Podcasts about This American Life

The vexing difficulty of finding the perfect gift. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Host Ira Glass goes to a busy Target store one week before Christmas. Most shoppers he talks to don't think any of their gifts will be returned. (3 minutes)Act One: Ian Brown tries, after decades of failure, to give his mother the perfect Christmas gift. He and his brother attempt something they haven't done since they were kids: Rehearse and sing her a program of Christmas carols. (19 minutes)Act Two: We play a 1959 original recording of Truman Capote reading his holiday story A Christmas Memory. (18 minutes)Act Three: Caitlin Shetterly reports on a true-life holiday fable from rural Maine, complete with a misunderstood recluse with a heart of gold, a deserving family in need, and a very special Christmas tree farm with secrets of its own. (16 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Symphony Space was thrilled to host an evening with Israeli writer Etgar Keret, whose stories we've featured many times on Selected Shorts. He was interviewed by his longtime friend, and host of This American Life, Ira Glass. In this condensed version of their talk, they playfully challenge each other on a wide range of topics, some political, some creative, but mainly about what it's like to live in these uncertain times. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Rootsland Resistance Henry K lifts the curtain on the unsung heroes of Jamaican music — the vibes men, the background innovators who lit up dancehall without ever chasing the spotlight.We remember the legendary dancehall icon Joe Lickshot, and Henry K recounts an unforgettable This American Life story about a kid from Jersey named Luis who willed himself into greatness. A show about sound, struggle, joy… and the people who make the stars shine. Support Rootsland "Reggae's Untold Stories" Support the Rootsland TeamProduced by Henry K in association with Voice Boxx Studios Kingston, JamaicaROOTSLAND NATION Reggae Music, Podcast & Merchandisesubscribe to the Herb and Legends feed belowclosing theme: Deadly Headley Bennett Rockers out West

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 texts from people in the military. This year, she's gotten more than usual–most of them are wondering about what to do with orders they've been given. Or orders they're afraid they'll get someday in the future. (9 minutes)Act One: Jad Abumrad tells the story of the "ideological genealogy” of Fela Kuti's anti-colonial politics–his mother. In late 1940s Nigeria, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti found herself at the center of a big, historical moment: an uprising led by thousands of women selling goods in Nigeria's markets. Jad goes searching for who she really was, and how she became the person who galvanized a movement when history demanded it of her. (45 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

We love answers. We love conclusions. We tend to steer clear of open ended problems and tasks, because of this. But there are so many things that leave us with open ended problems that we will never be able to solve. Learning to tolerate that discomfort is an important skill to practice. The "right" answers don't exist. Let go of your "need" to know. Embrace the wholeness of the human experience; which means, we must learn to embrace the discomfort of wondering. Listen to the "I Hate Mysteries" episode of This American Life. SUPPORT JULIE (and the show!)DONATE to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund AND THE Sudan Relief FundGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM AND YOUTUBESUBSCRIBE FOR BONUS CONTENT ON PATREON.The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. ISupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Como miles de otras personas, Mikael es un joven venezolano que migró hacia los Estados Unidos buscando una mejor vida. Estaba en pleno proceso migratorio cuando unos hombres de Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tocaron a su puerta. Lo que él viviría los meses posteriores sería algo sin precedentes en los Estados Unidos. Una versión parcial de esta historia se publicó en inglés en el podcast This American Life. Se titula Solving For Where. Escúchala aquí. En nuestro sitio web puedes encontrar una transcripción del episodio. Or you can also check this English translation.

Op vrijdag 12 december en zaterdag 13 december een vol programma in de Brakke Grond en daaromheen met makers van je favoriete podcasts, premières, immersieve audio-installaties en intieme luistershows. Een greep uit het programma: Nancy Updike blikt met Maartje Duin terug op 30 jaar This American Life; Parel Radio brengt voor haar 10e verjaardag een ode aan het hoorspel en performancecollectief URLAND presenteert een live audiovertelling. Echt Gebeurd geeft een workshop en 's avonds kan je de opnames van hun podcast bijwonen. Genoeg gezeten? Wandel over de Wallen met de audio walk van Naomi Steijger, laat je masseren in de Korte Golf Massagesalon of knutsel mee bij Paint & Podcast! Check de volledige programmering op de site van oorzaken.org Een opname van Parel meemaken? Zaterdag 13 december om 16.45 uur.

Nine teenagers were shot, including one who was killed, during two separate incidents Friday night in the Loop following the Millennium Park annual Christmas tree lighting. Host Jacoby Cochran and producer Michelle Navarro are discussing reported details, the Mayor's response over the weekend, and renewed conversation about snap curfews in Chicago. Cook County passes $10 billion budget with money for a permanent guaranteed income program. Plus, what to know about Thanksgiving week in Chicago and where to find free meals.   Also, listen to Michelle's essay in the latest episode of This American Life.  Good News: Garfield Park “Merry and Brights”, Lincoln Park “Fireside” Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this November 25th episode:  The Auditorium Chicago Symphony Orchestra Joffrey Ballet Paramount Theatre Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

