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Throughline

NPR
Americans With Disabilities Act
Thin Veneer Theory
Second Amendment
Civil Rights Movement
Disability Rights Movement
Human Nature
Jack Miller
Nostalgia
Stanford Prison Experiment
National Rifle Association
Institutionalization
Eugenics
Covid-19
Altruism
Hurricane Katrina
National Firearms Act
Gun Control Act Of 1968
Chicago
Rehabilitation Act
Ed Roberts

Throughline is a time machine. Each episode, we travel beyond the headlines to answer the question, "How did we get here?" We use sound and stories to bring history to life and put you into the middle of it. From ancient civilizations to forgotten figures, we take you directly to the moments that shaped our world. Throughline is hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalists Rund Abdelfatah and Ramti... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes372Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & CultureHistory

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Artwork for Throughline

Latest Episodes

In March 2025, President Trump issued an executive order invoking a centuries-old law: the Alien Enemies Act. The Act allows a president to detain or deport citizens of foreign adversaries to the United States, but only in the case of a "declared war... more

Climate disaster, political unrest, random violence: Western society can often feel like what the filmmaker Werner Herzog calls "a thin layer of ice on top of an ocean of chaos and darkness." But is that actually true — or the way it has to be? Today... more

Want to get rich quick? You're not alone. Right now, Americans spend over $100 billion, yes billion, every year on lottery tickets. Today on the show, in collaboration with Scratch and Win from WGBH, how the mafia, Sputnik, medical equipment, and the... more

The Fifth Amendment. You have the right to remain silent when you're being questioned in police custody, thanks to the Fifth's protection against self-incrimination. But most people end up talking to police anyway. Why? Today on Throughline's We the ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Rutger Bregman
Dutch historian and author of 'Humankind, A Hopeful History'
Episode: When Things Fall Apart
Rebecca Solnit
Author and activist known for her writings on disaster response and community action
Episode: When Things Fall Apart
Philip Zimbardo
American psychologist known for the Stanford Prison Experiment
Episode: When Things Fall Apart
Malik Rahim
Community activist in New Orleans and co-founder of Common Ground Collective
Episode: When Things Fall Apart
Dr. Loretta Long
Actress and educator known for being the character 'Susan' on Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Episode: Sesame Street
John Feerick
Professor at Fordham Law School and advocate for the 25th Amendment
Fordham Law School
Episode: We the People: Succession of Power
Andy Rudalevich
Professor at Bowdoin College with 20 years of research on the executive branch
Bowdoin College
Episode: The Evolution of Presidential Power
Dr. Paul Offit
Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Episode: The Anti-Vaccine Movement
Ore Ogunbi
Africa correspondent at The Economist and graduate of Jesus College, Cambridge.
The Economist
Episode: The Kingdom Behind Glass

Hosts

Rund Abdelfatah
Co-host and Peabody Award-winning journalist known for engaging storytelling and insightful analysis.
Ramtin Arablouei
Co-host and Peabody Award-winning journalist known for thorough research and compelling narratives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 19.8k ratings
  • Very well done.

    Solid story telling - pulling history through the decades. Quite amazing production.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    emilyblue
    United States6 days ago
  • Very Biased

    A lot of the episodes are awesome, but it is very pro Palestine and anti-Israel. I don’t really know enough of the FACTS to choose a side, but I don’t agree with the one sidedness of some of the episodes, that is NOT good journalism.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bushdoctor76
    United States10 days ago
  • Time eater

    Keep you listening to their words

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    August Consumer
    United States20 days ago
  • Amazing Show

    I listen to this from Dublin, Ireland and it is one of the most insightful and fascinating show on American culture and history. Listen to one episode and you’ll see what I mean. Keep up the amazing work!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheNorthsider
    Ireland23 days ago
  • Health Insurance

    Great show! What is missing is what Covid didn’t do when millions were out of work consequently out of health insurance ! We Americans missed the opportunity to make a change.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paty Walls
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

However, some criticism arises regarding perceived biases in the narrative, calling for more balanced perspectives on controversial subjects.
Many find the production quality high and the insights thought-provoking, often recommending the show for its depth and clarity.
Listeners appreciate the well-researched topics and engaging storytelling style, noting how it connects historical events to contemporary issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#12
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#159
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#4
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#20
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#86
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#41
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

We the People: Succession of Power
Q: What were your hopes for the constitutional amendment regarding presidential incapacity?
John expresses that he wanted a constitutional amendment to ensure clarity and continuity in the executive power, avoiding confusion and potential crises.
We the People: Succession of Power
Q: What happens if a president is unable to serve?
John highlights that the vice president steps in, but the chain of succession isn't clearly defined beyond that, leading to confusion in the event of a crisis.
The Evolution of Presidential Power
Q: How did Obama’s presidency relate to the actions taken by Bush?
Obama had similar powers as Bush but redefined how they could be applied, using them in contexts like the NATO operation in Libya without formally acknowledging hostilities.
The Evolution of Presidential Power
Q: What about Nixon's presidency led to the term 'imperial presidency'?
Nixon's aggressive use of unilateral power and efforts to undermine the rule of law contributed to the characterization of his presidency as imperial.
The Evolution of Presidential Power
Q: Did Truman face pushback from Congress or the public when sending troops into Korea?
Initially, Truman faced little pushback as Congress was deferential to the president's claims of wartime powers.

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 Throughline

What is Throughline about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the deep connections between past events and contemporary issues, this podcast takes listeners on a journey through history with a focus on significant moments that have shaped societal values and political landscapes. With a narrative style that incorporates storytelling and expert insights, episodes tackle various themes, ranging from legal rights and healthcare evolution to social movements and cultural icons. The hosts create an engaging atmosphere, blending soundscapes and historical analysis to highlight the complexities of human experience across time. This approach makes it not only informative but also immersive and thought-provoking, appealing to those who appreciate detailed storytelling and a historical perspective on ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Throughline?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Throughline. 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 Throughline and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Throughline get?

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What are the audience demographics for Throughline?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Throughline, 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 Throughline have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Throughline 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 Throughline?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Throughline:

1. Radiolab
2. This American Life
3. Fresh Air
4. Hidden Brain
5. The Daily

How many episodes of Throughline are there?

Throughline launched 6 years ago and published 372 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 Throughline?

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 Throughline?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Throughline 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.

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What guests have appeared on Throughline?

Recent guests on Throughline include:

1. Rutger Bregman
2. Rebecca Solnit
3. Philip Zimbardo
4. Malik Rahim
5. Dr. Loretta Long
6. John Feerick
7. Andy Rudalevich
8. Dr. Paul Offit

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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