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Artwork for This American Life

This American Life

This American Life
Donald Trump
Steve Bannon
Love
Department Of Justice
Republican Party
Peter Pan
Dating
Identity Theft
O.J. Simpson
Hoisington
Sports Rivalry
Democratic Party
Alexander Vindman
Kidnapping
Frank Sinatra Jr.
Jordan Riley
Mr. Janola Contest
Tornado
Terrorism
Guantánamo Bay

Each week we choose a theme. Then anything can happen. This American Life is true stories that unfold like little movies for radio. Personal stories with funny moments, big feelings, and surprising plot twists. Newsy stories that try to capture what it’s like to be alive right now. It’s the most popular weekly podcast in the world, and winner of the first ever Pulitzer Prize for a radio show or po... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes474Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for This American Life

Latest Episodes

Stories of people who try simple mind games on others, and then find themselves way in over their heads.

Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

* Prologue: Host Ira Glass interviews Lori Gottlieb about th... more

A group of immigration judges, who almost never speak to the press, describes the dismantling of our immigration court system from the inside.

Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

* Prologue: Zoe Chace ... more

Things are different on college campuses this year. We see inside the drama, with students and staff.

Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

* Prologue: We go to orientation at Arizona State University an... more

Small human plans that run into much larger obstacles.

Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

* Prologue: Angela's dad, an accountant, made a spreadsheet to prepare for their family trip to a national par... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

George Papas
Immigration judge from Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Episode: 868: The Hand That Rocks The Gavel
Kira Lillian
Immigration judge from the Bay Area
Episode: 868: The Hand That Rocks The Gavel
Jennifer Payton
Assistant Chief Immigration Judge in Chicago
Episode: 868: The Hand That Rocks The Gavel
Masha Gessen
Staff writer at The New Yorker and author
The New Yorker
Episode: 831: Lists!!!
John Fecile
Senior producer at Snap Judgment
Snap Judgment
Episode: 831: Lists!!!
Nicole Piasecki
Writer and writing teacher at the University of Colorado, Denver.
Episode: 838: Letters! Actual Letters!
Jill Viles
A muscular dystrophy patient and researcher who made crucial genetic connections impacting her life and others.
Episode: 577: Something Only I Can See
Priscilla Lopes-Schliep
Olympic athlete and hurdler with a rare genetic disorder that parallels Jill's condition.
Professional Athlete
Episode: 577: Something Only I Can See
Roy Lester
66-year-old lifeguard and bankruptcy attorney
Episode: 594: My Summer Self

Host

Ira Glass
Host of the show, well-known for his engaging storytelling and investigative journalism.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 119k ratings
  • Climate change (global warming) is a scam. Biden was a vegetable and was NOT in charge of his administration!

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Joe Foss
    8 days ago
  • Not cool Ira

    I miss the quirky stories. I am so disappointed with how political each episode is now. I don’t need or want any more downer political stories. I’m plenty aware and beyond my limit. I need the irreverent, interesting, well-crafted episodes of the former TAL. miss it. I can’t listen anymore. Another loss to make me sad.

    Also, I bought the This American Life app years ago when it was first offered. I rarely pay for apps but I wanted to support the show and was excited for access to the archive. T... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    TruIsTru
    United States9 days ago
  • Recognition of an important story

    This story shows me the dire times that we are living today. The immigration judges can’t stay silent for long because desperate times call for desperate measures.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    teo_1790
    United States9 days ago
  • susbcribers only!!

    not really a big fan of being paywalled after listening for more than a decade. ive contributed in the past but cannot to all of these individual podcast hosts. its really annoying.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    hsbshsbsbsjnsd
    United States10 days ago
  • This American Repeat!

    They really should rename this podcast to, “This American Repeat.”

    Podcast need a “repeat” attribute like TV DVRs so we don’t download repeats. If you’re going to lazily deliver repeats, you should at least remove the ads!

    Unfortunately, unsunbscribe is my only option to not get endless repeats ...

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JoeMo247
    United States11 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the show's exploration of social issues but express concerns about the recent increased focus on political topics.
The storytelling is consistently engaging and thought-provoking, with many praising the emotional depth and relatability of the narratives.
The format and production quality are highly regarded, contributing to the program's longstanding popularity and trust among audiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

868: The Hand That Rocks The Gavel
Q: How has the environment in immigration courts shifted due to political pressures?
The political pressures led to an increased presence of ICE in courtrooms, and new policies that severely restrict judges' ability to rule independently on cases.
868: The Hand That Rocks The Gavel
Q: What has changed for immigration judges recently?
Judges have been pressured to grant motions to dismiss cases without due process, undermining their independence and ability to fairly adjudicate.
638: Rom-Com
Q: How important is the 'Meet Cute' in rom-coms?
The 'Meet Cute' is crucial as it sets up the chemistry and initial connection between the characters, creating a foundation for their relationship throughout the film.
858: How to Tell a Dumb American Story
Q: How has losing Mika impacted your marriage?
It's been hard, and I find myself reluctant to go outside because I think it will make me sad.
857: Museum of Now
Q: What was your emotional reaction to seeing the mural being torn down?
It felt like a real shift in America, and it made me reconsider my past indifference to the message.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This American Life

What is This American Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A wide range of impactful stories and themes unfold, often centered on personal experiences and societal observations that resonate with contemporary audiences. Each episode typically revolves around a curated topic, exploring everything from the human experiences linked to waiting in line or navigating relationships to the weighty implications of global issues. The narratives are presented in an engaging manner, blending humor and poignancy, often with surprising twists. Notably, the storytelling is intimate, inviting listeners to connect with the depth of human emotion and the intricacies of modern life, making it a unique listening experience for those interested in authentic storytelling that highlights both the extraordinary and the ev... more

Where can I find podcast stats for This American Life?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for This American Life. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to This American Life and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does This American Life get?

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What are the audience demographics for This American Life?

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How many subscribers and views does This American Life have?

To see how many followers or subscribers This American Life has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to This American Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This American Life:

1. Radiolab
2. The Moth
3. Fresh Air
4. Hidden Brain
5. The Daily

How many episodes of This American Life are there?

This American Life launched 19 years ago and published 474 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact This American Life?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for This American Life?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for This American Life from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on This American Life?

Recent guests on This American Life include:

1. George Papas
2. Kira Lillian
3. Jennifer Payton
4. Masha Gessen
5. John Fecile
6. Nicole Piasecki
7. Jill Viles
8. Priscilla Lopes-Schliep

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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