What's in the box? What's in the $%&ing box?!? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: A class of second graders is handed a sealed box with a mystery object inside. They are supposed to guess what it is, but the lesson goes off the rails. (8 minutes)Act One: A man is hired along with a crew to dig a mysterious hole on the slopes of Mt. Shasta. The hole goes sixty feet down. But what are they looking for? (24 minutes)Act 2: A sparkly mystery. One woman hopes the military-industrial complex is involved. (4 minutes)Act Two: What happens when the full force of the federal government arrives on your block? (14 minutes)Act Three: A comedian finds himself trapped in an uncomfortable mystery in the backseat of a cab. (4 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Crowdfunding is ending!Until we run out, anyone who signs up today will receive over $400 in premium, award-winning subscriptions, including: Canada's National Observer, the Investigative Journalism Foundation, This American Life, Tangle News, Crooked Media, and Longview. If you sign up on an annual plan, or join our illustrious Editor's Circle, you will get all of the above PLUS: a mattress protector from Douglas, a subscription to Slumber Studios, a free t-shirt from My Moving Parts and a box of energy bars from The Oat Company — all while supplies last.Phew.Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join today and lock in your price. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't mind the puns in this one, but we're entering the “home stretch” of 2025 as we discuss how to “level the playing field” for us, as blind Blue Jays fans, when comparing baseball radio broadcast with that done on television on this Monday after the Big Game. This week on Outlook it's a MLB Mixed Bag show as we're joined, virtually, by BF Barry until he can join us in studio soon--to lament the close call in Game Seven of this year's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. We give a post-series blow-by-blow of watching the games together, the three of us, with Barry's international perspective, along with brother/co-host Brian's info about the father-son connection (Dan and Ben Shulman who broadcast on TV and radio respectively), and a special Radio Western connection to Dan Shulman who used to call Western Mustangs games, and an example of an exciting moment from the final game, using a clip of the radio broadcasters to illustrate the unique playing field levelling for those of us who cannot see the games visually. Shout out to both Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux for calling the games on the radio as it seems the TV broadcasters more often get recognized. Then sister/co-host Kerry shares about her Halloween (first year going trick-or-treating) in a while, alongside learning some sad news about an old classmate, all the while describing using her friend's daughter's plastic sorcerer's staff as white cane for the evening plus the haunted house they walked through, a notion truly scary to Kerry in most circumstances. First episode after clocks went back (a lack of sleep for some of us) as we three are all hyped up with the close call loss, a series so close to being a win for the Jays and for Canada, as emotions run high with Kerry sharing what it's like, looking back at one whole year now since the worst guy for the job got voted back in the Whitehouse - so from one horror to another and the disappointment all across the country, we end with a song from Obama's POV. "No man's ignorance will ever be his virtue.” —Seriously, from This American Life, written by Sara Bareilles, sung by Leslie Odom Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI8TCA3fJcs

Guest Spencer Seim owns and operates ZiaFly guide service in Taos, NM. He's been tying flies since age eight and just finished his 23rd season guiding the southern Rockies. Spencer is well known for his classic Atlantic salmon flies, as well as his own patterns for fishing the Taos area. Spencer lives with his wife, Sophia, daughter Olivia, and son Ivo. From hopping freight trains, bouncing throughout the Rockies looking for fish, to tying flies, making hooks, and dyeing feathers, Spencer is always eager to share his hard-earned knowledge with others. Spencer's work has been featured in America's Favorite Flies, The Drake magazine, Smithsonian magazine, and The Feather Thief. In addition to Getting Unstuck, he has been a guest on numerous podcasts, including Destination Angler, Wet Fly Swing, Getting Unstuck, Ask About Fly Fishing, and This American Life. Summary In this riverside conversation, fly-fishing guide Spencer Seim reflects on how his lifelong passion for fly fishing has shaped his identity, philosophy, and environmental ethics. From his early fascination with anglers in the southern Rockies to his work guiding others on Colorado and New Mexico rivers, Spencer sees fly fishing not just as a sport but as a spiritual and meditative practice—a way to connect deeply with nature and oneself. He describes the river as "a living thing" and "the ultimate connection to nature," teaching humility, adaptability, and respect. Each day on the water is a dialogue between person and place, one that demands observation and openness rather than mastery or control. Spencer explains that true success on the river—and in life—comes from learning through failure, adapting to changing conditions, and maintaining realistic expectations. The "frontier of the mind," as he calls it, is the mental space where curiosity and growth thrive, often nurtured by time spent in solitude outdoors. As a parent, he uses these same lessons to teach his daughter resilience, kindness, courage, and the value of learning from mistakes. He also extends his stewardship ethic to conservation, recounting a story of helping prevent gas drilling in the Valle Vidal wilderness and emphasizing that "Mother Nature is not a resource, she's the source." Ultimately, Spencer frames both fly fishing and life as opportunities for "quiet lessons"—moments of discovery, humility, and connection that flow like the river itself. The Key Takeaway Spencer's central insight is that fly fishing mirrors life: success comes through humility, awareness, and adaptation. The river teaches us to listen to nature, to others, and to our own inner dialogue. Social Media https://www.ziafly.com/spencer-seim

The budget Carney's been trying to sell to Canadians finally went to a vote. Sam Konnert brings host Noor Azrieh into the room where it happened. Plus, the Liberals say they're “taking back control” of Canada's immigration system. They're study permits and temporary residents by half. But what happens to the 3 million people already here? Noor talks to immigration expert Rupa Banerjee about whether this is a fix… or the start of Canada's next crisis.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Rupa BanerjeeBackground reading:Budget 2025 - Canada Strong2025 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration Canada slashes temporary immigration targets in Budget 2025 - National – Global NewsFearing fraud, Canada rejects most Indian study permit applicants – ReutersCanada's new immigration plan: Who wins, and who is losing out – Toronto Star Advocates concerned temporary immigration cuts don't address systemic issues – CBC NewsSponsors: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at douglas.ca/canadalandCheck out Sprague Cannery! You can find Sprague goods across the nation in major Canadian retailers like Costco, Loblaws, Walmart, Giant Tiger, and many smaller independent stores.Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free!It's crowdfunding month here at Canadaland! The next 30 people to sign up today will receive a FREE one-year subscription to This American Life. Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join today. Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's great about living in a family is that everyone sees everything differently. Also, that's what's awful about living in a family. We go behind closed doors with two families.   Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: When Heather Gay started taking steps away from Mormonism, she thought it was her secret. That her daughters had no idea. Until she talked to them about their mismatched memories. (17 minutes)Act One: In every house, behind every closed door, a private drama is unfolding. In the Rivera house, the drama comes in the form of a question: should they stay or should they go? This question winds its way around the house until someone finally answers it. (44 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

