Podcast FAQ

this american life podcast best episodes

by Dr. Rolando Bechtelar PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What is the best episode of This American Life?

The 12 Best This American Life EpisodesNo Coincidence, No Story.129 Cars.Notes On Camp.What's Going On There.Harper High School.Christmas and Commerce.Switched at Birth.20 Acts in 60 Minutes.More items...•

What is the best podcast episode of all time?

The Best Podcast Episodes of All TimeReply All – “#158 The Case of the Missing Hit” ... This American Life – “129 Cars” ... Radio Rental – “Episode 04” ... You Must Remember This – “Six Degrees of Song of the South” ... Criminal – “A Bump in the Night” ... Radiolab – “The Cataclysm Sentence” ... Mystery Show – “Case #2 Britney”More items...

Is This American Life true stories?

Each week there are a bunch of stories organized around a theme. The stories are the same sorts we do on the radio, true stories about real people. The hard part was everything else.

What makes This American Life great?

One of the hallmarks of This American Life is its commitment to telling stories of everyday life, eschewing the need for every episode to be relevant to the news. “24 Hours at the Golden Apple,” an episode with a rather literal title, shows this approach can be revelatory.

What is the best How I Built This podcast episode?

So, without further ado, below are my personal Top 5 episodes:Spanx: Sara Blakely. When I was coming up with this list, I was curious which episodes the rest of the Internet enjoyed. ... Ben & Jerry's: Ben Cohen And Jerry Greenfield. I just had to include a food business in my Top 5. ... Bumble: Whitney Wolfe. ... Airbnb: Joe Gebbia.

What is the top 10 podcast in the world?

The Top 10 Most Popular Podcasts:THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE. Hosted by Joe Rogan.CRIME JUNKIE. Hosted by Ashley Flowers & Brit Prawat.CALL HER DADDY. Hosted by Alexandra Cooper.MY FAVORITE MURDER. Hosted by: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark.THE BEN SHAPIRO SHOW. ... THE DAILY. ... OFFICE LADIES. ... POD SAVE AMERICA.More items...•

What is the most downloaded podcast episode ever?

10 Most Downloaded Podcasts of All Time!The Joe Rogan Experience. 416. 110 120 10980. ... This American Life. 225. 40 127 7333. ... The Daily. 129. 40 102 5529. ... Stuff You Should Know. 109. 25 82 5168. ... Serial. 341. 57 127 2881. ... Radiolab. 205. 37 128 3729. ... Dr. Death | S1: Dr. Duntsch. ... Planet Money. 122. 30 110 5385.More items...

Is This American Life appropriate for kids?

This is a great piece for middle-school and older kids, but maybe not for those who worry about what might be wrong with their own bodies.

How popular is This American Life?

Our show is heard by more than 2 million listeners each week on over 500 public radio stations in the U.S., with another 2.3 million people downloading each episode as a podcast.

How much does This American Life pay?

This American Life offers two six-month production fellowships each year, one starting in January and the other in July, based in our office in New York City. This is a paid position. Our fellows earn about $6,250 a month, before taxes. We offer benefits like health insurance and a relocation reimbursement.

Is This American Life affiliated with NPR?

From This American Life It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.

What happened to hidden brain?

Sasha Fernandez, Former Editorial Intern | August 11, 2020. The host and founder of NPR's Hidden Brain is leaving the network to produce the show and related projects through an independent production company. Shankar Vedantam announced his departure in an email to NPR staff Aug. 3.

Is This American Life Cancelled?

This American Life still runs weekly on public radio distributed by the program's producers through Public Radio Exchange (formerly distributed by Public Radio International, which was merged into PRX in 2018).

How do I built this Sal Khan?

How I Built This with Guy Raz. In 2009, Sal Khan walked away from a high-paying job to start a business that had no way of making money. His idea to launch a non-profit teaching platform was ignited five years earlier, when he was helping his young cousins do math homework over the computer.

How do I build this Yvon?

In 1973, Yvon Chouinard started Patagonia to make climbing gear he couldn't find elsewhere. Over decades of growth, he has implemented a unique philosophy about business, leadership and profit.

How do I build this podcast list episodes?

How I Built This with Guy Raz WonderyJUL 14, 2022. The Financial Diet: Chelsea Fagan. HIBT Lab! The Financial Diet: Chelsea Fagan. ... JUL 10, 2022. TaskRabbit: Leah Solivan. One snowy night in Boston, Leah Solivan ran out of dog food for her 100-pound yellow lab. ... JUN 29, 2022. BlocPower: Donnel Baird. HIBT Lab!

What award did the show This American Life win?

The investigation won a Peabody Award and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award in 2013.

What is the theme of this American life?

The theme of the episode is stories of politicians on both sides finding they are unable to accomplish work that seemed simple, and the true shining moment is Act One, about courts in the border town of Laredo, Texas. By simply focusing on the day-to-day of one of the busiest border courtrooms in the United States, producers Jonathan Menjivar and Julia Preston give a profound and telling perspective on the impacts of recent immigration policy.

Who is the actor in Act 2 of This American Life?

