Episodes 15
Avg. Duration 57m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.5 (87,212)
Since Oct 2024
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Consistency
48%
Hosting
www.thisamericanlife.org

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Each week we choose a theme. Then anything can happen. This American Life is true stories that unfold like little movies for radio. Personal stories with funny moments, big feelings, and surprising plot twists. Newsy stories that try to capture what it’s like to be alive right now. It’s the most popular weekly podcast in the world, and winner of the first ever Pulitzer Prize for a radio show or podcast. Hosted by Ira Glass and produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago.

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

888: Not Today, Hades!

Jun 07, 2026 59m

Regular people trapped inside Greek myths. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: When a mysterious, ripped-open package arrives on Pablo's…

137: The Book That Changed Your Life

May 31, 2026 1h 1m

We want to believe our lives can be changed by the ideas contained in a book. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: When Alexa was seven, she…

676: Here’s Looking at You, Kid

May 24, 2026 1h 2m

Adults telling kids who they are, and kids wondering — are they right? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Host Ira talks with comedian Gary…

887: Two Is One, One Is None!

May 17, 2026 1h

One family faces the Trump administration’s ban on trans people serving in the military, and responds with a surprising secret weapon. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our…

318: With Great Power

May 10, 2026 1h

People who end up with far more power than they bargained for, and everything that comes with it. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Ira tells…

886: Blackout

May 03, 2026 1h 2m

Since the war began in Iran, we've heard very little from people inside the country — and there's a reason for that. The entire country has been under an internet blackout. We worked with reporters…

Ira (Reluctantly) Gives a Graduation Speech

May 01, 2026 8m

Ira always hated commencement speeches. Then he felt like he had to give this one. thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners

466: Blackjack

Apr 26, 2026 1h 4m

The casino game everyone thinks they can beat. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Host Ira Glass and producer Robyn Semien get a blackjack…

393: Infidelity

Apr 19, 2026 59m

Stories of cheating, cheaters, and the cheated. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Ira talks with Jessica Pressler about a phenomenon she…

885: Bless This Mess

Apr 12, 2026 1h 1m

At a time when the U.S. government is trying to make American history tidier, we try to learn from the mess. Including the untold, messy story of Paul and Essie Robeson. Visit…

212: The Other Man

Apr 05, 2026 1h 2m

What happens when a new guy comes on the scene and changes the way everyone relates to each other? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Ira talks…

884: The Idiot

Mar 29, 2026 59m

M. Gessen returns to our show with a true-crime story that takes place entirely within their own family. This story comes to us from the producers at Serial Productions—who invented the true-crime…

883: Call Your Parents

Mar 22, 2026 59m

In the early days of the radio show, Ira did a series of interviews with his parents that completely changed his relationship with them. This week, he returns to those interviews. Visit…

628: In the Shadow of the City

Mar 15, 2026 57m

Stories that take place on the edge of civilization, just out of sight. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Every city's got a place like this:…

882: Give a Little Whistle

Mar 08, 2026 1h 2m

Two lawyers who work for ICE step forward and lift the curtain on what is really happening inside our immigration system right now. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium…

208: Office Politics

Mar 01, 2026 1h 1m

Stories of high drama from America's workplaces — surprising, emotional places full of the greed, jealousy, and ambition of real politics. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our…

881: I Want What I Want

Feb 22, 2026 1h

People deciding to do things that most of us do NOT choose to do.  Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: A new documentary called The Boys and the…

605: Kid Logic

Feb 15, 2026 1h

Kids using perfectly logical arguments and arriving at perfectly wrong conclusions. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Ira talks with Rebecca…

75: Kindness of Strangers

Feb 08, 2026 1h

An episode from our show's early days: Stories about what happens when strangers are kind — and when they're not. Prologue: Brett Leveridge was standing on the subway platform when a man walked by,…

880: What Is Your Emergency?

Feb 01, 2026 59m

911 calls unlike any we’ve heard before, and other stories about immigration agents sweeping through America. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does This American Life have?

This American Life has published 15 episodes since October 2024, covering topics in Arts, News.

Is This American Life still active?

This American Life is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 57m.

How do I contact This American Life for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for This American Life, including email and social media links.

Similar Podcasts