What Holly Randall REALLY Thinks About Porn, Kink, and Penis Size Today we did the thing: Keely interviews... Holly. Sex & relationship coach Keely Rankin takes over the host chair and grills me (lovingly) on everything—growing up with porn-producer parents, why I still prefer being behind the camera, and how a leak accidentally nudged me into posting my own nudes. We get into industry stigma, awards (yes, AVN Hall of Fame), and why landing in the Podcast Pantheon alongside This American Life and Serial felt surreal. We talk fantasy vs. reality on set, how “opening to camera” actually works, and why most women prefer “boyfriend-size” for everyday life. We unpack foreplay (mental and physical), consent checklists, and the difference between power and exploitation. I share a personal story about my dad that still makes me cry, the joy/terror of motherhood, and my wish for the adult industry: that choosing this career doesn't brand you for life.Plus: directing on micro-budgets, the OnlyFans pivot, boundaries with performers, and why I still geek out over great photographs.Finish like a pro. Load Boost is doctor-formulated to improve taste, volume, and semen health — no gimmicks, just science. Use code HOLLY or click this link for 10% off your order! https://vb.health/supplements-for-sex/?utm_source=holly&coupon-code=holly New players, download the DraftKings Casino app and use code HRU.Play five bucks and get five hundred spins on Cash Eruption slots over ten days. That's code HRU, at DraftKings Casino—home of the largest jackpot win in online casino history. In partnership with DraftKings Casino. The Crown is Yours. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred GAMBLER. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling call eight eight eight seven eight nine seven seven seven seven or visit C C P G dot org. Please play responsibly. Twenty-one plus. Physically present in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia only. Void in Ontario. Eligibility restrictions apply. Non-withdrawable Casino Spins issued as fifty Spins per day for ten days, valid for featured game only and expire each day after twenty four hours.Find me on all social media platforms - HollyLinks.comHit up linktr.ee/HollyAds for exclusive deals, spicy discounts, and perks so good your wallet might blush.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/holly-randall-unfiltered--6630320/support.

Welcome to Episode 400!! Dave Hill is a comedian, writer, musician, actor, radio host, and man-about-town originally from Cleveland, Ohio but now living in New York City in a totally sweet apartment with a party deck and everything. Hot chicks come over to hang out and eat cheese plates and stuff with him all the time and it's awesome. Anyway, on the show business front, Dave has appeared on Netflix's The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Adult Swim's Joe Pera Talks with You Amazon's The Tick, Peacock TV's Girls5Eva, Comedy Central's @midnight and Inside Amy Schumer programs, TBS' Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, TV Land's The Jim Gaffigan Show, and TruTV's Comedy Knockout among a bunch of others. He is a frequent on-air host for HBO and Cinemax and has been on channels like MTV, VH1, BBC-America, and the Sundance Channel a whole bunch too. Dave also starred in his own television program The King of Miami on the Mojo Network, which was cancelled even though Dave really liked it. The show also aired in the United Kingdom on Sky TV's Film24 Channel. And you can still watch The King of Miami on Hulu too, which Dave is super pumped about. Oh, and Dave was a correspondent on Hoppus on Music starring Blink 182's Mark Hoppus on the Fuse channel, which ruled. Dave has been on other shows and in obscure movies too but let's keep moving for now. Dave performs live comedy over the world and has appeared at such festivals as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, SXSW, San Francisco Sketchfest, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Sasquatch Festival, Bumbershoot, Bonnaroo, the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, the Crap Comedy Festival in Oslo, Outside Lands in San Francisco, and then some other ones too. He has also performed comedy at Sing Sing Correctional Facility twice and even ripped some guitar solos inside a Mexican prison a couple times too. In 2007, Variety magazine named Dave one of their “10 Comedians to Watch,” something he still won't shut up about. Some things are hard to let go of. Dave hosted his own radio show The Goddamn Dave Hill Show on WFMU in Jersey City, New Jersey every Monday night from 9pm to midnight for years and now hosts the podcast Dave Hill's Podcasting Incident, which is also broadcast on the UK's Fubar Radio, So...You're Canadian with Dave Hill, and History Fluffer, on which he is joined by Jim Biederman, Jodi Lennon, and Chris Gersbeck. Dave is also a frequent contributor to public radio's Live from Here with Chris Thile and  This American Life. He has also appeared on podcasts like WTF with Marc Maron, The Adam Carolla Show, The Nerdist, and then roughly 78 other ones besides those. Dave is the author of four books, including his brand new book The Awesome Game: One Man's Incredible, Globe-Crushing Hockey Odyssey, in addition to Parking the Moose (Doubleday Canada/Penguin Random House 2019), Tasteful Nudes (St. Martins Press, 2012) and Dave Hill Doesn't Live Here Anymore (Blue Rider Press 2016). He has also written for the New York Times, GQ, Salon, The Paris Review, McSweeney's, New York Observer, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, VICE, Guitar World, and a bunch of other places too. Comedy legend Dick Cavett called Dave “a major figure among American comic writers, past and present,” which is pretty much the coolest thing that has ever happened as far as Dave is concerned. Dave is also a musician who currently sings and plays guitar in the power pop band Valley Lodge, whose song “Go” is the theme song to HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and the psych/garage rock band Painted Doll. He was also a member of Cleveland rock bands Sons of Elvis and Cobra Verde as well as Diamondsnake, a heavy metal band with Moby. Additionally, Dave has played guitar for Walter Schreifels and muscle metal band Thor and bass for Lucy Wainwright Roche and former Faith No More singer Chuck Mosley. He also contributed musical scores to films such as Dirty Deeds,

