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Artwork for This American Life

This American Life

This American Life
Donald Trump
Steve Bannon
Love
Republican Party
Department Of Justice
Peter Pan
Dating
Identity Theft
O.J. Simpson
Hoisington
Sports Rivalry
Alexander Vindman
Democratic Party
Frank Sinatra Jr.
Kidnapping
Mr. Janola Contest
Jordan Riley
Tornado
Terrorism
9/11

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes489Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for This American Life

Latest Episodes

Stories that take place on the edge of civilization, just out of sight.

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

* Prologue: Every city's got a place like this: that weird no man's land on the outskirts of ... more

Two lawyers who work for ICE step forward and lift the curtain on what is really happening inside our immigration system right now.

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

* Prologue: Two lawyers dive into... more

Stories of high drama from America's workplaces — surprising, emotional places full of the greed, jealousy, and ambition of real politics.

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

* Prologue: We hear three ... more

People deciding to do things that most of us do NOT choose to do.

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

* Prologue: A new documentary called The Boys and the Bees captures a moment where a six-year-old h... 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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People also subscribe to these shows.

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The DailyThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Mitch Duneier
Sociologist who studied office politics
Princeton University (author of Sidewalk)
Episode: 208: Office Politics
Michael Chabon
Author and speaker contributing a story segment
Episode: 605: Kid Logic
Alison Gopnik
Psychologist studying child development
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: 605: Kid Logic
Aileen Goldman
Therapist sharing a story involving children
Episode: 605: Kid Logic
Howie Chackowicz
Cartoonist and musician
Episode: 605: Kid Logic
Alex Blumberg
Former radio host and producer
Daisy Chain Energy
Episode: 605: Kid Logic
Harriet Lerner
Author and psychologist
Episode: 605: Kid Logic
Jack Geiger
A prominent physician and civil rights activist.
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Episode: 75: Kindness of Strangers
Joel Kostman
A locksmith who recounts his humorous and revealing experience helping a stranded woman.
Author of Keys to the City
Episode: 75: Kindness of Strangers

Host

Ira Glass
Host of the show, known for his engaging storytelling and insightful discourse on contemporary issues.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 120.1k ratings
  • Learning of the world

    Still a kid but I’m loving this always. Learning of the world ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🎀💋✨stellabella✨💋🎀
    United States25 days ago
  • Great episode. I particularly liked Act 4, where small thoughts meet big brains. The misconceptions of childhood carried through to adulthood, and ensuing hilarity and/or embarrassment

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Nye
    a month ago
  • This Muslim Life

    Every other episode has the same theme: Free Palestine, Israel is bad, Hamas are not terrorists. Completely biased, uninformed, dribble from a a self-hating Jew named Ira Glass.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jeremys mum
    Canadaa month ago
  • Mostly re-runs

    I used to love This American Life. But I have gotten very frustrated with their reliance on reruns. They advertise a new episode as if it is original material, but once you have downloaded it and started listening you realize you have wasted your time with repackaged old material.

    This has happened so often that I stopped listening.

    It’s a pity, because I still love it when they do have good new material.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    bat adam
    United Statesa month ago
  • Five starts

    TAL is a legendary radio program and I have tremendous respect for it’s full staff of interesting people and writers and musicians let alone the words that embody the spirit of the show’s most beloved staffers kindnesses in the epic story of their lives. I wish i could go higher than five stars.. if I could, I would!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    85 mtbr
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

There is feedback regarding a shift towards more political content, which divides opinions among long-time fans.
Listeners appreciate the engaging storytelling and emotional depth of the episodes.
Some reviews express frustration over repeat episodes or overly political narratives that deviate from the essence of personal storytelling.
Many highlight the quality of journalism and the unique personal narratives being presented.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

628: In the Shadow of the City
Q: Why does Mr. Chen do this work on the bridge?
Mr. Chen explains his empathy for the people on the bridge, their despair, and his belief that some situations can be helped through presence and conversation, not just force.
628: In the Shadow of the City
Q: What happened on the bridge when you intervened with the jumper?
The responder explains that he grabbed the man, restrained him with care, and the jumper was saved, though the moment left a lasting sense of unease about the fragility of life in such crisis.
628: In the Shadow of the City
Q: So give me a typical exchange between the two of you on the bridge.
The interviewer and translator describe Mr. Chen's guarded, distant responses, then slowly observe how his answers deepen when they drink with him at lunch and begin to open up about his motivation and the people he saves.
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.

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?

True stories unfold around various themes, often showcasing personal anecdotes filled with humor, emotional depth, and unexpected twists. The content ranges from light-hearted narratives about childhood logic and holiday gift-giving, to more serious discussions surrounding societal issues such as immigration enforcement and civil rights. Unique guest profiles often enhance the storytelling, providing varied perspectives from different walks of life. This combination of humor and poignant reflection creates a rich listening experience that resonates with listeners who appreciate multifaceted human experiences.

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?

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.

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. Heavyweight
5. The Daily

How many episodes of This American Life are there?

This American Life launched 19 years ago and published 489 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for This American Life?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of This American Life. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on This American Life?

Recent guests on This American Life include:

1. Mitch Duneier
2. Michael Chabon
3. Alison Gopnik
4. Aileen Goldman
5. Howie Chackowicz
6. Alex Blumberg
7. Harriet Lerner
8. Jack Geiger

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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