This American Life

886: Blackout

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 …

May 03, 2026 · 1h 2m

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Ira (Reluctantly) Gives a Graduation Speech

Ira always hated commencement speeches. Then he felt like he had to give this one. thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners

May 01, 2026 · 8m

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466: Blackjack

The casino game everyone thinks they can beat. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: Host Ira Glass and producer Robyn Semien get a blackjack lesson from …

Apr 26, 2026 · 1h 4m

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393: Infidelity

Stories of cheating, cheaters, and the cheated. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: Ira talks with Jessica Pressler about a phenomenon she noticed in the wedding …

Apr 19, 2026 · 59m

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885: Bless This Mess

At a time when the U.S. government is trying to make American history tidier, we try to learn from the mess. Including the untold, messy story of Paul and Essie …

Apr 12, 2026 · 1h 1m

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212: The Other Man

What happens when a new guy comes on the scene and changes the way everyone relates to each other? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: Ira …

Apr 05, 2026 · 1h 2m

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884: The Idiot

M. Gessen returns to our show with a true-crime story that takes place entirely within their own family. This story comes to us from the producers at Serial Productions—who invented …

Mar 29, 2026 · 59m

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883: Call Your Parents

In the early days of the radio show, Ira did a series of interviews with his parents that completely changed his relationship with them. This week, he returns to those …

Mar 22, 2026 · 59m

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628: In the Shadow of the City

Stories that take place on the edge of civilization, just out of sight. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: Every city's got a place like this: …

Mar 15, 2026 · 57m

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882: Give a Little Whistle

Two lawyers who work for ICE step forward and lift the curtain on what is really happening inside our immigration system right now. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our …

Mar 08, 2026 · 1h 2m

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208: Office Politics

Stories of high drama from America's workplaces — surprising, emotional places full of the greed, jealousy, and ambition of real politics. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. …

Mar 01, 2026 · 1h 1m

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881: I Want What I Want

People deciding to do things that most of us do NOT choose to do. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: A new documentary called The Boys …

Feb 22, 2026 · 1h 0m

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880: What Is Your Emergency?

911 calls unlike any we’ve heard before, and other stories about immigration agents sweeping through America. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: A collection of 911 …

Feb 01, 2026 · 59m

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879: A Christian and a Muslim Walk Into a Bar

When a joke could get you killed, should you say it anyway? A group of Syrian comedians test the limits of their newfound freedom, a year after the fall of …

Jan 18, 2026 · 1h 0m

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The Americans Outside My Window

In this special mini-episode, we hear from someone in Venezuela with a very specific take on last week's U.S. attack.

Jan 12, 2026 · 19m

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878: New Lore Drop

People discovering information about their own lives that they did not know, and suddenly everything looks very different. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: When Pete …

Jan 11, 2026 · 58m

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New Lore Drop

People discovering information about their own lives that they did not know and suddenly everything looks very different.

Jan 09, 2026 · 58m

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877: The Making Of

How one block in Portland, Oregon became a movie-set war zone that lots of people think is a real war zone. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription …

Dec 21, 2025 · 1h 0m

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876: Bigger Than Me

When history comes knocking, you have to figure out what to do. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: Brittany’s job is to answer anonymous calls and …

Dec 07, 2025 · 1h 0m

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An Update from Ira

Ira Glass shares some news about This American Life To sign up as a Life Partner, visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners

Oct 16, 2025 · 5m

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Bonus: Nancy's Deep Cuts

Ira Glass talks with longtime producer Nancy Updike about the most personal stories they have put on the radio. This is a sample of the bonus episodes we regularly release …

Jul 17, 2025 · 26m

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A Big Announcement

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 .

Oct 16, 2024 · 4m

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