This American Life

New Lore Drop

850: If You Want to Destroy My Sweater, Hold This Thread as I Walk Away

This American Life delves into how small comments and events can unexpectedly transform lives in profound ways. The podcast shares a range of stories, from a high school teacher's offhand remark about friendships that leaves a lasting impact on a student, to a family's differing memories about how they came together, a...

801: Must Be Rats on the Brain

This podcast episode explores the complex and fascinating world of rats, delving into their behavior, relationships, and the impact they have on humans. It covers the growing rat population in New York City and the challenges faced by residents, the psychological impact of rats, the dilemma of pet ownership, and the hi...

Christmas and Commerce

This is a special Christmas episode of "This American Life" featuring classic stories from the show's first year. Ira Glass introduces the episode, which includes a segment about the frenzy at Toys R Us on Christmas Eve, David Sedaris's "Santaland Diaries" recounting his experiences as a Macy's elf, and David Rakoff's ...

877: The Making Of

Ira Glass introduces the episode by drawing a parallel between "making-of" movies and the portrayal of Portland, Oregon, in the media. The episode investigates how right-wing citizen journalists and streamers have shaped the narrative of Portland as a war-ravaged city under siege by Antifa, influencing national law enf...

255: Our Holiday Gift-Giving Guide

This episode of "This American Life" explores the complexities and often humorous challenges of gift-giving during the Christmas season through three distinct acts. The first act recounts one man's annual struggle to find a suitable gift for his unappreciative mother, culminating in a performance of Christmas carols th...

876: Bigger Than Me

Ira Glass introduces an episode of "This American Life" focusing on historical moments and difficult decisions, beginning with a warning about uncensored language. The episode explores a controversy involving Democratic veterans criticizing potential illegal military orders, followed by personal accounts from service m...

513: 129 Cars

This episode of "This American Life" follows the sales team at Town and Country Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram, a car dealership on Long Island, as they navigate the final weeks of October, striving to meet a sales quota of 129 cars to secure a crucial bonus from Chrysler. The narrative explores the intense pressure, the comp...

875: I Hate Mysteries

This episode of This American Life, titled "I Hate Mysteries," explores the human desire to uncover the unknown through three acts. The first act follows a filmmaker's investigation into a mysterious deep hole found in Mt. Shasta, revealing a story of conspiracy theories and a search for mythical elements. The second a...

874: Under One Roof

This American Life, hosted by Ira Glass, explores how family members can perceive the same events differently. The episode features two acts: the first delves into Heather Gay's experience of living a double life as a Mormon while raising her daughters, and how her actions were perceived by her children, particularly r...

873: Got You Pegged

This American Life, hosted by Ira Glass, presents a series of stories revolving around the theme of people making assumptions about others. The episode includes Amy's experience at a children's museum where she's mistaken for being developmentally disabled, Richard Price's story about cops profiling a black man with a ...

872: Winners

This episode of "This American Life" explores the experiences of white South Africans seeking refugee status in the United States following an executive order from President Trump addressing alleged unjust discrimination against Afrikaners. The story centers on Sam Busa, a white South African businesswoman who interpre...

871: The Thing About Things

Ira Glass introduces the episode "The Thing About Things," which explores how objects can control people's lives. The first act tells the story of Ted, who believes he was cursed after stealing petrified wood from a national park as a child and returns it decades later. The second act, from Jonathan Goldstein's "Heavyw...

844: This Is the Case of Henry Dee

In this podcast episode, we explore the complex parole hearing system in Illinois, centered around Henry Dee, a man who sought redemption after nearly five decades behind bars. Reporter Ben Austen offers a close look at the parole board's dynamics, the factors they consider, and the moral challenges they face in making...

An Update from Ira

Ira Glass provides an update on the "This American Life Partners" paid subscription, launched a year ago to address changing podcast economics. He states that the subscription has been a "huge success," funding nearly 25% of the show's budget, and expresses gratitude to subscribers. Glass then announces a new goal: to ...

870: My Other Self

This episode of "This American Life" explores the theme of presenting alternate versions of oneself to the world. It begins with Ira Glass discussing how his public persona differs from his private life, which serves as an introduction to the show's theme. Act one features reporter Evan Ratliff's experiment with creati...

869: Harold

Ira Glass introduces a rebroadcast of a 1997 episode of "This American Life" focusing on Harold Washington, Chicago's first Black mayor, drawing parallels to the current political landscape with New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The episode explores Washington's election in 1983, the racial tensions and politi...

286: Mind Games

868: The Hand That Rocks The Gavel

This episode of "This American Life" delves into the experiences of immigration judges and the changes they've witnessed within the U.S. immigration court system, particularly during the Trump administration. The episode highlights how policies and directives have allegedly undermined judicial independence, pressured j...

867: College Disorientation

This episode of "This American Life," titled "College Disorientation," explores the impact of new policies and directives, particularly those from the Trump administration, on college campuses. The episode begins at Arizona State University's international student orientation, highlighting the challenges international ...