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 | 481 | Founded | 19 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
The one animal we can’t seem to live without, even when we really, really want to.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription
* Prologue: At the announcement of New York City’s inaugural rat czar, we meet Darn... more
Stories about the intersection of Christmas and retail, originally broadcast in 1996 when our show was only a year old. Including David Sedaris's "Santaland Diaries" about the seasons he spent working as an elf at Macy's.
How one block in Portland, Oregon became a movie-set war zone that lots of people think is a real war zone.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription — or to give one as a gift!
* Prologue: What the movie Hea... more
The vexing difficulty of finding the perfect gift.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.
* Prologue: Host Ira Glass goes to a busy Target store one week before Christmas. Most shoppers he talks to don't ... more
Key Facts
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Reviews
- Not everything is tra-la-la
I’ve listened to TAL for decades and am disappointed. They covered family separation due to ICE raids as if it were a quirky little issue some families are dealing with. I listened to a few more episodes to give them the benefit of the doubt, but the other stories about these times we are in were vapid. In contrast, I listened to Code Switch about family separation and they nailed it, no “Tra-la-la, isn’t this quirky?” feel to it.
Apple Podcasts1Mindful MeditatorX
United States22 days ago - An in-depth look at the topics you didn’t know you needed to examine.
I’ve been a listener for as long as I can remember and I continue to be amazed at Ira Glass and his talented crew’s ability to invite me to explore experiences that I didn’t know I needed to ponder. From thorough, thoughtful reporting to unexpected interviews, I never get enough of this show. A must listen as a part of my weekly routine!
Apple Podcasts5jmrazorUnited States23 days ago - 80/20 Podcast
80% repeats and 20% new content. And most of the new content is lame (listen to “I hate mysteries” for an example).
What’s hilarious is they also want you to spend $10/month or $100/year for an ad free of their repeats.
Apple Podcasts1JoeMo247United States23 days ago - This episode originally aired in…
I get having to recycle content to stay on the hamster wheel, but it’s getting absurd. Expecting people to pay for a show that is not putting out new, interesting shows is certainly a strategy.
Apple Podcasts2DieterVonUnited States24 days ago - Loved it for many years
So many heart wrenching moments. Expect to be gripped.
Apple Podcasts5zenseattleUnited Statesa month 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 | #21 | United States/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #2 | United States/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #24 |  Canada/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #159 |  United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #3 | Canada/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #26 | 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?
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.
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. The Daily
5. Heavyweight
How many episodes of This American Life are there?
This American Life launched 19 years ago and published 481 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. Darneice Foster
2. Kathy Grady
3. Reggie and Rachel
4. David Sedaris
5. David Rakoff
6. Truman Capote
7. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
8. Elijah Sullivan
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.