This American Life

06/30/2025

Seth isn’t a crier, but he wants to connect with his emotions. So we set up an unconventional experiment.

Hear the full story: https://link.podtrac.com/dwbxbn96

06/30/2025

"My mom had a whole theory about how exactly to keep my back pain away. She told me I should actively take advantage of the window of time right after I gave birth, before my body locked back into place." Connie Wang on trying postpartum confinement.

People on a mission to achieve their goals before their window of opportunity closes. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: Guest host Emmanuel Dzotsi goes to a packed sports bar in Brooklyn for his favorite soccer team’s biggest game in years. ...

06/26/2025

Bonus content: Heavyweight host and former This American Life producer Jonathan Goldstein digs up some very surprising early stories from the show to listen to with Ira Glass. Subscribe to hear the episode.

The economics of the podcast industry have changed, and we need your help to keep making the show. You can do that by becoming a Life Partner. What you’ll get out of the relationship: ad-free listening, exclusive bonus episodes, and our brand new Greatest Hits Archive – over 250 favorite episode...

06/26/2025

Excited to share that the team at Apple Podcasts recognized us as one of 20 shows that have shaped the podcasting landscape. Explore the full list of shows at apple.co/20podcasts

06/23/2025

At the peak of the AIDS crisis in the tiny African country of Eswatini, two Americans opened an HIV clinic with USAID funds. Now, as U.S. support ends, they are wondering if what they did was entirely a good thing.

On his first day in office, President Trump decided to freeze all U.S. foreign aid. Soon after, his administration effectively dissolved USAID—the federal agency that delivers billions in food, medicine, and other aid worldwide. Many of its programs have been canceled. Now, as USAID officially win...

06/23/2025

The Trump administration has effectively dissolved USAID. As the agency winds down, we explore its global impact. What was good? What was not so good? And along the way, meet people navigating this chaotic moment.

On his first day in office, President Trump decided to freeze all U.S. foreign aid. Soon after, his administration effectively dissolved USAID—the federal agency that delivers billions in food, medicine, and other aid worldwide. Many of its programs have been canceled. Now, as USAID officially win...

06/21/2025

On the radio this weekend: Trump froze U.S. foreign aid and dismantled USAID. We examine the agency’s impact and hear from people trying to navigate this chaotic moment. https://bit.ly/3TAIHGW

06/18/2025

Ira Glass will be at UCSB Arts & Letters in Santa Barbara on October 4th, sharing lessons from his life and career in storytelling. Don’t miss it.

Master storyteller Ira Glass, creator and host of the beloved public radio show and podcast This American Life, joins acclaimed writer Pico Iyer for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, journalism and the search for meaning in modern life. Get tickets for Ira Glass on Oct 4, 2025 at Campb...

06/17/2025

Paul Tough’s quiet professor dad left the family to chase a lifelong dream: contacting aliens. For the first time, Paul joins him—and finally asks the questions he’s kept buried for years about his father’s strange quest.

Paul Tough’s father was a mild-mannered professor—until he suddenly left the family to pursue a lifelong quest: making contact with extraterrestrial life.

06/16/2025

Lenny was warned to avoid his no-good Uncle Abie. After his dad died, Abie claimed he was Lenny’s real father. The story seemed possible, then doubtful. 20 years later, as the tape rolls, Lenny finally uncovers the truth.

Sons and daughters get to find out the one thing they've always wanted to know about their father.

06/16/2025

As a kid, Aric sent cassette tapes to his dad, a merchant marine gone for months at a time. He’d leave one side blank and ask for a reply—but none ever came. Aric on what it was like to finally ask his dad why.

Sons and daughters get to find out the one thing they've always wanted to know about their father.

06/09/2025

We got a tip about a meat plant selling pig intestines as fake calamari, wondered if it could be true, and decided to investigate.

We got a tip about a meat plant selling pig intestines as fake calamari, wondered if it could be true, and decided to investigate. Doppelgängers, doubles, evil twins and not-so-evil twins, this week. Fred Armisen co-hosts with Ira Glass.