Shalom Auslander goes on vacation with his family, and suspects the beloved, chatty old man in the room next door is an imposter—and sets out to prove it. This and other stories about the pitfalls of making snap judgments about others. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Amy Roberts thought it was obvious that she was an adult, not a kid, and she assumed the friendly man working at the children's museum knew it too. Unfortunately, the man had Amy pegged all wrong. And by the time she figured it out, it was too late for either of them to save face. Host Ira Glass talks to Amy about the embarrassing ordeal that taught her never to assume she knows what someone else is thinking. (8 minutes)Act One: While riding in a patrol car to research a novel, crime writer Richard Price witnessed a misunderstanding that, for many people, is pretty much accepted as an upsetting fact of life. Richard Price told this story, which he describes as a tale taken from real life and dramatized, onstage at The Moth in New York. (12 minutes)Act Two: There are situations where making judgments about people based on limited information is not only accepted but required. One of those situations is open adoption, where birth mothers actually choose the adoptive parents for their child. Producer Nancy Updike talks to a pregnant woman named Kim, going through the first stage of open adoption: reading dozens of letters from prospective parents, all of whom seem utterly capable and appealing. (6 minutes)Act Three: David Rakoff picks a fight with a hit Broadway show. (6 minutes)Act Four: Shalom Auslander tells the story of the time he went on vacation, pegged the guest in the room next door as an imposter, and devoted his holiday to trying to prove it. Shalom is the author of Feh: a Memoir. (22 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

America loves winners—now more than ever. But how do you get to a win in 2025 America? We get up close and follow someone trying to build a big win for herself and thousands of others like her. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Ira talks to producer Diane Wu about an informal survey she's done with the staff of This American Life about a phrase Ira says a lot that includes the word “winners.” (8 minutes)Act One: Two people see one of President Trump's first executive orders and get excited, and then get to work. (30 minutes)Act Two: We follow the progress of one woman as she builds up, from scratch, a whole movement based on one of Trump's executive orders. (19 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

I relate the debate from Bereishit Rabbah to This American Life episode 550.

Three stories about the strange power inanimate objects can hold over us. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Nunzio gets caught in a kind of servile relationship…with a scooter. (8 minutes)Act One: Ted was six when he first picked up a rock from the Petrified Forest National Park. Nearly 50 years later, he really wishes he hadn't. Aviva DeKornfeld talked to him. (15 minutes)Act Two: Heavyweight host Jonathan Goldstein leaps in to help a family, who are not entirely sure they want or need his help, get rid of their stuff. (31 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Content note: This episode includes frank discussion of sex, pornography, and religious control.Author Ben Crawford spent decades inside a tight church network where life, money, and meaning were all centralized. When he started sharing his life on YouTube and telling the truth in 12-step rooms, the system pushed back. He lost community, business ties, and friends. He also found something bigger: a voice, a marriage that's alive, and a way of connecting that doesn't hide behind ideas. This is a conversation about escaping control, learning vulnerability, and why honesty beats “accountability” every time.Topics we coverPreaching vs sharing: why ideas felt safe and intimacy didn'tThe men's “accountability” script and why it blocks connectionWhat 12-step groups modeled: clear truth, no fixing, real safetyThe “cult continuum” and how control shows up in everyday church lifeGrading communities by behavior, not labelsChoosing where to be authentic and where to hold boundariesBen's love story with Cami and the surprising payoff of telling the truthWhy listenIf you've felt the gap between what your community promised and what it delivered, or if you've tried to change people with ideas and missed the chance to actually bond, this episode gives language and practices for a different way forward.About BenBen Crawford is the author of the bestselling 2000 Miles Together: The Story of the Largest Family to Hike the Appalachian Trail and has been featured on Good Morning America and NPR's This American Life. Formerly entrenched in fundamentalist religion and once at the helm of one of the world's largest blackjack teams (profiled in the documentary Holy Rollers: The True Story of Card Counting Christians), Ben brings a singular perspective to faith, risk, and reinvention. Retired in his 30s, he's a prolific YouTuber with 1,000+ uploads, and he now finds joy in poker and marathon running—with his six kids often along for the mile markers.LinksBen's book: The Courage to Share (affiliate link)Ben's YouTube family channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FightforTogether

For six years, The Catalyst brought you conversations with IT leaders solving hard problems. But we kept hearing stories that couldn't fit into a single interview—stories that needed multiple voices, conflicting perspectives, the messy truth of what it's really like out there.Season 7 changes everything. We're making audio documentaries—think This American Life for the IT team. Each episode weaves together real experiences: the burnout nobody admits to, the worst tech job market ever, AI projects burning millions because someone asked the wrong question.This is what happens when you stop treating IT stories like case studies and start treating them like what they are: human stories about navigating impossible choices.Small Teams, Big Dreams. A new season starts now.Stream all episodes and get additional resources at softchoice.com/podcast.---The Catalyst is brought to you by Softchoice, a World Wide Technology company. The Catalyst by Softchoice is the podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of humans and technology.

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

Ira Glass, the creator, producer and host of "This American Life," will share lessons from his life and career in storytelling at Paramount Hudson Valley Theater on 10/25.

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! When a situation makes you anxious, do you immediately remove yourself from it? Do you stay away from things or situations that make you anxious or depressed? What's the best way to overcome the obstacles and limits created by anxiety? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss how exposure can help us overcome our anxiety. This episode references an episode of This American Life, “Swim Towards the Shark”Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening!  Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com

On Saturday, October 4th, broadcast journalist Ira Glass visited UCSB for a talk with students in the media. Later, Glass had a conversation with author Pico Iyer held by UC Santa Barbara Arts and Lectures. Glass is most known for creating and hosting the narrative-based, broadcast news program This American Life. Mavis Holley has the story.

