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This American Life

This American Life

By: This American Life
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Summary

 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.Copyright 1995-2026 This American Life Art Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 886: Blackout

    886: Blackout
    May 3 2026

    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 Roxana Saberi and Fatemeh Jamalpour to get voice memos out of the country. Even though it was dangerous and difficult, people wanted to be heard.

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    • Prologue: Shirin's parents suddenly disappear into the blackout. (5 minutes)
    • Act One: It’s a war and a blackout. People want to talk about both. (17 minutes)
    • Act Two: What happened before America and Israel went to war with Iran. (9 minutes)
    • Act Three: Iranians have many opinions about the war, and about each other. (12 minutes)
    • Act Four: What happened inside Iran the night President Trump threatened that "a whole civilization could die." And a clue about where the internet blackout is headed. (19 minutes)

    Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Ira (Reluctantly) Gives a Graduation Speech

    Ira (Reluctantly) Gives a Graduation Speech
    May 1 2026

    Ira always hated commencement speeches. Then he felt like he had to give this one.

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    8 mins
  • 466: Blackjack

    466: Blackjack
    Apr 26 2026

    The casino game everyone thinks they can beat.

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    • Prologue: Host Ira Glass and producer Robyn Semien get a blackjack lesson from Andy Bloch, who played for the MIT blackjack team. He teaches them the basics of card-counting, the technique that gives players an advantage against the house — enough of an advantage that most casinos will ask you to leave if they catch you doing it. (9 minutes)
    • Act One: Jack Hitt tells the story of the Christian card-counting team featured in the documentary Holy Rollers, and why they see no contradiction in being devout Christians who spend their days in casinos. (18 minutes)
    • Act 2: Ira and Robyn go to the casino to try out their newfound card-counting skills. (5 minutes)
    • Act Two: Producer Sarah Koenig tells the story of a woman who sued the casino where she lost her inheritance, saying that it was to blame, not her. (25 minutes)

    Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org

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    1 hr and 5 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Brilliant quality. Each episode is a standalone deep dive into a topic. Often moving and funny, always interesting.

Superb

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Although some episodes shine more brightly than others, almost all episodes are brilliant. Usually the episodes are thematically linked with 2 or 3 parts. There are episodes that stay with you for weeks or months. Please don't be put off by the name, it's one of my favourites (alongside Radiolab, Titting off and we can do hard things.

Don't be put off by the title

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I've been listening to TAL for around ten years now. I've listened to hundreds of different episodes and some I've gone back to and listened to 2, 3, maybe 6 times. Every episode is different so some stories will grab you, and others won't, but there's episodes that will stick with you for life (for me, it's the Mormon guy in Utah who had to give up his kids). This is my go-to podcast, my comfort show - and I'm not even American!

ten years on and this is still my comfort show

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