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 1995-2024 This American Life
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Art Political Science Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • 660: Hoaxing Yourself

    660: Hoaxing Yourself
    Oct 27 2024

    People who tell a lie and then believe the lie more than anyone else.

    Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

    • Prologue: Sean Cole explains why he decided that he would speak with a British accent—morning, noon and night—from the age of fourteen until he was sixteen, and how he believed the lie that he was British must be true. (3 minutes)
    • Act One: The story of two young people who, in their search to figure out who they were, pretended to be people they weren't. Both were from small towns; both took on false identities. For two years in high school, producer Sean Cole spoke with a British accent. As a freshman in college, Joel Lovell told lies about his own diet and about his parents. (15 minutes)
    • Act Two: The story of a con man, one of the most successful salesmen in a long-running multimillion-dollar telemarketing scam, who finally got caught when he was conned himself. Producer Nancy Updike talks about the case with Dale Sekovich, Federal Trade Commission investigator. (16 minutes)
    • Act Three: Shalom Auslander reads his true story, "The Blessing Bee." It's about the time when, as a third-grader at an Orthodox Jewish school, Shalom saw his chance to both make his mom proud, and push his drunken father out of the picture. Part of his scheme involved winning the school's bee on the complicated Hebrew blessings you say before eating certain foods. The other part of the scheme: Sinning. (19 minutes)

    Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org

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    59 mins
  • 844: This Is the Case of Henry Dee

    844: This Is the Case of Henry Dee
    Oct 20 2024

    Thirteen parole board members decide whether or not one man should be released from prison.

    Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.

    • Prologue: Henry Dee has been locked up for most of his life, nearly 50 years. Now, he’s up for parole. Reporter Ben Austen tells the story. (19 minutes)
    • Part 1: The parole board members puzzle through the pros and cons of releasing Henry Dee from prison and cast their votes. (26 minutes)
    • Part 2: Reporter Ben Austen continues the story. (8 minutes)

    Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org

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    59 mins
  • A Big Announcement

    A Big Announcement
    Oct 16 2024

    Ira Glass has news to share about some things happening here at This American Life.

    To sign up as a Life Partner, visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners.
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    5 mins

What listeners say about This American Life

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Profile Image for Jackson

Life changing, life defining

I’m nowhere near the age to have kids but if I were a parent I’d share and bond over this podcast and the truly life changing impact it’s had on my life and I. My favorite hour each week is spent on the edge of a metaphorical seat with Ira’s sultry whispering caressing my earbuds. 😅😘

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fantastic

Absolutely one of my favourite episodes, thank you! Would love it if you were able to do another such mystery episode regarding old houses or belongings and the search for the person's who owned them.

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Ira, you are the bezt

I hope you read these personally because I want you to know that I love these stories. I tell everyone I know to listen. Thank you for all that you think of, find and share.

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A principal, a primary caretaker, and other it people

Thank you for telling the Principal’s story. This episode spoke so beautifully about the threats educators and caregivers have experienced in the last few years. Really important story telling.

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Profile Image for A. Boyd

An important episode

A must-listen. The system must change, and that's up to us. Chanel Miller's bit at the end was powerful, and hopeful.

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Good one

Nice to hear.Narrated in a great way,Need more no of episodes for the upcoming days

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Profile Image for Glen Dingley

Great Podcast

I love the stories that they pick and choose and their discussion is very well done I have learned a lot in a lot in these podcasts good job!

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loved this

just the absolute best podcast. I'm continually learning and just feel better having such rich content to absorb. Thank you Ira Glass!

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Absolutely fascinating...

TAL was the first "podcast" before the term existed.i am so glad to have rediscovered it.

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