What happens when people create alternate versions of themselves and release them into the wild? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Host Ira Glass talks about a recent experience being interviewed and the realization that he was being asked about another version of himself. (4 minutes)Act One: Reporter Evan Ratliff creates an AI version of himself and then sets it loose on the world. This story was adapted from Evan's podcast, Shell Game. (43 minutes)Act Two: Emmanuel Dzotsi explores the phenomenon of people lying on first dates to project a better version of themselves. Plus, he gets into a very personal example from his own life. (8 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

When Zohran Mamdani won the primary race for New York mayor, the Democratic establishment's lukewarm response echoed the treatment of another charismatic, unconventional candidate decades earlier. This week, we bring you the story of Harold Washington, the greatest politician you've probably never heard of, and the backlash that ensued when he became Chicago's first Black mayor. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: As New York City's Democratic establishment attempts to resist the candidacy of Zohran Mamdani, we look back at another mayoral candidate who upset the established political machine. (7 minutes)Act One: A history of the brief mayoral career of Harold Washington and its lessons for Black and white America, as told by people close to him. (39 minutes)Act Two: Ira revisits interviews with Chicago voters from the 1997 and 2007 rebroadcasts of this episode. In 1997, ten years after Harold Washington's death, not much had changed in Chicago. By 2007, attitudes had begun to shift slowly, and another Black politician from Chicago was on the rise — Barack Obama. Ira also speaks to David Axelrod, an advisor to both Harold Washington and Barack Obama. (10 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Sam Harris introduces the first episode of The Last Invention, a new podcast series on the hype and fear about the AI revolution, reported by Gregory Warner and Andy Mills. Gregory Warner was a foreign correspondent in Russia and Afghanistan, and the East Africa bureau chief for NPR. He created and hosted the podcast Rough Translation. He also publishes stories on This American Life and in The New York Times. Andy Mills is a reporter and editor, formerly of The New York Times, where he helped create their audio department and shows like The Daily and Rabbit Hole.  The Last Invention is a limited run series with eight total episodes. You can find it anywhere you listen to podcasts, where episodes will be released weekly. You can sign up for their mailing list on Substack at https://longviewinvestigations.substack.com/, and you can also subscribe on their website at longviewinvestigations.com.

From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia: His DEA Journey to the Cali Cartel. His early start in Law Enforcement was as a part-time police officer on the Jersey Shore, which eventually led to his role in one of the most dangerous assignments in law enforcement history, Chris Feistl's career is a story of grit, perseverance, and determination. His journey took him from the drug violence of Miami to Colombia, where he helped dismantle the infamous Cali Cartel, a saga now immortalized in books, podcasts, and Netflix series like Narcos. Chris Feistl is our guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on our website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcast platforms. “Miami was chaos during those years,” Feistl recalls. “The violence from the Cocaine Cowboys was unlike anything most Americans could imagine. We were in the middle of a war.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. The Cocaine Cowboys Era After joining the DEA following his service as a Virginia Beach police officer, Feistl was assigned to Miami, Florida, ground zero for the cocaine trade in the late 1970s and 1980s. The era was defined by the so-called “Cocaine Cowboys,” traffickers who turned Miami into the epicenter of cocaine smuggling and drug-related violence. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . One incident still stands as a symbol of the times. On July 11, 1979, a brazen daytime shootout erupted inside a liquor store at Dadeland Mall. Armed with submachine guns, assailants gunned down rivals in what police described as a “Wild West-style” shootout. Their escape vehicle, later found abandoned, was stocked with weapons and bulletproof vests, earning the nickname “war wagon.” “Miami was the Wild West,” Feistl explains. “Every arrest could turn into a gunfight. That's the environment we lived in daily.” From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia: His DEA Journey to the Cali Cartel. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. From Miami to Colombia While in Miami, Feistl's investigations often led back to Colombian suppliers. By the early 1990s, his path took him directly to Colombia itself. Arriving just after Pablo Escobar's death, Feistl shifted focus to the emerging powerhouse of the drug world: the Cali Cartel. “The Cali Cartel was unlike Escobar's Medellín Cartel,” Feistl said. “They operated with a corporate structure, independent cells reporting to managers. It made them more sophisticated and harder to infiltrate.” At the height of its reign between 1993 and 1995, the Cali Cartel controlled more than 80% of the global cocaine market, raking in billions annually. Robert Bonner, former DEA Administrator, once called them “the most powerful criminal organization in the world. No drug organization rivals them today or perhaps any time in history.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms. Taking Down the Cali Cartel Partnering with fellow DEA agent David Mitchell, Feistl joined a special task force charged with dismantling the cartel. Together, they spent years tracking the cartel's leaders, an effort that culminated in the arrest of the Cali “Godfathers” and the collapse of one of history's most powerful crime syndicates. “Our mission was clear,” Feistl says. “We had to take them down. It wasn't easy, but the Cali Cartel was too big, and too dangerous to continue unchecked.” From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia. His success earned him some of the DEA's highest honors, including the Administrator's Award of Honor and multiple Distinguished Service medals from the Colombian government. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Legacy in Media and Pop Culture Chris Feistl's extraordinary career has been documented across media platforms, ensuring his story reaches far beyond law enforcement circles. He co-authored the book After Escobar: Taking Down the Notorious Cali Godfathers and the Biggest Drug Cartel in History, offering readers a first-hand account of the operations that brought the cartel down. Netflix's hit series Narcos dramatized his work in Season 3, introducing millions of viewers to the complexities of the Cali Cartel. Feistl has also appeared on Drug Lords: The Cali Cartel (Netflix), Narco Wars (National Geographic), Finding Escobar's Millions (Discovery), and German Cocaine Cowboy (Prime Video). His journey and story resonates across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and beyond. Beyond television, he has become a frequent guest on top podcasts including the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, sharing his expertise on platforms like their website along witt Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. He's appeared on This American Life, Game of Crimes, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, and The Adam Carolla Show. On the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and more fans can continue to follow his journey. From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia: His DEA Journey to the Cali Cartel. Looking Back After 26 years with the DEA, 12 of them spent in Colombia, Feistl retired in 2014 as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division. Looking back, he often reflects on the risks, the victories, and the lives lost along the way. “We were fighting something much bigger than ourselves,” Feistl says. “But if our work saved lives and slowed the violence, then it was worth it.” From the drug violence of Miami to Colombia, Chris Feistl's DEA journey to the Cali Cartel remains one of the most compelling law enforcement stories of modern history. Through books, Netflix, and podcasts, his legacy continues to educate, inspire, and remind the world of the human cost of the global drug trade. Be sure to check out our website . Be sure to follow us on MeWe , X , Instagram , Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie . The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary “gift” to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com . Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com , or learn more about him on their website . The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms. Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Medium , which is free. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page , look for the one with the bright green logo. From the Drug Violence of Miami to Colombia: His DEA Journey to the Cali Cartel. Attributions After Escobar Wikipedia Narcos Netflix All That Is Interesting Wikipedia Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You missed us, huh? Fret not, Big Citrus is BACK! This time, Sarah, Misha and Alex break down the suspension that caused Cheryl Reeve to miss the decisive game 4 of the Minnesota Lynx’s series with the Phoenix Mercury, Reeve’s criticism of WNBA officiating, and Phoenix’s return to the Finals. Then, the trio predicts the winner of the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever series. Plus, JuJu’s staying sidelined, AU Pro Volleyball is back in action, and the jury’s out on a new Netflix biopic. Watch highlights from the Diana Taurasi bench celebration here The AU Pro Volleyball Championship Schedule is here The China Open schedule is here And results are here Read Kendra Andrews' story for ESPN about the data on WNBA officiating and injuries here Read Emma Baccellieri’s Sports Illustrated story about WNBA officiating here Listen to the "This American Life" segment about the MNBA's replay center here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stories of people who try simple mind games on others, and then find themselves way in over their heads. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Host Ira Glass interviews Lori Gottlieb about the time she sent a letter to a writer in a magazine, a letter packed with white lies. (5 minutes)Act One: Lori Gottlieb's story continues. One complication led to another, and before long, the writer seemed to be lying to her. Or maybe he wasn't. It was hard to tell. Years later, she still isn't sure what happened. (8 minutes)Act Two: A group called Improv Everywhere decides that an unknown band, Ghosts of Pasha, playing their first ever tour in New York, ought to think they're a smash hit. So they study the band's music and then crowd the performance, pretending to be hard-core fans. Improv Everywhere just wants to make the band happy—to give them the best day of their lives. But the band doesn't see it that way. Nor does another subject of one of Improv Everywhere's "missions." (31 minutes)Act Three: Scott Carrier and his family live in the same Salt Lake City neighborhood as Elizabeth Smart, the fourteen-year-old whose 2002 kidnapping made international news. Though Smart's picture was plastered everywhere throughout Salt Lake City and thousands of volunteers searched for her, her captors brazenly brought her back to the very neighborhood from which she'd been taken. They walked freely through the streets with her in broad daylight, yet no one recognized her. Scott talks with his neighbors and his son Milo—who had attended grade school with Smart—about what was going through their minds that prevented them from seeing what was right there in plain sight. (12 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

