It’s kind of nerve-racking to hear that voice on your phone actually. As one of the best-known, most distinctive voices on the airwaves today, Ira Glass as an interviewee might inspire a little stomach churning.

But it’s okay, Glass is so accustomed to interviewing others himself, that he’s going to make it easy — and it’s going to feel like an actual conversation.

Concerning radio shows and interviews, the Glass himself said, “I often get nervous.”

**Do you have creative outlets besides audio/radio and writing?**

We did a television show for a while. We’re developing some movies [based on This American Life]. I don’t feel like I need it. I don’t need to blog. I don’t feel like I need to have a hobby where I’m doing creative work.

**What musician or band are you listening to now?**

Sadly, I feel like…most of us listen to a lot of music [when we’re in our teens and 20s]. And after that, people just get stuck. I was good about keeping up with music until I was 40—and then I just gave up. I’ve enjoyed things my wife listens to, like Polyphonic Spree, Vampire Weekend, She and Him, and things I’ve had to listen to for work (for instance, interviewing my cousin Phillip Glass). Everything OK Go! does because they started here in Chicago… I have to say, it’s a sad little iPod playlist.

**I’ve marveled at how topical the music on TAL is sometimes. How do your music people Jane Feltes and Jessica Hopper do it? Do they have encyclopedic knowledge of music between themselves or use some sort of database?**

A lot of that is Jessica. A tremendous amount of that is Jessica. Jessica does a lot of calling friends. She’s been in lots of bands and knows [a lot about music]. When she gets stuck she calls friends and e-mails everyone she’s ever known. What Jane does is find a lot of the instrumental [music] that plays underneath…which can be like scoring a movie.

**What role do you think humor has in opening up a dialogue for heavier issues?**

I think it’s really important for stuff to be really funny, otherwise it’s hard to listen to. In American journalism — you’re either a funny person or a serious person. […] If more journalism were more entertainingly done it would help the whole audience.

**How do you think TAL is received in a context that’s left behind the oral tradition? Do you think multimedia platforms can enhance the capacity for storytelling?**

I mean, I don’t think of us as being part of some old oral tradition. I see us as entertainment. It seems pretentious [to place ourselves within] the oral tradition. I think the stories we’re doing are straightforward. Without intending to, we became the biggest podcast in the country. Stories TAL does are often funny, personal, and revealing, which is a lot of what the Internet is about.

**What radio or audio phenomenon or entity do you wish more people knew about? What’s great that isn’t getting the recognition or audience it deserves?**

I think the best new thing in radio is this thing called Radiolab. It’s popular among young people [because it’s] a new way to do a radio show.

**Will TAL be on Showtime for a third season?**

We’re not doing a third season right now. [We’re on hiatus.] We want to do more TV, but not right now [because it’s hard to do radio and TV at the same time].

**Your UW-Milwaukee lecture is titled “Radio Stories and Other Stories.” Can you tell me more about that?**

Basically, I sit on stage with a mixing console and talk about what we’re trying to do. I just talk [about TAL]… It’s an excuse to play really funny and really moving clips of old radio stuff.

**Do you think there are gaps in NPR’s coverage? Do you think there are areas of focus NPR overlooks?**

That’s an interesting question. Truthfully, I’m not listening to enough stuff [to know where the gaps are]. [I think NPR] does a thorough and pretty good job. Though, I’d like to hear more stuff where you get to know the characters a little better. […] I like when that’s on the air, and I just wish there were a little more of it.

*Ira Glass appears at UWM as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. in the UWM Union Wisconsin Room. Advance tickets are available. A reception is to follow the lecture. Sign language interpretation will be provided.*

*David J. Menees contributed to this interview.*