
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 477 | Founded | 19 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureArts | |||

When history comes knocking, you have to figure out what to do.
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* Prologue: Brittany’s job is to answer anonymous calls and texts from people in the military. This y... more
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.... more
What’s in the box? What’s in the $%&ing box?!?
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* Prologue: A class of second graders is handed a sealed box with a mystery object inside. They are supposed to guess ... more
What’s great about living in a family is that everyone sees everything differently. Also, that’s what’s awful about living in a family. We go behind closed doors with two families.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium ... more
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Since I started listening to this show 5 years ago, I find myself always able to contribute to a conversation with this “oh one interesting story I heard”. Literally they talk about everything and have me laughing and crying every week. I will die on a hill saying this is the best podcast ever.
I’ve just finished listening to the story of Henry Dee. I had to stop eating my dinner because I was too busy sobbing for this poor man. Once a week I get in touch with my humanity by listening to This American Life. Thank You for making my world a better place.
When you get criticism from opposing sides, you know you’re doing something right. Great show.
A once brilliant podcast is now just constantly recycling old episodes .so disappointing to stick on the ‘new’ episode on Monday morning only to find I’ve already listened to it a few years ago. They don’t even label it as a repeat . Fed up with this happening to the point I’m probably going to unsubscribe
It’s cool
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #57 | |
Apple Podcasts | #6 | |
Apple Podcasts | #77 | |
Apple Podcasts | #15 | |
Apple Podcasts | #45 | |
Apple Podcasts | #137 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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A diverse array of true stories unfolds weekly, showcasing personal anecdotes, societal themes, and the richness of human experiences. By intertwining humor, heartfelt moments, and unexpected plot twists, the episodes illuminate the complexities of contemporary life, touching on both lighthearted and pressing issues. Through its storytelling format, the podcast engages listeners with narratives that often present a unique perspective on various topics, ranging from personal identity to social justice, portraying the intricacies of everyday experiences in a compelling and relatable manner. This blend of storytelling and journalism is likely to resonate with anyone looking for a deeper understanding of the human condition.
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.
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Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for This American Life, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with This American Life:
1. Radiolab
2. The Moth
3. Fresh Air
4. Hidden Brain
5. The Daily
This American Life launched 19 years ago and published 477 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on This American Life include:
1. Elijah Sullivan
2. Muhannad El-Sheikhi
3. Sam Buza
4. Evan Ratliff
5. Pablo Torre
6. George Papas
7. Kira Lillian
8. Jennifer Payton
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