This American Life — Episode 876: "Bigger Than Me"

Air date: December 7, 2025
Host: Ira Glass

Episode Overview

This episode centers on how ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and try to rise to their historic moments. It weaves together two major segments: one about U.S. military personnel grappling with orders they feel are wrong or possibly illegal, and a long, vivid story from Jad Abumrad’s new podcast about the extraordinary anti-colonial activism of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, mother of musician Fela Kuti, and her profound, yet often overlooked, legacy in Nigerian and African history.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Military, The Law, and Personal Responsibility (00:28 – 09:41)

Theme

Exploring how service members today are wrestling with the possibility of receiving illegal or unethical orders amidst a polarized and tense political climate in the U.S.

Highlights

Political standoff over military dissent:
Following a video by six Democratic lawmakers (all military or intelligence veterans), service members receive reminders about their right—and duty—to refuse illegal orders, prompting a firestorm of political accusations.
- “You can refuse illegal orders.” — [Senators Mark Kelly & Alyssa Slotkin, Rep. Chris D’Aluisio, 00:55]
Escalating rhetoric:
President Trump’s response on social media accuses the lawmakers of “seditious behavior punishable by death,” and administration officials fuel claims of insurrection.
- “Plainly, directly, without question, it's a general…Call for rebellion.” — [Stephen Miller, 02:12]
Service member concerns and confusion:
Host Ira Glass explores the predicament of the “2 million people serving in the active military or National Guard or Reserves right now,” focusing on their fears about illegal orders or being directed into roles they never expected, such as policing American cities.
Hotlines and legal advice:
Organizations like GI Rights Hotline and About Face report a modest uptick in calls from concerned personnel—but numbers are small relative to the overall military.
- GI Rights hotline: 200+ calls/month
- About Face: a few calls weekly
First-person perspective — Brittany Ramos DeBaros (Army veteran, About Face):
- National Guard members are especially worried about being asked to suppress protests or support ICE activities.
  
  “People signed up thinking I'm going to help rescue people from floods…and cleanup of hurricanes. I didn’t sign up to go police American citizens. That's not what the military is for.” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 03:51]
- QRFs (Quick Response Forces) are being formed for possible civil unrest; some members fear that “optional” duties may soon become mandatory.
  
  “The sentiment within the units...was, people thought this is bullshit…I’m not going to be a part of an anti-protest force in my own state.” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 04:50]
- Reports of AWOL (going absent without leave) due to personal ethical lines.
  
  “It wasn't this drawn out process. He was just like, this is bad and I don't know what to do…so he just stopped showing up.” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 06:22]
- Many feel stuck between duty, family, and conscience:
  
  “Unless I'm actively being asked to do something that I believe is wrong, I can't afford to do anything about what I believe right now.” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 07:47]
- Encounters with D.C. National Guard: Many are confused or resentful about their deployment:
  
  “Yeah, I don't know why we're here. This is pointless. This is dumb. I'm away from my family…” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 08:59]

Memorable Reflection

Ira Glass recalls seeing a message in Oaxaca, Mexico:

“People who knew how to act with faith and charity in the historic moment…and I thought, am I doing the best I should be doing in the historic moment that God decided to put me in?” — [Ira Glass, 09:13]

2. Act One: "Mother Knows Best" — The Story of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (11:23 – 58:57)

Produced and narrated by Jad Abumrad; centered on Fela Kuti's mother and the women’s revolt in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Theme

A sweeping, cinematic retelling of how Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti led thousands of market women in challenging British colonial rule and patriarchal systems—culminating in the historic abdication of a king.

Story Structure & Key Moments

A. Early Life and Awakening (13:39–19:00)

Abeokuta, 1940s: British colonial showpiece.
Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti starts as an elite Christian schoolteacher engaged in colonial systems, running the prestigious Abeokuta Grammar School.
Her conversion moment arrives seeing a market woman unable to read hymns, inspiring her to open her Ladies Club and launch literacy programs for working-class women.

“But holding the hymnal upside down. And she said that was when she realized she couldn't read...” — [Historian Cheryl Johnson Odom, 18:11]

B. The Spark: Market Women & Taxation (19:00–30:40)

Market women flock to her club for reading lessons—soon, talk turns to oppressive colonial taxes.
British, via the local king (Aláke), impose heavy taxes and fines on women—often jailing those who can’t pay.

“They were planning picnics…They were talking about how to recruit. But soon, the ladies club…transformed from social club to activist organization.” — [Jad Abumrad & Judith Byfield, 17:05]
Women’s letters detail harassment, harsh jailings (including jailing mothers of newborns).