A group of immigration judges, who almost never speak to the press, describes the dismantling of our immigration court system from the inside. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Zoe Chace gives an eyewitness account of what has been happening at 26 Federal Plaza, an immigration courthouse in New York City. (5 minutes)Act One: The judges walk us through how different their jobs have become in just the past few months, because of sweeping policy changes by Trump's Department of Justice. (26 minutes)Act Two: It gets extremely personal for the judges. Also, the story of one person who got pushed through the new immigration court system this summer. (23 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Things are different on college campuses this year. We see inside the drama, with students and staff. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: We go to orientation at Arizona State University and meet international students who are trying to make friends. (6 minutes)Act One: The president of the Black Student Union at the University of Utah fights to keep the B in BSU. (30 minutes)Act Two: A definition of antisemitism, canceled classes, and angry professors at Columbia University. (16 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

We took a full-day detour to answer this question from Heather Channon of South Burlington: "Who is using all of the park-and-ride lots?"We spent 12 straight hours (yes, you read that correctly) at one of the busiest park and rides in the state, on one of the busiest travel days of the year, to find out. This is the story of our day — and all the people we met along the way. Check out photos from our experience, and a full episode transcript, in our web post. A big shoutout to a little-known podcast called This American Life, which has done two all-day (and all-night) episodes that inspired this piece: “24 Hours at the Golden Apple” and “Rest Stop.”This episode was reported and produced by Josh Crane, Sabine Poux and Burgess Brown. Our intern is Camila Van Order González. Our Executive Producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Elodie Reed, Amy Tatko, Tricia Roy, Jessica Fay, Betsy LeBlanc, Sara Walker, Robert Blandon, Terrance Sayers, Glenn Varricchione, Tricia Roy, Cliff Mix, Minda Stridsberg, Brendan Grahn, Jean Koegler, Brenda Rose, Pete Niarchos and everyone else we spoke to at the Richmond park and ride on Labor Day 2025. As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Small human plans that run into much larger obstacles. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Angela's dad, an accountant, made a spreadsheet to prepare for their family trip to a national park. But there are things you never think to put in a spreadsheet. (7 minutes)Act One: A young couple, excited to start a new chapter in their lives, is suddenly put on a very different trajectory. (30 minutes)Act Two: A sixteen-year-old plans out a prank, and a complete stranger from Honduras ends up in a million-dollar deal. What could go wrong? (25 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

