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Artwork for Throughline

Throughline

NPR
Iran
Israel
Hezbollah
Civil War
United States
Hamas
Civil Rights Movement
Supreme Court
14th Amendment
Lebanon
PLO
Dreams
Civil Rights
Democracy
Abraham Lincoln
First Amendment
Gaza Strip
Second Amendment
Motherhood
Conspiracy Theories

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes466Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & CultureHistory

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Artwork for Throughline

Latest Episodes

People used to say "believe your eyes." But these days that's not so easy to do. What we scroll through every day blurs the line between entertainment and fact. And nowhere is that phenomenon more evident than in reality television. Today on the show... more

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Jack Johnson was the first world Black heavyweight champion, but winning the title was only part of the battle. Every time Johnson stepped into a boxing ring, he struck a blow to white supremacy. In this week’s episode, the story of Jack Johnson and ... more

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Starbase. Prospera. California Forever. Mars. From private cities to interstellar colonies, tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel have backed experiments designed to operate beyond the borders — and laws — most of us live by. So we wondere... more

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As the United States expanded into a global superpower, it simultaneously strengthened its national borders and began to limit who could come in and out of the country. In this week’s episode, the story of how one of the very first walls meant to div... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Atusa Araxia Abrahamian
Journalist and author of The Cosmopolites
Freelance journalist / author
Episode: The billionaires' utopia blueprint
Patry Friedman
Patry Friedman, involved in seasteading and grandson of Milton Friedman
Seasteading Institute (founder)
Episode: The billionaires' utopia blueprint
Wayne Gramlich
Retired computer engineer, observer of early micronations and online communities
Independent researcher/observer
Episode: The billionaires' utopia blueprint
Rachel St. John
Historian
UC Davis
Episode: Why the wall was built
Evangeline Cisneros
Cuban prison escapee widely publicized by Hearst's paper
Historical figure, subject of coverage in the New York Journal
Episode: The original clickbait king
William Randolph Hearst
Newspaper publisher who transformed American journalism
New York Journal, Hearst Corporation
Episode: The original clickbait king
Daniel Imarvar
Author of How to Hide an Empire, History Professor at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Episode: How the US became America
George Zarkadakis
AI researcher and author of In Our Own Image
Author/AI researcher
Episode: Will AI destroy us... or save us?
Meredith Broussard
Data journalism professor at NYU, author
New York University
Episode: Will AI destroy us... or save us?

Hosts

Rund Abdelfatah
Co-host and journalist known for storytelling that connects history to present-day contexts.
Ramtin Arablouei
Co-host and journalist dedicated to creating engaging narratives that highlight historical perspectives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 21.4k ratings
  • Yep

    Podcast Addict
    5
    bhipp
    18 days ago
  • Exceptional reporting

    Huge thanks to Rund and Ramtin for this amazing podcast. You have really brought history to life and expanded my perspective. Keep up the great work.

    Thanks to NPR for enabling such work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TravenAdventure
    United States2 months ago
  • Highly recommend

    Really appreciate podcast that provides deeper explanation of events when the typical news covers a lot of topics with little depth

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jesse00000
    United States2 months ago
  • Best History Podcast

    I am almost done listening to every single episode. The depth of history is amazing, and the connections made are always mind blowing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    theyounggoat
    United States2 months ago
  • Some episodes are excellent

    Others completely let the American colonial project off the hook (notably, episodes on Iran and Israel). Grim.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Emily Van Duyne
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback highlights the podcast's ability to make history engaging, with immersive sound design and diverse perspectives.
Listeners praise the podcast for its in-depth and thorough historical storytelling, often connecting the past to current themes.
Some criticisms have been noted regarding certain tones during serious discussions, but overall content quality is strongly favored.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#14
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#242
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#11
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#29
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#123
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#71
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

James Baldwin's Fire
Q: Did he come out of the civil rights movement feeling hopeful?
Baldwin was disillusioned but continued to bear witness to the struggles for justice and fought against apathy in society, emphasizing the constant potential for change.
James Baldwin's Fire
Q: What do you think Baldwin would have made of that tension today?
Baldwin would likely point to the importance of understanding individual pain within the context of broader social criticism, arguing that personal experiences should drive the quest for social justice.
Iran Protests Explained
Q: How are these protests different from past ones?
These protests are calling for the end of the Islamic Republic rather than just reforms, reflecting deeper frustrations with the regime.
Ken Burns and the American Revolution
Q: What was the American Revolution really about?
It was a civil war characterized by various social dynamics and involved different groups fighting for their interpretation of liberty and rights.
Pride, Prejudice, and Peer Pressure
Q: What do you think makes the characters in Pride and Prejudice resonate so strongly with today's readers?
Many modern readers relate to the themes of first impressions, societal pressures, and economic struggles depicted in the novel.

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 intricate tapestry of history, the podcast takes a deep dive into pivotal events and figures that have significantly shaped the world we live in today. Each episode connects the past with the present, addressing themes such as political influence, civil rights, and societal change through immersive storytelling and expert insights. The unique blend of sound design and narrative brings historical events to life, making complex subjects accessible and engaging for listeners.

Notably, the thoughtful exploration of diverse perspectives, especially those often overlooked in traditional narratives, sets this podcast apart. With a focus on both well-known and obscure topics, it offers an enriching experience that appeals to history ... 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?

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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. The Daily
5. Short Wave

How many episodes of Throughline are there?

Throughline launched 7 years ago and published 466 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.

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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. Atusa Araxia Abrahamian
2. Patry Friedman
3. Wayne Gramlich
4. Rachel St. John
5. Evangeline Cisneros
6. William Randolph Hearst
7. Daniel Imarvar
8. George Zarkadakis

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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