25 Best This American Life Podcasts

A list of the most popular This American Life podcasts on Podyssey Podcasts.

25 Best This American Life Podcasts

  • 1. 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...Show More

    +2811 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    #513: 129 Cars

    1:16:11 | Jul 5th, 2020

    46 RECOMMENDATIONS

    We spend a month at a Jeep dealership on Long Island as they try to make their monthly sales goal: 129 cars. If they make it, they'll get a huge bonus from the manufacturer, possibly as high as $85,00...Show More

    AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.
  • 2. Serial

    Serial Productions makes narrative podcasts whose quality and innovation transformed the medium. “Serial” began in 2014 as a spinoff of the public radio show “This American Life.” In 2020, we joined the New York Times Company. Our shows have reached ...Show More

    +2782 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    Serial S01 - Ep. 1: The Alibi

    52:57 | Oct 3rd, 2014

    30 RECOMMENDATIONS

    It's Baltimore, 1999. Hae Min Lee, a popular high-school senior, disappears after school one day. Six weeks later detectives arrest her classmate and ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for her murder. He says ...Show More

  • 3. S-Town

    S-Town is a podcast hosted by Brian Reed from Serial Productions, a New York Times company. The story follows a man named John who despises his Alabama town and decides to do something about it. He asks Brian to investigate the son of a wealthy famil...Show More

    +1281 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    Chapter I

    51:22 | Mar 28th, 2017

    66 RECOMMENDATIONS

    “If you keep your mouth shut, you’ll be surprised what you can learn.”

  • 4. Filmspotting

    “...affable, insightful film analysis since 2005."–NY Times / New + classic reviews and top 5s. Every episode and exclusive content at filmspottingfamily.com. Also on WBEZ Chicago.

    +116 FANS

    Latest Episode

    Columbus with Kogonada, Pather Panchali with Dana Stevens at Filmspotting Fest (#1030)

    1:03:31 | Sep 5th

    To celebrate 20 years of the show, we hosted Filmspotting Fest in March – six films over three days at two of Chicago’s iconic cinemas. This episode features two standout post-screening conversations:...Show More

  • 5. Making

    WBEZ's critically-acclaimed bio-podcast series explores how an icon is made. Providing an unmatched view from the beginning, all the way to the their rise to the top.

    +59 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    Beyoncé 1: Girls Tyme

    47:06 | Nov 15th, 2019

    6 RECOMMENDATIONS

    Before the Grammys, before the platinum records, before Destiny’s Child, there was just a shy girl growing up in Houston. We follow Beyoncé Knowles from the stages of local talent shows to her first c...Show More

  • 6. Motive

    Chicago gangs: Real people. Real stories. A way forward. The new season of Motive explores violence on the streets of Chicago and the former gang members working to stop it.

    +41 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    1: Lauren Bajorek

    34:16 | Feb 7th, 2020

    3 RECOMMENDATIONS

    A college student dies on her 21st birthday in Spain. Authorities rule her death an accident. Years later, questions arise after a TV segment airs about someone she was with that night.

  • 7. Sound Opinions

    Take two nationally respected rock critics, the latest music news, personal commentary, and exclusive interviews and performances, add a huge pile of records old and new, and the result is Sound Opinions, where people who love music can come together...Show More

    +36 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    #731 Thanksgiving Leftovers & DJ Shadow on Sampling

    56:47 | Nov 29th, 2019

    1 RECOMMENDATION

    As we finish eating Thanksgiving leftovers, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot clear out musical discussions still left over from earlier in the year. From chart-topping phenomenons to surprising archival fin...Show More

  • 8. Re:sound

    The most compelling and creative audio documentaries and features produced worldwide, curated by the Third Coast Festival's. Featuring audio treats such as producer profiles and more experimental work. New episodes twice per month.Listen to our entir...Show More

    +29 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    Re:sound #251 Jesse & Joe

    58:00 | Feb 23rd, 2018

    1 RECOMMENDATION

    This hour, we remember the audio work of two brilliant producers who recently passed away — Jesse Cox & Joe Frank.Part 1: Jesse Cox (5 September 1986 – 18 December 2017)‘Keep Them Guessing’ [exce...Show More

  • 9. PleasureTown

    Classic radio meets contemporary cable drama in this fictional serial podcast about a failed Oklahoma utopian society and its eclectic residents. Betrayal, murder and hedonism abound in PleasureTown. Join the story at www.pleasuretownshow.com.