This week host Jane Marie reunites with fellow This American Life alum and pulitzer prize winning journalist, Lisa Pollak, to listen to and discuss the stories they produced for This American Life while traveling to Houston to cover the experiences of people living through the aftermath of one of the worst disasters in US history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since October 7th, while the world has focused its attention on Gaza, the Israeli government has tightened the screws on the three million Palestinians in the West Bank in all sorts of dramatic ways. We travel to the West Bank to see these changes in person. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Ira joins Hamed on his Monday commute. He has to navigate a constantly changing series of checkpoints and roadblocks to get to work each day. Hamed works for Comet-ME, which sets up solar panels, water systems, and security cameras in small villages all over the West Bank. (13 minutes)Act One: Settler violence has worsened significantly in the West Bank since October 7, 2023. Yael Even Or travels to a tiny village called Tuba, surrounded by Israeli settlements, to meet the 27-year-old resident trying to protect it. (26 minutes)Act 2: Two quick snapshots of life in the West Bank since October 7th. (6 minutes)Act Two: After October 7th, Israeli Minister of Security Itamar Ben-Gvir increased restrictions on Palestinian prisoners in Israeli security prisons. Prisoners started dying. Dana Chivvis looks into one of those deaths. (25 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

It's not that hard to kill a planet. All it takes is a little drilling, some mining, a generous helping of pollution and voila! Earth over. When you take stock of what's left, it starts to look like a crime scene: decapitated mountains, poisoned rivers, oil-soaked pelicans, maybe a sun-bleached cow skull in a dried-up lake bed. The only thing missing is yellow caution tape. On each episode of Lawless Planet, host Zach Goldbaum reveals the scams, murders and cover-ups on the frontline of the climate crisis, and the life and death choices people are making to either protect our world – or destroy it.Listen to Lawless Planet: Wondery.fm/LawlessPlanetSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is it about them, our mean friends? They treat us poorly, they don't call us back, they cancel plans at the last minute, and yet we keep coming back for more. Popular bullies exist in business, politics — everywhere. How do they stay so popular? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: We hear kids recorded at Chicago's Navy Pier and at a public swimming pool discussing their mean friends. And Ira Glass interviews Lillie Allison, 15, about the pretty, popular girls who were her best friends—until they cast her out. (5 minutes)Act One: Jonathan Goldstein interrogates the girls, now grown up, who terrorized him and his classmates years ago in school—and finds they can be just as scary as ever. (18 minutes)Act Two: We conduct an experiment to test whether being nice actually pays by equipping two waitresses with hidden microphones to record their interactions. Each waitress is instructed to be super friendly with half of their tables while remaining aloof with the other half. We then compare the tips to see which approach was more profitable. (10 minutes)Act Three: A case study in every word from a friend meaning its opposite. (4 minutes)Act Four: An excerpt of Bernard Cooper's story about the bill he got from his own father, for the entire cost of his childhood. Actor Josh Hamilton reads. (19 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

The story of the most commonly performed surgery, and what goes wrong with it – terribly wrong – 100,000 times a year in the United States. We're excited to bring you the first episode of The Retrievals, Season 2, the new show from longtime This American Life producer and editor Susan Burton. It's from Serial Productions and The New York Times. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Ira Glass introduces the first episode of an inventive new podcast from longtime This American Life producer and editor Susan Burton.Act One: Susan Burton introduces Mindy, a labor and delivery nurse at UI Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. (5 minutes)Act Two: Another labor and delivery nurse at UI Health, Clara, gets ready to deliver twins at her own hospital and receives an epidural. (19 minutes)Act Three: Clara's anesthesia is not working. She is now in the middle of major abdominal surgery, and she can feel that surgery. (21 minutes)Act Four: Heather, the head of obstetric anesthesia at UI Health, gets up onstage and asks a ballroom full of hundreds of anesthesiologists to wrestle with the question of why patients are feeling pain during C-sections, and what they can do to solve it. (8 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

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 to our This American Life Partners. To gain access to all the bonus episodes AND help us keep making This American Life, join at thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners.

Cat Schuknecht, Ear Hustle's Senior Producer at the California Institution for Women, listens back to our 2023 episode “12 Hours on the Yard.” Inspired by the classic This American Life episode “24 Hours at the Golden Apple,” the Ear Hustle team documents one day in the life of San Quentin's lower yard, from Haka dancing to dominoes; gospel to geese; and weight-lifting to waiting to get out.Thanks to everyone we spoke to while we were on the yard: Gerry Sanchez-Muritalla, Travis George, Miguel Alvarez, Louis Sale, James Names, Doc, Martin Zahorik, Arthur Jackson, Clark, Bryan Head, Rusiate Waqa, Situe Toluao, Arent D.J. Bradt, Trevor Woods, Reginald Thorpe, Don Peise, Russell Salgado, Jose Hernandez, Fernando Vasquez, Fred Catano, Larry Deminter, Steve Joe Martinez, Isaiah Jones, Daniel Hill, Chris Fuimaono, Daniel Le, Spencer Jonmark, Ralph Arreguin, Ezekiel Gonzalez, George Coles El, Corey J Smith, Robert Cole, William Hayes, Tyler Motherwell, Robert Chase, Jonathan Huynh, Chad Miller, Steven McKnight, Taiosisi Matangi, Navion Starks, Chris Marshall, Glenn Wilson, Ben Davis. Joseph Thompson, James Swindo, Kevin Brickman, Nelson Vega, Ken Sargent, Gabby Rigmaden, James Duff, Joe Tyes, Mike Antrobus, Tyler Cooper, Dennis Rogers, Armando Raymayor, Alfredo Hayes, Stanley Tillman, and Officer Acevedo.This episode was scored with music by Derrell Sadiq Davis, Rhashiyd Zinnamon, Fernando Arruda, and Earlonne Woods.  Big thanks to Warden Andes and Lt. Berry at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center; Acting Warden Parker, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women; and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Williams at the Central California Women's Facility for their support of the show.Support our team and get even more Ear Hustle by subscribing to Ear Hustle Plus today. Sign up at earhustlesq.com/plus or directly in Apple Podcasts. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Summer is a time when change seems more possible than ever. But is that really how it happens? Can people actually reinvent themselves in the warmer months? This week, we present stories — and some comedy — about people and their summer selves. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Host Ira Glass reflects on his feelings about going to the beach. (3 minutes)Act One: Producer Dana Chivvis explores the case of a 66-year-old working lifeguard who is suing New York State for age discrimination after refusing to wear a Speedo on the job. (16 minutes)Act Two: A troupe of comedians tells personal stories about summer experiences and improvises scenes based on them. (23 minutes)Act Three: Producer Neil Drumming tells the story of his dad and his family's timeshare in Orlando, Florida. (14 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