“‘What does it matter if a woman is jailed with a day-old baby? What we want to know is that she pays her tax.’ Wow.” — [Judith Byfield, 29:03]

C. From Club to Union — Mass Action (30:40–43:53)

Formation of the Abeokuta Women’s Union—membership swells to 10-20,000.

“At this point in the archives, you see a switch flip. No more ladies club. This is a union. And no more western clothes.” — [Jad Abumrad, 30:40]
Ransome-Kuti uses her car to connect with women across the region, organizing mass rallies and meetings.
Iconic image: 10,000 women, white headscarves, massing at the king’s palace.

D. Songs, Satire, and Defiance (39:17–43:53)

Protest music becomes a tool: hundreds of Yoruba songs, many using biting satire, sexuality, and insult to shame the Aláke and British officials.

“We will emit fire from our vaginas that will wound his penis.” — [Jad Abumrad quoting translations, 41:00] “This is one of the reasons why the protest movement became known as vengeance of the vagina head.” — [Jad Abumrad, 41:15]
The use of “sitting on a man”: groups of women publicly singing and shaming male leaders.

E. Escalation and Victory (44:18–53:43)

Women maintain a months-long siege around the palace, cooking, singing, taking turns.
Tension rises: the king, with British support, considers using the army—echoes of earlier, deadly suppressions.
Women escalate: older women strip naked—a culturally powerful act considered a spiritual weapon.

“If you see an older woman naked, that that's an abomination…a summoning of a spiritual power.” — [Judith Byfield, 48:20]
British fear bloodshed, possible uprising—ultimately smuggle the king out by night, leading to his abdication.

“After more than half a century of service…I have therefore decided…to leave the environment of my territory…” — [King’s abdication speech, 52:01] “No other woman is ever credited with unseating a sitting king.” — [Cheryl Johnson Odom, 52:34]

F. The Forgotten Legacy (53:43–58:00)

Wave of women’s unions and “copycat” protests across Africa and beyond.

“You see women leading revolts in Senegal, Cameroon, South Africa, Gold Coast, Algeria, Kenya, Mozambique…” — [Jad Abumrad, 54:16]
Ransome-Kuti’s grave is unmarked except as a wife; records of her achievement are scant. Even in Nigeria, much of her activism is remembered only as a footnote to her son’s fame.

“She became reduced to Fela’s mother…her activism has just really been forgotten.” — [Judith Byfield, 56:22]
Fela Kuti honored her in his music after her death (“Unknown Soldier,” 57:39), and her granddaughter recalls the massive outpouring of women at her funeral.

“There was this mammoth crowd of women…They took her body from us, and they walked with her and they honored her as the voice of the women.” — [Yenikuti, 58:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“I am not going to be part of an anti-protest force in my own state. That's not what I signed up for.”
— Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 04:50
“We have exhausted all these channels…They have had it. They were like, this runaround has to stop.”
— Judith Byfield, 29:41
“You may have been born, but you were not bred.”
— Mrs. Kuti (via oral history), 38:02
“We will emit fire from our vaginas that will wound his penis.”
— Protest song translation, 41:00
“No other woman is ever credited with unseating a sitting king.”
— Cheryl Johnson Odom, 52:34

Important Segment Timestamps

00:28–09:41: U.S. military, illegal orders, and ethical dilemmas
11:23: Start of "Mother Knows Best" — Introduction to Fela Kuti’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
13:39–19:00: Scene setting in 1940s Nigeria; Fumilayo’s early organizing
19:00–30:40: British taxation policies and market women’s revolt
30:40–43:53: Transition from club to union; mass political organizing
39:17–43:53: The power of protest songs
44:18–53:43: Escalation, military standoff, women stripping as protest, king’s abdication
53:43–58:00: Spread of women’s movements, Ransome-Kuti’s overlooked legacy
58:03–58:40: Funeral and final honors for Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti

Tone and Style

The episode blends This American Life’s signature narrative, natural storytelling with evocative, immersive detail, and a balance of personal testimony and historical context. It highlights both humor and tragedy, with reflective pauses and spirited narration from both Ira Glass and Jad Abumrad.

For Listeners

This episode offers a powerful meditation on conscience and courage, ranging from the invisible dilemmas of today’s service members to the world-changing actions of an African women’s leader. It is essential listening for anyone interested in how individuals and communities confront power and injustice—often doing far more, and having far greater legacy, than history remembers.

