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.
Ted was six when he stole a rock from Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park—ancient trees turned to rainbow-colored stone over millions of years, like the ones pictured here. Nearly 50 years later, he really wishes he hadn't. bit.ly/48OrJOk
October 27, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Ted was six when he stole a rock from Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park—ancient trees turned to rainbow-colored stone over millions of years, like the ones pictured here. Nearly 50 years later, he really wishes he hadn't. bit.ly/48OrJOk
This scooter sat in pieces for 24 years. Nunzio could've bought a new engine at any time. Instead, he spent years tracking down the original to restore it. This week: objects and the strange power they hold over us. bit.ly/48OrJOk
October 27, 2025 at 7:19 PM
This scooter sat in pieces for 24 years. Nunzio could've bought a new engine at any time. Instead, he spent years tracking down the original to restore it. This week: objects and the strange power they hold over us. bit.ly/48OrJOk
The Thing About Things: Three stories about the strange power inanimate objects can hold over us. bit.ly/42XL9wq
October 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The Thing About Things: Three stories about the strange power inanimate objects can hold over us. bit.ly/42XL9wq
Parole board hearings are a part of the judicial system that doesn't get a lot of scrutiny. This week, we listen in as 13 people decide whether or not one man should be released. link.podtrac.com/0ejp3o1q
October 20, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Parole board hearings are a part of the judicial system that doesn't get a lot of scrutiny. This week, we listen in as 13 people decide whether or not one man should be released. link.podtrac.com/0ejp3o1q
On the radio this weekend: What happens when people create alternate versions of themselves and release them into the wild? bit.ly/4he0KOo
October 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM
On the radio this weekend: What happens when people create alternate versions of themselves and release them into the wild? bit.ly/4he0KOo
On the radio this weekend: Stories of people who try simple mind games on others, and then find themselves way in over their heads. bit.ly/3VzsXFl
September 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
On the radio this weekend: Stories of people who try simple mind games on others, and then find themselves way in over their heads. bit.ly/3VzsXFl
On the radio this weekend: A group of immigration judges, who almost never speak to the press, describes the dismantling of our immigration court system from the inside. bit.ly/4neQ5Fi
September 20, 2025 at 12:30 PM
On the radio this weekend: A group of immigration judges, who almost never speak to the press, describes the dismantling of our immigration court system from the inside. bit.ly/4neQ5Fi
NYC: Join Ira at the book launch for "The Podcast Pantheon" by Sean Malin — also featuring Dan Taberski, Negin Farsad, and Pam Grossman. They'll be talking about the art of podcasting and shows that changed how we listen. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launc...
September 11, 2025 at 9:08 PM
NYC: Join Ira at the book launch for "The Podcast Pantheon" by Sean Malin — also featuring Dan Taberski, Negin Farsad, and Pam Grossman. They'll be talking about the art of podcasting and shows that changed how we listen. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launc...
On the radio this weekend: Small human plans that run into much larger obstacles. bit.ly/45RGHkM
September 6, 2025 at 11:38 AM
On the radio this weekend: Small human plans that run into much larger obstacles. bit.ly/45RGHkM
NYC: Ira Glass is interviewing Reality Winner about her new book, I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY, at @mcnallyjackson on Sept. 15. www.mcnallyjackson.com/reality-winn...
September 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
NYC: Ira Glass is interviewing Reality Winner about her new book, I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY, at @mcnallyjackson on Sept. 15. www.mcnallyjackson.com/reality-winn...
On the radio this weekend: People starting over—sometimes because they want to, other times because they have to. bit.ly/2syl98W
August 30, 2025 at 12:30 PM
On the radio this weekend: People starting over—sometimes because they want to, other times because they have to. bit.ly/2syl98W
On the radio this weekend: How they organize the chaos of the world, for good and for bad. bit.ly/3wZe9XH
August 16, 2025 at 12:30 PM
On the radio this weekend: How they organize the chaos of the world, for good and for bad. bit.ly/3wZe9XH
Bonus content: Ira onstage with comedian Zarna Garg. Zarna is skeptical of Ira's career choices. Ira wonders if Zarna owes him money. It's a wide-ranging conversation! Become a Life Partner today to listen: bit.ly/40LYPIO
August 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Bonus content: Ira onstage with comedian Zarna Garg. Zarna is skeptical of Ira's career choices. Ira wonders if Zarna owes him money. It's a wide-ranging conversation! Become a Life Partner today to listen: bit.ly/40LYPIO
On the radio this weekend: A million people come to the Iowa State Fair, each with their own goals and dreams. We hang out with some of them to see if they get what they hoped for. bit.ly/3ZdkaMc
August 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM
On the radio this weekend: A million people come to the Iowa State Fair, each with their own goals and dreams. We hang out with some of them to see if they get what they hoped for. bit.ly/3ZdkaMc
Free bonus content: Ira on the most personal stories he's made for the show. If you enjoy listening, we hope you'll consider subscribing!
