: some people get great deals because it’s the end of the month and they have to hit their goal. When you look at the numbers, the average car they sell in the last two days actually loses money. (4 minutes)Act Nine: Salesman Manny Rosales keeps to himself in the showroom, with his own sales philosophy. He explained it to Brian Reed. (7 minutes)Act Ten: The last day of the month ends. (8 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Tom Segura is a stand-up comedian, and hosts his own podcast with his wife Christina Pazsitzky. It's called "Your Mom's House" and is available on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clifford Bleszinski, aka Cliffy B, is a video game designer, and former design director for the game development company Epic Games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Birbiglia is a comedian, writer, actor, and director, and his latest special "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" is available now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Phil Demers is a former Marineland employee turned truther, also known as the Walrus Whisperer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brody Stevens is a stand-up comedian and actor, currently starring in his own show on Comedy Central, "Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gene LeBell is an American martial artist, instructor, stunt performer, and professional wrestler. He has also worked on over 1,000 films and TV shows and has authored a number of books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg Fitzsimmons is an American stand-up comedian. He also hosts his own podcast "FitzDog Radio" available on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christopher Ryan, Ph.D. is a psychologist, speaker, and author of New York Times best seller "Sex At Dawn". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom Rhodes is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and TV host. Currently he hosts his own podcast available on Spotify called Tom Rhodes Radio. Bryan Callen is an actor, stand-up comedian, and host of his own podcasts: The Bryan Callen Show and The 10-Minute Podcast, with co-hosts Will Sasso and Chris D’Elia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lorenzo Hagerty is a former attorney, corporate CEO, and US Naval officer. He currently hosts the popular podcast "The Psychedelic Salon". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lorenzo Hagerty is a former attorney, corporate CEO, and US Naval officer. He currently hosts the popular podcast "The Psychedelic Salon". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeremy Stephens is an MMA fighter currently fighting in the UFC's featherweight division. Eddie Bravo is a jiujitsu black belt, music producer, and author. He also hosts his own podcast called "Eddie Bravo Radio". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Graham Hancock is an English author and journalist, well known for books such as "Fingerprints Of The Gods" & "Entangled" and also a new fiction book called "War God" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ana Kasparian is a producer and co-host of "The Young Turks" and also teaches journalism at Cal State Northridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin Foster is a stand-up comedian and also hosts his own podcast, called "Foster the Podcast". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Hadfield is a retired Canadian astronaut who was the first Canadian to walk in space. He also authored the New York Times Bestseller "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is currently only available as audio. This podcast was recorded during the production of "Joe Rogan Questions Everything" which originally aired on SyFy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Carlin is an amateur historian and former radio talk show host. He now hosts two popular podcasts available on Spotify: "Common Sense" and "Hardcore History". Daniele Bolelli is an Italian author, professor, and martial artist. His books include "Create Your Own Religion" and "On the Warrior's Path". His podcast called "The Drunken Taoist" is available on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices