This American Life
@thisamericanlife.org
Each week we choose a theme. Then anything can happen. A weekly public radio show and podcast hosted by Ira Glass.
Become our Life Partner! Help support the show and get ad-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, and access to hundreds of archive favorites curated by Ira Glass himself.
This American Life Partners
We launched our Life Partners program to help fund the show in a world with less ad revenue. One year in: it's working! But we need it to grow to sustain our work long-term. Your support allows us to ...
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Become our Life Partner! Help support the show and get ad-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, and access to hundreds of archive favorites curated by Ira Glass himself.
We released a special mini-episode, in which we hear from someone in Venezuela with a very specific take on last week's U.S. attack. lnk.to/41fLkR
The Americans Outside My Window
In this special mini-episode – an extra episode this week! – we hear from someone in Venezuela with a very specific take on last week's U.S. attack.
lnk.to
January 13, 2026 at 2:40 PM
We released a special mini-episode, in which we hear from someone in Venezuela with a very specific take on last week's U.S. attack. lnk.to/41fLkR
Ben doesn't remember bullying Eddie in elementary school. Eddie remembers it vividly—has carried it for 40 years. They sit down as adults to figure out what really happened.
New Lore Drop
People discovering information about their own lives that they did not know, and suddenly everything looks very different.
link.podtrac.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Ben doesn't remember bullying Eddie in elementary school. Eddie remembers it vividly—has carried it for 40 years. They sit down as adults to figure out what really happened.
Jake started calling his grandma every day when she was diagnosed with cancer. They formed a book club—reading chapters, then recapping them on the phone. Years later, he discovered what she was actually reading.
New Lore Drop
People discovering information about their own lives that they did not know, and suddenly everything looks very different.
link.podtrac.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Jake started calling his grandma every day when she was diagnosed with cancer. They formed a book club—reading chapters, then recapping them on the phone. Years later, he discovered what she was actually reading.
When Pete turned 18, his dad took him on a drive to reveal a family secret he was finally old enough to know. link.podtrac.com/qvrycg2u
New Lore Drop
People discovering information about their own lives that they did not know, and suddenly everything looks very different.
link.podtrac.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:32 AM
When Pete turned 18, his dad took him on a drive to reveal a family secret he was finally old enough to know. link.podtrac.com/qvrycg2u
Bonus episode: @wearahelmet.bsky.social, one of our mixers, sits down with Ira to talk about the decisions she faces when adding music to our stories. They play examples, dig up debates over music cues, and more. Become a Life Partner today to listen. thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_campaign...
This American Life Partners
We launched our Life Partners program to help fund the show in a world with less ad revenue. One year in: it's working! But we need it to grow to sustain our work long-term. Your support allows us to ...
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Bonus episode: @wearahelmet.bsky.social, one of our mixers, sits down with Ira to talk about the decisions she faces when adding music to our stories. They play examples, dig up debates over music cues, and more. Become a Life Partner today to listen. thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_campaign...
For years, Mike obsessively rewatched the moment his band's big break fell apart on stage with Weezer. He was convinced they'd blown their shot at success. Then he asked his bandmate what she remembers about that day. link.podtrac.com/skgyqbcz
January 5, 2026 at 5:36 PM
For years, Mike obsessively rewatched the moment his band's big break fell apart on stage with Weezer. He was convinced they'd blown their shot at success. Then he asked his bandmate what she remembers about that day. link.podtrac.com/skgyqbcz
For Lilly, there’s one story about her parents that defines how she sees them, their family, and their history. Then she finds out it might be wrong. link.podtrac.com/skgyqbcz
January 5, 2026 at 2:15 PM
For Lilly, there’s one story about her parents that defines how she sees them, their family, and their history. Then she finds out it might be wrong. link.podtrac.com/skgyqbcz
During the pandemic, Todd rescued an injured rat. Then he got a friend for that rat. Then a few more. Before long: 12 rats, an obstacle course in his living room, and a dilemma—keep the rats or start dating again? link.podtrac.com/lrrjotpy
Must Be Rats on the Brain
The one animal we can’t seem to live without, even when we really, really want to.