Listen to the full episode or the Fela Kuti series (“Fela Kuti: Fear No Man”) for further context and rare archival content.

This American Life — Episode 876: "Bigger Than Me"

Air date: December 7, 2025
Host: Ira Glass

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Military, The Law, and Personal Responsibility (00:28 – 09:41)

Theme

Exploring how service members today are wrestling with the possibility of receiving illegal or unethical orders amidst a polarized and tense political climate in the U.S.

Highlights

Political standoff over military dissent:
Following a video by six Democratic lawmakers (all military or intelligence veterans), service members receive reminders about their right—and duty—to refuse illegal orders, prompting a firestorm of political accusations.
- “You can refuse illegal orders.” — [Senators Mark Kelly & Alyssa Slotkin, Rep. Chris D’Aluisio, 00:55]
Escalating rhetoric:
President Trump’s response on social media accuses the lawmakers of “seditious behavior punishable by death,” and administration officials fuel claims of insurrection.
- “Plainly, directly, without question, it's a general…Call for rebellion.” — [Stephen Miller, 02:12]
Service member concerns and confusion:
Host Ira Glass explores the predicament of the “2 million people serving in the active military or National Guard or Reserves right now,” focusing on their fears about illegal orders or being directed into roles they never expected, such as policing American cities.
Hotlines and legal advice:
Organizations like GI Rights Hotline and About Face report a modest uptick in calls from concerned personnel—but numbers are small relative to the overall military.
- GI Rights hotline: 200+ calls/month
- About Face: a few calls weekly
First-person perspective — Brittany Ramos DeBaros (Army veteran, About Face):
- National Guard members are especially worried about being asked to suppress protests or support ICE activities.
  
  “People signed up thinking I'm going to help rescue people from floods…and cleanup of hurricanes. I didn’t sign up to go police American citizens. That's not what the military is for.” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 03:51]
- QRFs (Quick Response Forces) are being formed for possible civil unrest; some members fear that “optional” duties may soon become mandatory.
  
  “The sentiment within the units...was, people thought this is bullshit…I’m not going to be a part of an anti-protest force in my own state.” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 04:50]
- Reports of AWOL (going absent without leave) due to personal ethical lines.
  
  “It wasn't this drawn out process. He was just like, this is bad and I don't know what to do…so he just stopped showing up.” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 06:22]
- Many feel stuck between duty, family, and conscience:
  
  “Unless I'm actively being asked to do something that I believe is wrong, I can't afford to do anything about what I believe right now.” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 07:47]
- Encounters with D.C. National Guard: Many are confused or resentful about their deployment:
  
  “Yeah, I don't know why we're here. This is pointless. This is dumb. I'm away from my family…” — [Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 08:59]

Memorable Reflection

Ira Glass recalls seeing a message in Oaxaca, Mexico:

“People who knew how to act with faith and charity in the historic moment…and I thought, am I doing the best I should be doing in the historic moment that God decided to put me in?” — [Ira Glass, 09:13]

2. Act One: "Mother Knows Best" — The Story of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (11:23 – 58:57)

Produced and narrated by Jad Abumrad; centered on Fela Kuti's mother and the women’s revolt in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Theme

Story Structure & Key Moments

A. Early Life and Awakening (13:39–19:00)

Abeokuta, 1940s: British colonial showpiece.
Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti starts as an elite Christian schoolteacher engaged in colonial systems, running the prestigious Abeokuta Grammar School.
Her conversion moment arrives seeing a market woman unable to read hymns, inspiring her to open her Ladies Club and launch literacy programs for working-class women.

“But holding the hymnal upside down. And she said that was when she realized she couldn't read...” — [Historian Cheryl Johnson Odom, 18:11]

B. The Spark: Market Women & Taxation (19:00–30:40)

Market women flock to her club for reading lessons—soon, talk turns to oppressive colonial taxes.
British, via the local king (Aláke), impose heavy taxes and fines on women—often jailing those who can’t pay.

“They were planning picnics…They were talking about how to recruit. But soon, the ladies club…transformed from social club to activist organization.” — [Jad Abumrad & Judith Byfield, 17:05]
Women’s letters detail harassment, harsh jailings (including jailing mothers of newborns).

“‘What does it matter if a woman is jailed with a day-old baby? What we want to know is that she pays her tax.’ Wow.” — [Judith Byfield, 29:03]

C. From Club to Union — Mass Action (30:40–43:53)

Formation of the Abeokuta Women’s Union—membership swells to 10-20,000.