Act Two of this episode, which was originally performed live, comes from Tig Notaro and still remains one of the funniest fifteen minutes of This American Life ever. Before a surprising end, Notaro shares the bizarre experience of seeing 80’s pop-star Taylor Dayne repeatedly throughout Los Angeles.

What episode of This American Life is Ira Glass in?

Episode 109, August 28, 1998. Host Ira Glass has frequently mentioned this early episode of This American Life as one of his favorites, probably because it encapsulates what the show is really about.

From This American Life

This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.

762: Apocalypse Creep

February 13, 2022 • A woman wakes up and discovers her backyard has disappeared, and other stories from places slowly coming apart.

761: The Trojan Horse Affair

February 6, 2022 • A while back, one of our producers Brian Reed was in England giving a speech about the podcast he'd hosted, S-Town. A journalism student approached him, asking for advice about a story he wanted to look into – something that'd been big news in Britain, something he'd thought about for years.

760: A City Walks Into an Investigation

January 30, 2022 • Last week's story continues, about a Michigan couple who walked into a police officer's house and made a disturbing discovery. This week: the police officer suffers the consequences and so does the couple.

759: A Couple Walks Into a House

January 23, 2022 • Rob and Reyna Mathis make an unsettling discovery in the home of a local police officer. Soon, their whole city is asking questions about who the officer really is and what he's been doing.

758: Talking While Black

January 9, 2022 • Think back to two summers ago, the summer of 2020, when a series of violent, highly-publicized killings of Black Americans sparked outrage and a national movement to eradicate racism and its evils.

756: But I Did Everything Right

December 12, 2021 • People earnestly doing what they're told, and absolutely not getting what they were promised.

Stories Kids Seem to Like

We asked our listeners which stories they like to listen to as a family.

Funny Stories

Two cops try to catch a squirrel, Tig Notaro runs into an 80s music star surprisingly often, and a phone message that’s been called the greatest phone message in the world.

Videos

Yes we have videos! Animations, music videos, speeches, our live stage shows, and more.

Switched at Birth

In Episode 360 title “ Switched at Birth ,” and aired on July 25, 2008, Ira Glass and reporter and author Jake Harpern tell the strange but true story about how two infants were switched at birth in a Wisconsin hospital. The impact of the switch was very real and far-reaching, as you might imagine.

Break-Up

Not all episodes are as emotional and intense as the previous. Many are relatable and presented in a light-hearted manner. Most adults can relate to the experience of heartbreak, and although it hurts a lot during the time, there are often some future chuckles in store concerning the whole ordeal.

No Coincidence, No Story

Who doesn’t love a good coincidence? Some situations can have your mind racing and leaving you gasping. We want to know what the odds of such a thing happening are and question if we are not mistaken. These are some of the reasons why Episode 589 is one of the best “This American Life” episodes.

Babysitting

An earlier episode of the radio show from 2001, “ Babysitting ,” was the 175 th to be aired. Parents go through a lot to find and vet potential babysitters, while the babysitters and children also have their share of adventures.

The Out Crowd

A few episodes have landed the show awards. Episode 688 earned a 2020 Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting, a significant achievement and a first for the show. The show featured frontline reports about the “Remain in Mexico” asylum policy by the Trump government.

The Fix Is In

Some stories and concepts from the show have gone on to be used in and for various films. That is the case with Episode 168, titled “The Fix Is In.” In this episode, author Kurt Eichenwald relates the story in his book, “The Informant.”

How many episodes of This American Life are there?

This American Life has over 700 episodes and “ is heard by 2.2 million listeners each week on over 500 public radio stations in the U.S.” Their podcast shares stories based on a new theme every week.

Why I love this American life episode?

I really appreciate This American Life because it brings to light topics that make you see the world from a different perspective. This very important episode shares the story of Abdi who is a Somali refugee living in Kenya. You will follow his journey as he tries to make it to the United States. This is a great lesson on taking nothing for granted.

129 Cars

We spend a month at a Jeep dealership on Long Island as they try to make their monthly sales goal: 129 cars. Original air date: Dec. 13, 2013.

Switched at Birth

In 1951, two baby girls were born in a hospital in small-town Wisconsin, but they were accidentally switched. Original air date: July 25, 2008.

Break-Up

Writer Starlee Kine on what makes the perfect break-up song and whether really sad music can actually make you feel better. Original air date: Aug. 24, 2007

Three Miles

Two schools, three miles apart: What happens when you get to see the other side. Original air date: March 13, 2015

Rom-Com

When you’re watching a romantic comedy you know it’s all going to turn out OK. When you’re living one? Not so much. Original air date: Feb. 9, 2018.

Act V

A group of hardened criminals stage and produce the last act of Hamlet. Original air date: Aug. 9, 2002.

24 Hours at the Golden Apple

We document one day in a Chicago diner called the Golden Apple. Original air date: Nov. 17, 2000.

Essential

The pandemic forced jobs to change, but then the workers changed, too.

Sisters

Sisters build worlds together, worlds that are just for them. Stories about the bonds between sisters and how they get broken and fixed—or not.

The Daily

An ode to life's daily practices, and what you learn from doing a thing every single day.

