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 | 491 | Founded | 19 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsSociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
What happens when a new guy comes on the scene and changes the way everyone relates to each other?
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.
* Prologue: Ira talks with Sarah Koenig about the first and only t... more
M. Gessen returns to our show with a true-crime story that takes place entirely within their own family. This story comes to us from the producers at Serial Productions—who invented the true-crime podcast more than a decade ago—and from The New York ... more
In the early days of the radio show, Ira did a series of interviews with his parents that completely changed his relationship with them. This week, he returns to those interviews.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium s... more
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
Key Facts
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Recent Guests
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Reviews
- LIKE
You’re a seasoned pro. Your show is legendary. One thing that stood upon hearing your early episodes was the complete absence of LIKE!
As I read the transcript while listening to the episode you used the word LIKE 93 times before I couldn’t listen anymore. Fantastic episode reported by a 60 year old man rendered unlistenable do to Valley Girl Vocal delivery.
What is wrong with you podcasters? If I was conversing with someone who said LIKE in every sentence I would excuse myself and walk away. ... more
Apple Podcasts5Juanwhoknows
United States17 days ago - Call your parents
I just love this show! Sharing Old recordings and Reflecting on the relationship with your parents over the decades. Your response to them then and now. My daughter called me today, she was super busy on my recent birthday so we yakked it up a bit more than usual today . We had heartwarming moments., dealt with some plans for a field trip dodging any potential anxiety with coolness and humor, and even touched on a few sensitive issues and danced through them gracefully! I have to think this epis... more
Apple Podcasts5OmaVicAloNeUnited States17 days ago Just the best, so we'll done!
Podcast Addict517 days agofaye- SExpert tips from your Mum
Love this show. Your “phone your parents” episode is so beautiful. The 20+yo recording of you having a totally relaxed chat with your mom about her sexpert tips was hilarious and very intimate. Let’s face it, without sex, our parents would never be parents, but not many of us have a mum who is published discussing her hot tips to spice it up!
Apple Podcasts5dabeersarehere
Australia17 days ago - Ira Glass I love you
Sometimes I tell people that I have a crush on Ira Glass from this American Life. Now don’t get nervous I think it’s because you’re so honest with your ex listeners plus the show —“Talk to your Parents” reminded me of what I am going through as an empty nester plus I loved hearing about your outrageous dressing as a boy!!! I think you’re probably on the autism spectrum—-( I am surrounded by them !! ) I think my crush is that I would love to talk to you as a friend. Plus your life growing up in ... more
Apple Podcasts5suzymomthreeUnited States17 days ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #58 | United States/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #5 | United States/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #43 |  Canada/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #226 |  United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #5 | Canada/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #37 | 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 19 years ago and published 491 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. Shirley Glass
2. Barry Glass
3. Mitch Duneier
4. Michael Chabon
5. Alison Gopnik
6. Aileen Goldman
7. Howie Chackowicz
8. Alex Blumberg
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.