Throughline
NPRThroughline 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 journalist Rund Abdelfatah. Support p... more
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 503 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistoryDocumentarySociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
Today on the show, the balance of Congressional power is up for grabs in this midterm election. It could be determined by a small number of voters in a few battleground states. Blueprints from the past could be the guide for big wins. The GOP has em... more
Major League Baseball’s postseason is just a few weeks away, and here on Throughline we know the power of a good walk-up song. But how did baseball become such a musical sport? And where did the idea for walk up-music come from?
Guests:
John Thorn... more
Calling someone a "Luddite" is usually an insult – shorthand for someone who is behind the times. But the real Luddites weren't just afraid of change; they were a labor movement fighting to save their jobs from being replaced by machines. Today, with... more
In 1966, the federal government commissioned a massive survey aimed at solving educational inequality. Instead, the explosive Coleman Report unleashed a 60-year debate over race, resources, and what education in America is actually for. This is the s... more
Key Facts
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Recent Guests
Hosts
Reviews
- Competent, but overproduced
Interesting content, but unfortunately, in the model of Radiolab, too many illustrative audio clips spoil the broth.
Apple Podcasts3Saurolophus
United Statesa month ago - What happened to this show??
Now that Ramtin is gone this show is not the same. Is there an AI voiceover now?? What happened to the music. I used to love this show so much I became a paid subscriber. So sad, I don’t know what happened this show. Not the same
Apple Podcasts2AMHAIDUnited States2 months ago - The podcast you cite at dinner parties
I have never written a podcast review before but I felt compelled to share my love for the podcast, Throughline. It is thoughtful, in-depth and ventures into topics most outlets wouldn’t. I find myself looking forward to the next episode and I’ve recommended it to so many friends. It’s the one podcast that I can confidently refer to as a source of historical and current events insights. Thanks for tackling the subjects no one else is.
Apple Podcasts5NuovaItalianaUnited States2 months ago - Truly Superb Program
I wanted to offer one recommendation, but first I would like to express how much I love this podcast: I love it a lot. Every episode packs a punch. Even if an episodes centers on topic that does not particularly interest me, Throughline still draws me in. I have learned a lot from this podcast and it always introduces me to topics or new perspectives. My one recommendation to the Throughline Team: it would be great if you could list the books that are referenced in the episodes. Ezra Klein does ... more
Apple Podcasts5FrankiegutUnited States2 months ago - Minimize
Omitting critical facts about Hamas’s terrorist activities (atrocities) and the framing coverage that downplays the group’s violence
Apple Podcasts1LizitattennisUnited States2 months 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.
Spotify | #15 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #11 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #39 |  Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #125 |  United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #74 |  Australia/History |
Apple Podcasts | #131 |  Germany/History |
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 Throughline
What is Throughline about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Throughline offer a historically grounded, story-driven approach to current events and long-running cultural debates. Episodes explore how past forces and decisions shape today's headlines, blending archival research, expert interviews, and narrative storytelling to illuminate complex topics—from technology and economics to politics, race, and social change. Notable strengths include rigorous historical context, diverse guest voices, and a clear emphasis on how historical memory informs modern policy and public life. The show frequently features historians, journalists, and subject-matter experts, often tying big ideas to human-centered stories that help listeners see the throughline from past to present.
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?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Throughline, 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 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. Code Switch
4. Fresh Air
5. Short Wave
How many episodes of Throughline are there?
Throughline launched 8 years ago and published 503 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.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Throughline?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Throughline. 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 Throughline?
Recent guests on Throughline include:
1. Nancy Faust
2. John Thorn
3. Katrina Navickas
4. Nicholas Lemann
5. Siddharth Kara
6. Ed (Edwin) Morel
7. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja
8. Michael Kim
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.