    +26 FANS

    Latest Episode

    Update On Season 4

    02:05 | Nov 3rd, 2017

    A message from the PT team on when to expect season 4.

    AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.
  • 10. Nerdette

    Nerdette is a weekly interview show that helps you unwind with fun conversations, inspiring ideas, and delightful recommendations. And join us on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month for the Nerdette Bookclub!

    +24 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    Popular vs. Cool With Derek Thompson

    30:58 | Feb 24th, 2017

    1 RECOMMENDATION

    Derek Thompson, senior editor of The Atlantic, tells Nerdette's Tricia Bobeda about his new book Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction. He explains what makes Adele’s "Hello"&...Show More

  • 11. 16 Shots

    In October of 2014, a white police officer fatally shot a black teenager on the streets of Chicago. The shooting of Laquan McDonald was captured on video, and sparked outrage across the city. Chicago's top cop was fired, the local state’s attorney wa...Show More

    +15 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    Ep 1: The Night Of

    36:01 | Aug 29th, 2018

    2 RECOMMENDATIONS

    The police shooting of Laquan McDonald forces Chicago to prepare for potential riots. We piece together details from McDonald’s too-short life and hear from Officer Jason Van Dyke in his first intervi...Show More

  • 12. Public Official A

    Remember when the governor of Illinois supposedly tried to sell President Obama’s Senate seat? Or, how the same ex-governor got a “You’re fired” from Donald Trump on 'The Celebrity Apprentice'? New from WBEZ Chicago, 'Public Official A' uncovers the ...Show More

    +12 FANS

    Latest Episode

    From Pushkin Industries - Deep Cover: Who Was Bob Cooley?

    08:06 | Jan 31st, 2022

    We're sharing a preview of a new podcast from Pushkin Industries. Deep Cover tells true stories of crime and corruption. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Halpern reveals dark underworlds most of...Show More

  • 13. Curious City

    Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.

    +9 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    Chicago’s Tornado-Proof Delusion

    13:29 | May 5th, 2019

    1 RECOMMENDATION

    Yes, tornadoes can hit Chicago. Why do so many people think otherwise?

  • 14. Shannon Cason's Homemade Stories

    Homemade Stories is short stories and commentary for writer/storyteller, Shannon Cason.Homemade Stories is a podcast hosted by Shannon Cason, a powerful voice on the national storytelling front. Cason lays out his life for the listener, blessings and...Show More

    +7 FANS

    Most Recommended Episode

    HS #96 Downstairs Neighbors

    20:10 | Oct 12th, 2017

    1 RECOMMENDATION

    A live story about my most memorable neighbors to date. This live story was also featured in the Moth Book, All These Wonders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 15. The Trouble

    Trouble — we've all been in it. Some more than others. Some worse than others. Award-winning storyteller Shannon Cason has faced a few problems of his own. Now he talks with others about getting in, and out, of trouble of all stripes.

    +7 FANS

    Latest Episode

    Infertility

    42:17 | Oct 5th, 2018

    Tricia has been trying to get pregnant for 10 years. She talks about her desire for motherhood and then walks us through one last IVF cycle.

  • 16. Nerdette Recaps Game Of Thrones With Peter Sagal

    Peter Sagal of Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me joins Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda of Nerdette weekly to scrutinize the latest Game of Thrones episode.

    +4 FANS

    Latest Episode

    BONUS Nerdette Recaps: 'Promising Young Woman'

    41:07 | Mar 16th, 2021

    Authors Micaiah Johnson ('The Space Between Worlds') and Carmen Maria Machado ('In the Dream House,' 'Her Body and Other Parties') join Nerdette host Greta Johnsen to discuss the Oscar-nominated film ...Show More

  • 17. Do Listen Twice

    To celebrate the iTunes release of Mike Birbiglia's movie Don't Think Twice, host Ira Glass presents a podcast miniseries featuring his favorite stories that Birbiglia has told on This American Life over the years. https://itunes.com/dontthinktwice

    +3 FANS

    Latest Episode

    811: The One Place I Can’t Go

    1:00:16 | Oct 1st, 2023

    Spots we’re avoiding in our private maps of the world. Prologue: Guest host Bim Adewunmi talks to her cousin Kamyl about a funny thing Kamyl did when she was small, regarding a dog named Foxy. (4 mi...Show More