Prologue: At the announcement of New York City’s inaugural rat czar, we meet Darneice Foster, who despises the rats...
link.podtrac.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
During the pandemic, Todd rescued an injured rat. Then he got a friend for that rat. Then a few more. Before long: 12 rats, an obstacle course in his living room, and a dilemma—keep the rats or start dating again? link.podtrac.com/lrrjotpy
This week: the one animal we can’t seem to live without, even when we really, really want to. link.podtrac.com/lrrjotpy
December 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
This week: the one animal we can’t seem to live without, even when we really, really want to. link.podtrac.com/lrrjotpy
Like a "making of" documentary reveals how a movie gets made, we look at how the story of Portland as a war zone was constructed—by citizen journalists, amplified by Fox News, validated at the White House—and used to justify a crackdown on the left. link.podtrac.com/431686w9
The Making Of
How one block in Portland, Oregon became a movie-set war zone that lots of people think is a real war zone.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription — or to gi...
link.podtrac.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Like a "making of" documentary reveals how a movie gets made, we look at how the story of Portland as a war zone was constructed—by citizen journalists, amplified by Fox News, validated at the White House—and used to justify a crackdown on the left. link.podtrac.com/431686w9
Portland has been portrayed as "war-ravaged," under siege from Antifa. Right-wing streamers filmed it, Fox News amplified it, Trump is using it to justify a nationwide crackdown. We wanted to see the reality behind the story being told about this city. link.podtrac.com/431686w9
The Making Of
How one block in Portland, Oregon became a movie-set war zone that lots of people think is a real war zone.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription — or to gi...
link.podtrac.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Portland has been portrayed as "war-ravaged," under siege from Antifa. Right-wing streamers filmed it, Fox News amplified it, Trump is using it to justify a nationwide crackdown. We wanted to see the reality behind the story being told about this city. link.podtrac.com/431686w9
How one block in Portland, Oregon became a movie-set war zone that lots of people think is a real war zone.
The Making Of
How one block in Portland, Oregon became a movie-set war zone that lots of people think is a real war zone.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription — or to gi...
link.podtrac.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:37 AM
How one block in Portland, Oregon became a movie-set war zone that lots of people think is a real war zone.
The perfect last-minute gift for the podcast lover in your life: ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and access to hundreds of archive favorites hand-picked by Ira. A Life Partners subscription supports the show and delivers instantly—no shipping, no wrapping required.
This American Life Partners
We launched our Life Partners program to help fund the show in a world with less ad revenue. One year in: it's working! But we need it to grow to sustain our work long-term. Your support allows us to ...
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The perfect last-minute gift for the podcast lover in your life: ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and access to hundreds of archive favorites hand-picked by Ira. A Life Partners subscription supports the show and delivers instantly—no shipping, no wrapping required.
Ian Brown tries to give his mother the perfect Christmas gift: a program of Christmas carols, sung for her by Ian and his brother. link.podtrac.com/6wqfkisf
Our Holiday Gift-Giving Guide
The vexing difficulty of finding the perfect gift.
link.podtrac.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Ian Brown tries to give his mother the perfect Christmas gift: a program of Christmas carols, sung for her by Ian and his brother. link.podtrac.com/6wqfkisf
This week: Stories about the vexing difficulty of finding the perfect gift, including an original recording of Truman Capote reading a holiday story about his childhood growing up in rural Alabama. link.podtrac.com/6wqfkisf
link.podtrac.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:13 AM
This week: Stories about the vexing difficulty of finding the perfect gift, including an original recording of Truman Capote reading a holiday story about his childhood growing up in rural Alabama. link.podtrac.com/6wqfkisf
Bonus episode: We try something new — Ira brings you a story that’s still in draft form. A personal story, with some jokes in it. Become a Life Partner today to listen.