The Campus Tour Has Been Cancelled

How the pandemic has thrown college admissions process into a kind of slow-motion chaos.

Warriors in the Garden

Three men come together to protest the murder of George Floyd. They are unified and impressive, but over time, these three friends end up in very different places.

Lights, Camera, Christmas!

Stories of people going to great lengths to throw a special Christmas for their families.

Twenty-Five

To commemorate our show’s 25th year, we have a program about people who were born the year our show went on the air.

Spotify now making podcast ads unskippable

I've dropped every Gimlet Media series when they announced that they were going exclusive to Spotify. The writing was on the wall.

Recommendations for mental health and changing mindset?

I’m going through a break up where I have been depressed for too long and I need to do something. I know I have to work on myself and I want to be happy. I’m looking for some podcasts that talk about self love, motivation and just any that will help going through a break up and bettering myself.

Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

Just finished this super bingeable podcast on Wondery so of course I hopped over to Reddit to see what other people thought. Anyone else listened to it?

Looking for something a'la You're Wrong about

Specifically I'm looking for podcasts that discuss various social phenomena or events from a perspective of intense empathy.

What are your favorite obscure Podcasts?

I am always looking for gems. WhaWhat'sts your favorite obscure Podcast (below 100 Listeners/Episode)? (Please do not plug your own products)

App called Likewise that recommends podcasts based on what you like

I’m not affiliated at all but I’m really liking this app I found. It asked me for some favorites and recommended me four I haven’t heard of straight away. I listen and explore a lot of pods so I’m pretty impressed. Has anyone else tried it?

Fat Leonard Podcast - amazing story, good podcast

I just finished the Fat Leonard Podcast and would like to recommend it. It covers the corruption of the US Navy in Asia by a Malaysian contractor. A number of Navy officers have gone to jail and others are to be tried in the Spring of 2022 including some top brass.

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Radio

Episodes

  • Episode 589, March 1, 2013 Episode 513, December 13, 2013 Episode 109, August 28, 1998 Episode 567, September 18, 2013 Episodes 487 and 488, Feb. 15, 2013 and Feb. 23, 2013 Episode 47, December 20, 1996 Episode 360, July 25, 2008 Episode 241, July 11, 2003 Episode 664, December 28, 2018 Episode 464, May 18, 2012 Episode 636, January 19, 2018 Episod...
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Premise

  • Host Ira Glass has frequently mentioned this early episode of This American Life as one of his favorites, probably because it encapsulates what the show is really about. Summer camp is a part of American life that some people take part in and love (or hate) and others never experience and have no grasp of. The episode attempts to bridge that gap with stories from producers and liste…
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Reviews

  • Both stories of Episode 567 come to emotional, powerful conclusions that are equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming. The stories are both masterfully reported and produced and give listeners a true look into the inside of the lives of young Americans that are drastically different, but in a way related. Going way back into This American Lifes second year will allow you to find …
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Awards and recognition

  • This American Life has accumulated a variety of reporting awards over the years, but few stories were as celebrated as the shows two-part investigation into a series of gun-related deaths surrounding Harper High School in Englewood, Chicago. The investigation won a Peabody Award and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award in 2013.
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Research

  • The reporting took place over five months and in the two episodes, investigation is done not only into what caused the increase in violence in the first place, but also how it affected the high school community. Interviews with both students and administrators shed light into a greater issue of gun-violence in Chicago and tell a deeply personal story of a community broken by a ne…
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Recognition

  • Anyone who has visited Macys at Christmas time or any other large-scale Santa production will appreciate the attention to detail and the deep look into the bizarre world of holiday elves and Santa Clauses.
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Introduction

  • This American Life often broadcasts short fiction or essays that touch on absurd or deeply imaginative, but this single-story episode proved that sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction. In the episode, reporter Jake Halpern introduces us to a story of two baby girls who were accidentally switched at birth in 1951. After going home with the wrong families, one mother rea…
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Trivia

  • Especially moving is the final segment of the show, where 69-year-old Kay McDonald, the mother who did not know about the switch, reflects on what it felt like to learn she had raised the wrong daughter for 40 years and why another mother who keep the information from her.
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Cultural references

  • The episode also features a touching story about a blind father and his daughter encountering a bear in the woods near their home and how it helped them both learn about what it means to be blind.
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Themes

  • In addition to real stories about everyday Americans, This American Life occasionally takes on the world of politics, with a handful of recent stories touching on immigration and the Mexican border. The theme of the episode is stories of politicians on both sides finding they are unable to accomplish work that seemed simple, and the true shining moment is Act One, about courts in t…
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Analysis

  • This episode, like many of This American Lifes political episodes, lets anecdotes and interviews form their own opinion and never takes a true, biased stance. It gives a rare look into what is actually happening at the U.S. border, free of a partisan agenda that other similar reporting might include.
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Synopsis

  • Act One is a fan-favorite story from Lindy West about connecting with an online troll and asking why people behave how they do online. The 20-minute story puts a rare voice to anonymous online trolls and shows a side of the deep, dark Internet that we rarely get to see. Act Two is one of This American Lifes most self-reflective segments to date. Ira Glass investigates vocal fry, inc…
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