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.
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
Reposted by This American Life
We also do a deep dive into @thisamericanlife.org's bonus feed, which we were skeptical of at first, and find surprising richness in the episodes where producers look back at stories that meant something to them.
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
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
November 21, 2025 at 7:03 PM
We also do a deep dive into @thisamericanlife.org's bonus feed, which we were skeptical of at first, and find surprising richness in the episodes where producers look back at stories that meant something to them.
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
thisamericanlife.supercast.com
A class of second graders is handed a sealed box with a mystery object inside. They are supposed to guess what it is, but the lesson goes off the rails.
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 12:04 PM
A class of second graders is handed a sealed box with a mystery object inside. They are supposed to guess what it is, but the lesson goes off the rails.
Ready to be a Life Partner? Support us and unlock ad-free listening, special bonus content, plus hundreds of handpicked archive episodes chosen personally by Ira Glass.
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
November 20, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Ready to be a Life Partner? Support us and unlock ad-free listening, special bonus content, plus hundreds of handpicked archive episodes chosen personally by Ira Glass.
What’s great about living in a family is that everyone sees everything differently. Also, that’s what’s awful about living in a family. This week, we go behind closed doors with two families. link.podtrac.com/310widp1
Under One Roof
What’s great about living in a family is that everyone sees everything differently. Also, that’s what’s awful about living in a family. We go behind closed doors with two families.
Visit thisameri...
link.podtrac.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
What’s great about living in a family is that everyone sees everything differently. Also, that’s what’s awful about living in a family. This week, we go behind closed doors with two families. link.podtrac.com/310widp1
Reposted by This American Life
I used to be a weekly listener to this show and I'm not sure why I stopped because every time I roadtrip I listen and it is still producing amazing stuff. This episode found a relatively benign yet overall far more devastating way to tell the story of how ICE is impacting families
In every house, behind every closed door, a private drama is unfolding. In the Rivera house, the drama comes in the form of a question: should they stay or should they go?
Under One Roof
What’s great about living in a family is that everyone sees everything differently. Also, that’s what’s awful about living in a family. We go behind closed doors with two families. Visit…
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I used to be a weekly listener to this show and I'm not sure why I stopped because every time I roadtrip I listen and it is still producing amazing stuff. This episode found a relatively benign yet overall far more devastating way to tell the story of how ICE is impacting families
One of our episodes from this year made Apple Podcasts' Best of 2025. In case you missed it: a group of immigration judges, who rarely speak to the press, told us about the dismantling of the immigration court system from the inside. apple.co/bestof2025pods
Best of 2025 on Apple Podcasts
Browse and listen to Best of 2025 podcasts on Apple Podcasts. Throughout the year, Apple Podcasts editors hand-curate and feature the absolute best programming on
apple.co
November 18, 2025 at 7:22 PM
One of our episodes from this year made Apple Podcasts' Best of 2025. In case you missed it: a group of immigration judges, who rarely speak to the press, told us about the dismantling of the immigration court system from the inside. apple.co/bestof2025pods