This American Life Partners
We launched our Life Partners program to help fund the show in a world with less ad revenue. One year in: it's working! But we need it to grow to sustain our work long-term. Your support allows us to ...
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Bonus episode: We try something new — Ira brings you a story that’s still in draft form. A personal story, with some jokes in it. Become a Life Partner today to listen.
In late 1940s Nigeria, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti galvanized thousands of women market sellers in a historic uprising. A search for who she really was, and how she became the person history demanded. link.podtrac.com/puh9wt2r
Bigger Than Me
When history comes knocking, you have to figure out what to do.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.
Prologue: Brittany’s job is to answer anonymous calls...
link.podtrac.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:58 PM
In late 1940s Nigeria, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti galvanized thousands of women market sellers in a historic uprising. A search for who she really was, and how she became the person history demanded. link.podtrac.com/puh9wt2r
Brittany answers anonymous calls from people in the military. This year, she's gotten more than usual—most wondering what to do with orders they've been given, or orders they're afraid they'll get. link.podtrac.com/puh9wt2r
December 8, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Brittany answers anonymous calls from people in the military. This year, she's gotten more than usual—most wondering what to do with orders they've been given, or orders they're afraid they'll get. link.podtrac.com/puh9wt2r
This week: Jad Abumrad tells the story of the "ideological genealogy” of Fela Kuti’s anti-colonial politics — his mother.
Bigger Than Me
When history comes knocking, you have to figure out what to do.
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.
Prologue: Brittany’s job is to answer anonymous calls...
link.podtrac.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:35 AM
This week: Jad Abumrad tells the story of the "ideological genealogy” of Fela Kuti’s anti-colonial politics — his mother.
Bonus episode: When the writer Pico Iyer and Ira Glass appeared on stage in Santa Barbara, they got into all sorts of things that Ira doesn’t normally talk about. Become a Life Partner today to listen.
This American Life Partners
We launched our Life Partners program to help fund the show in a world with less ad revenue. One year in: it's working! But we need it to grow to sustain our work long-term. Your support allows us to ...
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Bonus episode: When the writer Pico Iyer and Ira Glass appeared on stage in Santa Barbara, they got into all sorts of things that Ira doesn’t normally talk about. Become a Life Partner today to listen.
Right back at all 12K of you 😍
December 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Right back at all 12K of you 😍
Reposted by This American Life
IMHO, this is one of the best TAL episodes out there. It's also one of the best long-form radio features I've heard.
Next time you are - like me - dutifully ironing your dress shirts despite working from home most of the time, put this on. You will not regret it.
Viva NPR.
Next time you are - like me - dutifully ironing your dress shirts despite working from home most of the time, put this on. You will not regret it.
Viva NPR.
We spend a month at a Jeep dealership on Long Island as they try to meet their monthly sales goal: 129 cars. link.podtrac.com/6b11s76y
December 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
IMHO, this is one of the best TAL episodes out there. It's also one of the best long-form radio features I've heard.
Next time you are - like me - dutifully ironing your dress shirts despite working from home most of the time, put this on. You will not regret it.
Viva NPR.
Next time you are - like me - dutifully ironing your dress shirts despite working from home most of the time, put this on. You will not regret it.
Viva NPR.
We spend a month at a Jeep dealership on Long Island as they try to meet their monthly sales goal: 129 cars. link.podtrac.com/6b11s76y
December 1, 2025 at 12:33 PM
We spend a month at a Jeep dealership on Long Island as they try to meet their monthly sales goal: 129 cars. link.podtrac.com/6b11s76y
A man is hired along with a crew to dig a mysterious hole on the slopes of Mt. Shasta. The hole goes sixty feet down. But what are they looking for? link.podtrac.com/vct98fqt
I Hate Mysteries
What’s in the box? What’s in the $%&ing box?!?
Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.
Prologue: A class of second graders is handed a sealed box with a myst...
link.podtrac.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A man is hired along with a crew to dig a mysterious hole on the slopes of Mt. Shasta. The hole goes sixty feet down. But what are they looking for? link.podtrac.com/vct98fqt