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. (6 minutes)Act One: Connie Wang tells the story of a championship window she didn't realize she was in — until it was too late. (14 minutes)Act Two: Seth Lind, our Operations Director, isn't a crier. But he wants to connect with his emotions, so guest host Emmanuel Dzotsi sets up an unconventional experiment. (14 minutes)Act Three: Two college baseball teams with horrible losing streaks — a combined 141 games — are scheduled to play each other. One of them must finally win. (14 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

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 winds down, we try to assess its impact. What was good? What was not so good? We meet people around the world wrestling with these questions and trying to navigate this chaotic moment. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Just one box of a specially enriched peanut butter paste can save the life of a severely malnourished child. So why have 500,000 of those boxes been stuck in warehouses in Rhode Island? (13 minutes)Act One: USAID was founded in 1961. Since then, it has spent hundreds of billions of dollars all over the world. What did that get us? Producer David Kestenbaum talked with Joshua Craze and John Norris about that. (12 minutes)Act Two: Two Americans moved to Eswatini when that country was the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic. With support from USAID, they built a clinic and started serving HIV+ patients. Now that US support for their clinic has ended, they are wondering if what they did was entirely a good thing. (27 minutes)Act Three: When USAID suddenly stopped all foreign assistance without warning or a transition plan, it sent people all over the world scrambling. Especially those relying on daily medicine provided by USAID. Producer Ike Sriskandarajah spoke to two families in Kenya who were trying to figure it out. (8 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

In honor of Father's Day, stories of sons and daughters finding out the one thing they've always wanted to know about their father. The answers aren't always what they'd hoped for. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: As a kid, Aric Knuth 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 talks to Ira Glass about what it was like to finally ask his dad why. (7 minutes)Act One: Lennard Davis was always told to avoid his no-good Uncle Abie. After his father died, Abie claimed he was actually Lenny's biological father via artificial insemination. At first, the story seemed possible, then doubtful. It took Lenny more than 20 years to sort out whether it was true, and he finds out the answer—definitively—as tape is rolling. (31 minutes)Act Two: 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. For the first time, Paul joins him and asks the questions he's long kept to himself about his father's alien pursuits. (18 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

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. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: Fred Armisen worked up an imitation of Ira and put it into a sketch on Saturday Night Live a couple of years ago. But when they rehearsed it with an audience, there was not a roar of recognition; it seemed like Ira might not be famous enough to be mocked on network TV. Armisen finally gets a go as Ira's doppelgänger in our studios by co-hosting this episode. (4 minutes)Act One: Ben Calhoun tells a story of physical resemblance — not of a person, but of food. A while ago, a farmer walked through a pork processing plant in Oklahoma with a friend who managed it. He came across boxes stacked on the floor with labels that said "artificial calamari." So he asked his friend "What's artificial calamari?" "Bung," his friend replied. "Hog rectum." Have you or I eaten bung dressed up as seafood? Ben investigated. (26 minutes)Act Two: For decades, the writer Alex Kotlowitz has been writing about the inner cities and the toll of violence on young people. So when he heard about a program at Drexel University where guys from the inner city get counseling for PTSD, he wondered if the effect of urban violence was comparable to the trauma that a person experiences from war. Kotlowitz talks to a military vet from Afghanistan and a guy from Philadelphia who's lived in some pretty bad neighborhoods to find out if they are doubles of some sort. (23 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Conversations across a divide: Palestinians who are outside Gaza check in with family, friends, and strangers inside. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Prologue: The Hammash family's group chat unfolds over texts, starting before the war. (8 minutes)Act One: When Yousef Hammash left Gaza a year ago, his sisters decided to stay behind. We hear about the toll that separation has taken on Yousef and the sister he's closest to, Aseel. (30 minutes)Act Two: Mohammed Mhawish, a reporter who left Gaza a year ago with his family, talks to a young woman in Gaza about how she manages her hunger. Israel blockaded all food from Gaza for more than two months. (15 minutes)Coda: Chana gives a short update about Banias, a 9-year-old girl in Gaza she's been speaking with for months. (4 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

A show about people who are suddenly confronted with who they are. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. Prologue: Guest host Aviva DeKornfeld tells Ira Glass about breaking into a community pool as a kid, and the split-second decision that has haunted her ever since. (4 minutes)Act One: Some people are great in a crisis. Others, not so much. Does that mean anything about who we really are? Tobin Low investigates. (10 minutes)Act Two: Aviva DeKornfeld has the story of Leisha Hailey, who was certain she had the next million-dollar idea. (11 minutes)Act Three: Comedian Mike Birbiglia talks about the questions his daughter asks him and how trying to answer them showed him surprising reflections of himself.  (15 minutes)Act Four: David Kestenbaum tells the story of the suspicious disappearance of multiple shoes and a woman determined to explain it. (8 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.