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 | 506 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | HistoryDocumentarySociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
NPR’s Anas Baba is one of the last remaining journalists in Gaza working full-time for an American news organization. A year into the ceasefire, more than 1400 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, nearly 5,000 injured. And those numbers rise n... more
We live in a moment with almost daily reminders of how fragile life on Earth is whether it be from climate change, nuclear weapons or AI. In this episode, we bring you a story from the not-so-distant past when we learned what drove dinosaurs to extin... more
On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff. All seven astronauts onboard died. Brian Russell, an engineer who worked on the shuttle, had spent months warning NASA that freezing temperatures could cause a criti... more
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is having a big moment. Its candidates and its membership are both surging. Before Zohran Mamdani and AOC, there was its founder, Michael Harrington, a.k.a 'the man who discovered poverty.' In this episode,... more
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Reviews
- Great Show
… but the sound effects/background arpeggiations are really ordinary and repetitive. Gives me a headache.
Apple Podcasts5RNfromMaryland
United Statesa month ago - Monopoly- Missing a major point
I’m very sad that your show has perpetuated a myth of monopoly. Monopoly does not show that if you work hard you can get rich, quite the opposite in fact. Monopoly game demonstrates two points so well they almost go without say, but they still need to be said. First, your only chance of financial dominance is to start on a level playing field with your peers as everyone in the game of Monopoly does. Second and more important is you have to be lucky! The game Monopoly may be fun for the losers, b... more
Apple Podcasts1Dr.JunkUnited Statesa month ago - Interesting show
I like the program! Very intriguing topics. What exactly is the the host saying her name is?
Apple Podcasts4ShepofdogsUnited Statesa month ago - Affirmative Action
Very thought provoking and challenged my beliefs about the role of affirmative action based on race in university education. Totally agree with the guest Jay Caspian Kang. Fantastic episode. Thank you.
Edited : to add that the background music in n the show is fantastic & enriches the listening experience without being distracting. Still a great show. Please continue focusing on global history as it helps one understand the origin of existing conflicts in the world & the role powerful countries ... more
Apple Podcasts5Podcast-geek
Canadaa month ago - Competent, but overproduced
Interesting content, but unfortunately, in the model of Radiolab, too many illustrative audio clips spoil the broth.
Apple Podcasts3SaurolophusUnited States2 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #14 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #14 | United States/History |
Apple Podcasts | #45 | Canada/History |
Apple Podcasts | #118 |  United Kingdom/History |
Apple Podcasts | #73 |  Germany/History |
Apple Podcasts | #96 |  Australia/History |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
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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. Fresh Air
4. Code Switch
5. The Daily
How many episodes of Throughline are there?
Throughline launched 8 years ago and published 506 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. Carl Sagan
2. Alec Nevala-Lee
3. Brian Russell
4. Nancy Faust
5. John Thorn
6. Katrina Navickas
7. Nicholas Lemann
8. Siddharth Kara
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.