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Artwork for This American Life

This American Life

Wicoto
This American Life
ICE (immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Transgender People In the Military
The Idiot
Immigration
Data Analytics
Paul Robeson
Civil Rights / Black Liberation
Serial Productions
ICE
Habeas Corpus
Charlotte, North Carolina
Los Angeles
Border Patrol
Damascus, Syria
Hama, Syria
Portland
Infidelity
Goucher College
Internet In Iran

This American Life: The Full Visual ArchiveFirst-person stories and investigative journalism that capture the essence of the American experience. From quirky subcultures to high-stakes political dramas, we bring you the stories that shape our nation.🌍 SEE THE STORIES: Access the original documents, historical photos, and witness profiles for each episode by following the link in our descriptions.... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes22Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for This American Life

Latest Episodes

Adults telling kids who they are, and kids wondering — are they right? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

* Prologue: Host Ira talks with comedian Gary Gulman about his transformation from high school n... more

One family faces the Trump administration’s ban on trans people serving in the military, and responds with a surprising secret weapon. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

* Prologue: Geirid and Chrissy a... more

People who end up with far more power than they bargained for, and everything that comes with it. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

* Prologue: Ira tells the story of two friends who had this incredibl... more

Since the war began in Iran, we've heard very little from people inside the country — and there's a reason for that. The entire country has been under an internet blackout. We worked with reporters Roxana Saberi and Fatemeh Jamalpour to get voice mem... more

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Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Carla Dimkoff
Subject of the first act, real person whose life was shaped by her father's actions
Episode: 318: With Great Power
Larry Soutter
Subject of the second act, man wrongfully convicted and later exonerated
Episode: 318: With Great Power
Shalom Auslander
Storyteller, author, and performer featured in Act Three
Author, Beware of God; Joe stories
Episode: 318: With Great Power
Shirin Jafari
Reporter on the World, introduced as a guest
The World
Episode: 886: Blackout
Roxana Saberi
Journalist and author, introduced as a guest
Journalist
Episode: 886: Blackout
Fatemeh Jamalpour
Journalist and author, introduced as a guest
Journalist
Episode: 886: Blackout
Angie Bachman
Subject of a high-profile gambling-related legal case
Caesars Entertainment case subject
Episode: 466: Blackjack
James Braly
Performer/storyteller, The Moth presence in segment
The Moth
Episode: 393: Infidelity
Dani Shapiro
Writer, storyteller; author of Slow Motion and Inheritance
Author
Episode: 393: Infidelity

Host

Ira Glass
Host of This American Life

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

212: The Other Man
Q: What is the central tension in Act 2 about the Jesse L. Jackson Jr. race?
The central tension is whether the 'other Jesse Jackson' on the ballot is a real candidate or a constructed appearance, and how this confusion exposes the vulnerability of voters and the manipulative potential of political actors.
884: The Idiot
Q: What was the impact of hearing Allen's own words on your understanding of him?
Hearing 35 hours of conversations shifted my view from seeing him as a one-dimensional villain to recognizing a more complex, perhaps even pitiable, figure who made devastating choices.
884: The Idiot
Q: Why did you decide to include Allen's perspective after covering Priscilla's story?
Because the truth in this family's saga required triangulation from multiple viewpoints; Allen's side offered a counter-narrative that, when weighed against the evidence, forced a deeper examination of motives and accountability.
884: The Idiot
Q: What did you learn about Priscilla that you hadn't known before you started interviewing her?
I learned the depth of her experiences—how she was stranded, faced danger, and fought to regain custody, which revealed a much more harrowing and sustained ordeal than initially portrayed.
883: Call Your Parents
Q: What sparked the decision to turn old parent interviews into a regular episode?
Ira explains that the material was strong, emotionally revealing, and had aged into a compelling, cohesive narrative that could be shared with a broader audience, turning bonus content into a mainline show.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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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?

First-person storytelling combined with rigorous investigative journalism shapes a wide range of human experiences, from intimate family dynamics to large-scale political events. Across recent episodes, the show frequently centers archival material, historical context, and expert commentary to unpack complex narratives—whether exploring civil rights legacies, global Cold War echoes, or contemporary policy debates. Notable strengths include deeply researched storytelling that weaves interviews with archival voices, plus a knack for dramatic courtroom and investigative arcs that illuminate systemic issues through personal perspectives. The format often threads together multi-part investigations, live readings, and reflective commentary, makin... more

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How many listeners does This American Life get?

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What are the audience demographics for This American Life?

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How many subscribers and views does This American Life have?

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Which podcasts are similar to This American Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This American Life:

1. This American Life
2. The Moth
3. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
4. Stuff You Should Know
5. Death, Sex & Money

How many episodes of This American Life are there?

This American Life launched 2 months ago and published 22 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.

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What guests have appeared on This American Life?

Recent guests on This American Life include:

1. Carla Dimkoff
2. Larry Soutter
3. Shalom Auslander
4. Shirin Jafari
5. Roxana Saberi
6. Fatemeh Jamalpour
7. Angie Bachman
8. James Braly

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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