Listen: lnk.to/UVyLz3
Subscribe: bit.ly/40LYPIO
Listen: lnk.to/UVyLz3
Subscribe: bit.ly/40LYPIO
August 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Free bonus content: Ira on the most personal stories he's made for the show. If you enjoy listening, we hope you'll consider subscribing!
Listen: lnk.to/UVyLz3
Subscribe: bit.ly/40LYPIO
Listen: lnk.to/UVyLz3
Subscribe: bit.ly/40LYPIO
On the radio this weekend: What is it about our mean friends? They treat us poorly, they don't call us back, they cancel plans at the last minute, and yet we keep coming back for more. bit.ly/4o4koiH
July 26, 2025 at 12:01 PM
On the radio this weekend: What is it about our mean friends? They treat us poorly, they don't call us back, they cancel plans at the last minute, and yet we keep coming back for more. bit.ly/4o4koiH
On the radio this weekend: When you’re the only one who can see something, it feels like you’re in on a special secret. The hard part is getting anyone to believe your secret is real. bit.ly/3j323QR
July 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
On the radio this weekend: When you’re the only one who can see something, it feels like you’re in on a special secret. The hard part is getting anyone to believe your secret is real. bit.ly/3j323QR
The 66-year-old lifeguard who sued New York State for age discrimination after refusing to wear a Speedo on the job. bit.ly/3TqCyNz
July 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The 66-year-old lifeguard who sued New York State for age discrimination after refusing to wear a Speedo on the job. bit.ly/3TqCyNz
On the radio this weekend: Summer is a time when change seems more possible than ever. But can people actually reinvent themselves in the warmer months? bit.ly/2ArNc0W
July 5, 2025 at 12:31 PM
On the radio this weekend: Summer is a time when change seems more possible than ever. But can people actually reinvent themselves in the warmer months? bit.ly/2ArNc0W
On the radio this weekend: People on a mission to achieve their goals before their window of opportunity closes. www.thisamericanlife.org/863/champion...
June 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
On the radio this weekend: People on a mission to achieve their goals before their window of opportunity closes. www.thisamericanlife.org/863/champion...
Excited to share that the team at Apple Podcasts recognized us as one of 20 shows that have shaped the podcasting landscape. Explore the full list of shows: apple.co/20podcasts
June 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Excited to share that the team at Apple Podcasts recognized us as one of 20 shows that have shaped the podcasting landscape. Explore the full list of shows: apple.co/20podcasts
On the radio this weekend: We got a tip about a meat plant selling pig intestines as fake calamari, wondered if it could be true, and decided to investigate. bit.ly/4kT0MM0
June 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
On the radio this weekend: We got a tip about a meat plant selling pig intestines as fake calamari, wondered if it could be true, and decided to investigate. bit.ly/4kT0MM0
On the radio this weekend: A show about people who are suddenly confronted with who they are. bit.ly/3FrNcjC
May 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM
On the radio this weekend: A show about people who are suddenly confronted with who they are. bit.ly/3FrNcjC
NYC: Join our own Emanuele Berry along with podcast host @nicholehill.bsky.social for a live taping of the Black history comedy show, "Our Ancestors Were Messy." Friday, June 13. Tickets: events.nyu.edu/event/364976...
May 19, 2025 at 8:05 PM
NYC: Join our own Emanuele Berry along with podcast host @nicholehill.bsky.social for a live taping of the Black history comedy show, "Our Ancestors Were Messy." Friday, June 13. Tickets: events.nyu.edu/event/364976...
On the radio this weekend: Boen Wang goes back to a day before he was born, a day that changed the course of his family's story. www.thisamericanlife.org/835/children...
May 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
On the radio this weekend: Boen Wang goes back to a day before he was born, a day that changed the course of his family's story. www.thisamericanlife.org/835/children...