This American Life
This American LifeEach 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 | 495 | Founded | 20 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
Ira always hated commencement speeches. Then he felt like he had to give this one.
The casino game everyone thinks they can beat.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.
* Prologue: Host Ira Glass and producer Robyn Semien get a blackjack lesson from Andy Bloch, who played for the MIT bl... more
Stories of cheating, cheaters, and the cheated.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.
* Prologue: Ira talks with Jessica Pressler about a phenomenon she noticed in the wedding notices in The New York Tim... more
At a time when the U.S. government is trying to make American history tidier, we try to learn from the mess. Including the untold, messy story of Paul and Essie Robeson.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscriptio... more
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- Why do you remove your episodes?
I am looking for 786: it’s a game show! Released on Dec 4, 2022. But I can’t find it. Can you please let me know where I can find it?
Apple Podcasts3Monkey8010
United States6 days ago I could not love This American Life (TAL) more! To borrow the tagline from public radio, I've had more "driveway moments" where I arrived at my destination and could not exit the car for rapt focus listening to some TAL tale or another over the past 19+ years than any other podcast or radio show. The sheer breadth of stories from toddlers switched not quite at birth to a day in the life of random guests at an all-nite diner I'm always surprised and delighted!
Podcast Addict511 days agoNatalieTheMBA- Infidelity episode
Voice fracking- I’m sure what was under discussion was intriguing. Nonetheless, I couldn’t get past the female journalist’s voice fracking. Sounded like nails on a chalk board.
Apple Podcasts284disapointedUnited States12 days ago - Insensitive to those betrayed
I have respected and enjoyed this show for decades. The “Infidelity” episode, however, has lost you a subscriber.
Apple Podcasts1jerevieeeeasUnited States12 days ago - Love This Show
There are so many different podcasts, but this is my time each and every day when I find out something new or hear about something I didn’t know before. I go on an adventure with and learn about new things just by listening! They also keep track of the ones you haven’t heard.
Unlike some podcasts which stay in the same field, theme or area, almost anything can be the topic. I thoroughly enjoy the adventures of the people in This American Life. Thanks Ira Glass for sharing your seasoned podcast ... more
Apple Podcasts5LouiseshiaUnited States16 days ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #76 | United States/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #6 | United States/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #89 |  Canada/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #239 |  United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #16 | Canada/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #45 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for This American Life, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
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 20 years ago and published 495 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.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
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. James Braly
2. Dani Shapiro
3. Etgar Keret
4. Matt Malloy
5. Nichole Hill
6. Jason Reynolds
7. Shirley Glass
8. Barry Glass
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.