“At this point in the archives, you see a switch flip. No more ladies club. This is a union. And no more western clothes.” — [Jad Abumrad, 30:40]
Ransome-Kuti uses her car to connect with women across the region, organizing mass rallies and meetings.
Iconic image: 10,000 women, white headscarves, massing at the king’s palace.

D. Songs, Satire, and Defiance (39:17–43:53)

Protest music becomes a tool: hundreds of Yoruba songs, many using biting satire, sexuality, and insult to shame the Aláke and British officials.

“We will emit fire from our vaginas that will wound his penis.” — [Jad Abumrad quoting translations, 41:00] “This is one of the reasons why the protest movement became known as vengeance of the vagina head.” — [Jad Abumrad, 41:15]
The use of “sitting on a man”: groups of women publicly singing and shaming male leaders.

E. Escalation and Victory (44:18–53:43)

Women maintain a months-long siege around the palace, cooking, singing, taking turns.
Tension rises: the king, with British support, considers using the army—echoes of earlier, deadly suppressions.
Women escalate: older women strip naked—a culturally powerful act considered a spiritual weapon.

“If you see an older woman naked, that that's an abomination…a summoning of a spiritual power.” — [Judith Byfield, 48:20]
British fear bloodshed, possible uprising—ultimately smuggle the king out by night, leading to his abdication.

“After more than half a century of service…I have therefore decided…to leave the environment of my territory…” — [King’s abdication speech, 52:01] “No other woman is ever credited with unseating a sitting king.” — [Cheryl Johnson Odom, 52:34]

F. The Forgotten Legacy (53:43–58:00)

Wave of women’s unions and “copycat” protests across Africa and beyond.

“You see women leading revolts in Senegal, Cameroon, South Africa, Gold Coast, Algeria, Kenya, Mozambique…” — [Jad Abumrad, 54:16]
Ransome-Kuti’s grave is unmarked except as a wife; records of her achievement are scant. Even in Nigeria, much of her activism is remembered only as a footnote to her son’s fame.

“She became reduced to Fela’s mother…her activism has just really been forgotten.” — [Judith Byfield, 56:22]
Fela Kuti honored her in his music after her death (“Unknown Soldier,” 57:39), and her granddaughter recalls the massive outpouring of women at her funeral.

“There was this mammoth crowd of women…They took her body from us, and they walked with her and they honored her as the voice of the women.” — [Yenikuti, 58:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“I am not going to be part of an anti-protest force in my own state. That's not what I signed up for.”
— Brittany Ramos DeBaros, 04:50
“We have exhausted all these channels…They have had it. They were like, this runaround has to stop.”
— Judith Byfield, 29:41
“You may have been born, but you were not bred.”
— Mrs. Kuti (via oral history), 38:02
“We will emit fire from our vaginas that will wound his penis.”
— Protest song translation, 41:00
“No other woman is ever credited with unseating a sitting king.”
— Cheryl Johnson Odom, 52:34

Important Segment Timestamps

00:28–09:41: U.S. military, illegal orders, and ethical dilemmas
11:23: Start of "Mother Knows Best" — Introduction to Fela Kuti’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
13:39–19:00: Scene setting in 1940s Nigeria; Fumilayo’s early organizing
19:00–30:40: British taxation policies and market women’s revolt
30:40–43:53: Transition from club to union; mass political organizing
39:17–43:53: The power of protest songs
44:18–53:43: Escalation, military standoff, women stripping as protest, king’s abdication
53:43–58:00: Spread of women’s movements, Ransome-Kuti’s overlooked legacy
58:03–58:40: Funeral and final honors for Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti

Tone and Style

For Listeners

Listen to the full episode or the Fela Kuti series (“Fela Kuti: Fear No Man”) for further context and rare archival content.

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876: Bigger Than Me

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Summary

This American Life — Episode 876: "Bigger Than Me"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Military, The Law, and Personal Responsibility (00:28 – 09:41)

Theme

Highlights

Memorable Reflection

2. Act One: "Mother Knows Best" — The Story of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (11:23 – 58:57)

Theme

Story Structure & Key Moments

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Segment Timestamps

Tone and Style

For Listeners

Summary

This American Life — Episode 876: "Bigger Than Me"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Military, The Law, and Personal Responsibility (00:28 – 09:41)

Theme

Highlights

Memorable Reflection

2. Act One: "Mother Knows Best" — The Story of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (11:23 – 58:57)

Theme

Story Structure & Key Moments

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Segment Timestamps

Tone and Style

For Listeners