  • 18. The Pie

    Economists are always talking about The Pie – how it grows and shrinks, how it’s sliced, and who gets the biggest shares. Join host Tess Vigeland as she talks with leading economists from the University of Chicago about their cutting-edge research an...Show More

    3 FANS

    Latest Episode

    Stuck: How Housing Regulation Ended America's Mobility Revolution

    49:51 | Sep 2nd

    America was once a nation in constant motion: One in three Americans moved every year in the 19th century, chasing opportunity from one town to the next. But that mobility has collapsed, falling by mo...Show More

  • 19. WBEZ's Worldview

    WBEZ's global affairs program. Featuring in-depth conversations about international issues and their local impact. Also, foreign film reviews and human rights commentaries. Hosted by Jerome McDonnell.

    2 FANS

    Latest Episode

    Comparing Oligarchy in the U.S. and Indonesia; Worldview's Producers Reflect On Their Experiences; Jerome Thanks Worldview's Listeners: "The thing that gives me hope is you."

    50:07 | Oct 4th, 2019

    On today's show:Does the American condition of democratic governance with severe income inequality constitute oligarchy? We look to Indonesia for a comparison. On the show's last noontime broadcast, W...Show More

  • 20. Written Inside

    Cockroaches. Clean freaks. Cardboard pianos. Written Inside is a podcast about life inside a maximum-security prison cell.

    2 FANS

    Latest Episode

    Written Inside: A Visit From An Outsider

    16:42 | Apr 13th, 2017

    He noticed something moving in the back of the cell. In this final episode, inmate James Trent describes an encounter that he'll never forget. Plus: An interview with the co-creators of Written Inside...Show More

  • 21. Every Other Hour

    Last year in Chicago, there was a person shot about every other hour. So who picks up a gun, and why? Stories from a yearlong WBEZ project.

    2 FANS

    Latest Episode

    What Will It Take To Roll Back Chicago’s Gun Violence?

    07:21 | Dec 20th, 2017

    Two years into Chicago’s surge in gun violence, WBEZ asks: What’s being tried, is it working, and what’s next?

  • 22. On Background: WBEZ's Politics Podcast

    On Background is WBEZ Chicago’s weekly political podcast. Each week, our top-notch team of political reporters brings you the backstory on the week’s big story. We’ll take you inside the back rooms of Chicago and Illinois government to explain the st...Show More

    2 FANS

    Latest Episode

    Analysis: Chicago Elects Lightfoot Mayor

    25:03 | Apr 4th, 2019

    What the heck just happened, Chicago? Lori Lightfoot won the mayor’s race by a gargantuan margin. City Council veterans got the boot. Here’s what Tuesday’s results might mean for the future of the cit...Show More

  • 23. Adventures in Urban Eating: Steve Dolinsky's podcast

    Interviews, reports and lively discussions with the world's top food and wine experts. Hosted by the 12-time James Beard Award winning Chicago-based food journalist who is always curious about what we eat and drink.

    Latest Episode

    Podcast: West Town Tavern cookbook authors talk Spring food & wine inspiration

    0:00 | Mar 23rd, 2011

    West Town Tavern book.mp3Susan and Drew Goss (pictured) have been fixtures on the Chicago food scene for as long as I can remember.

  • 24. WBEZ's Clever Apes

    “Clever Apes” is a nano-sized show with a cosmic scope. It tells the stories of the Chicago-area’s rich scientific community, its quirky characters and the fascinating, often mind-bending questions they’re out to answer.

    Latest Episode

    Clever Apes #31: ¿Habla usted simio?

    0:00 | Jun 6th, 2012

    Exact statistics are hard to come by, but it is generally accepted that a majority of the world’s population speaks more than one language. So if we want to better understand how the brain works...Show More

  • 25. Hit it or Quit it

    Music news, gossip, interviews and the weather from the underground.

    Latest Episode

    Hit It Or Quit It #20 - Lovesongs for the Lovesong-less, Reagan and more

    0:00 | Feb 14th, 2011

    The Hit It Or Quit It podcast is back for Season 2 just in time for Valentine's Day! Hosts Jessica Hopper and J.R. Nelson help spread love and music by choosing special songs for listeners in need. Wh...Show More

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