This American Life on Public Radio International (PRI) ran a show in 2010 called “Contents Unknown”. Act One, starting at minute 7:34, says it will present the truth about what’s inside 2.4 billion mini storage lockers in America. A contributor to the New York Times Magazine goes to an auction an hour north of San Francisco and reports:

It’s an interesting look at how an auction process works for speculators who try and capitalise on unclaimed and repossessed storage lockers.

A much more in-depth look, and very similar story, ran in 2009 on the Public Radio Exchange (PRX), with more interesting results. It gives a profile of motives and means from a single professional storage locker speculator and scavenger.

MP3 Preview: "Addicted to Junk"

The full version can be found starting at minute 15:00 of “Found” on B-Side Radio: