Then stop here. Bc this might be THE only satisfying podcast for someone who doesn’t like podcasts for all the reasons ppl don’t like podcasts. Even if you do, there really is nothing else like it. For years, a long time ago, I also didn’t enjoy podcasts for all the reasons ppl don’t like them. (Long intros; aimless rambling; misleading topics; hosts taking up the oxygen no matter the topic; terrible interviewers; withholding interviewees; lengthy runtimes, etc. Yes, similar to this review. :)) But then one day my friends & I were discussing health insurers & pharmaceutical companies. To make her point, one of my friends pulled out her laptop & played an episode of this. The first thing that sold me & still does, was the editing. TAL is edited like something visual, yet audible. Like a short documentary, or a 30x30 episode, or 20/20 l, but for your ears. Okay, I clearly can’t explain it well. But that first the time, I was floored. I had enjoyed a podcast so much that I actually wrote the title down! Then actually starting listening to it in my free time. Even though now I listen to a few more pods these days, I actually still have never heard anything else like it. Not the format, the contributors, the tone, or Ira Glass. This show is a rare thing of artistry & thoughtfulness & editing combined to make something eternally enjoyable. Even for those who genuinely don’t wanna hear it.

This audio is about Guantanamo Bay — doesn’t match the description. This is what the download audio is in the Podcast app.

For oj (small cap)? Absolutely! And, just like the Orange one, every time the media brings him up, they make money! Please, like the children they are/were, put it to bed already…. I skip right past the report… don’t listen, don’t share. Ira, you’re an artist. Thank you

Hannah was horribly condescending when speaking with Yousef and his family. This poor man is trying to stay positive and find humor in the daily tragedies and terror he face; instead of empathizing, Hannah questions his choices in a tone of privileged disbelief. It’s condescending, rude, and painful to hear. Compare this to Ira’s interview with the Israeli family planning moving from their kibbutz. I wish Hannah showed Yousef half the amount of sympathy Ira showed that family. This American Life should be more even-handed in how it handles interviews with those affected by the war in Gaza.

Good stories but you talk so fast, I checked to see if I had accidentally hit the speed setting. Enjoyable topics though ✨

Good satisfying stories. Wish Ira’s voice was a bit louder, and more episodes daily. But other wise it’s good.

Harriet Court had me snorting and cry laughing. Such a creative mom and hilarious children.

I miss the episodes about actual American life - framing an international story simply from a reporter’s perspective feels a little forced and disingenuous. I agree that this show has gotten away from what makes it great - I like the international episodes where there’s a specific tie back to an American citizen or issue, but I wish NPR would leave some of the headier reporting or stories for a different show. It’s not why I listen to this podcast - I’ve loved it for years, but especially after the past few months, I think I’ve had enough of their story choices. We need more stories that bring people together, not more commentary on current events.

Literally the Original Gangster of Radio!! Been listening to Ira before podcast was a word! What 25 plus years? Thank you for setting the bar and standard for telling stories about human beings being human! Well done!!!

So biased and far from the truth. Please remember the voices from Gaza on October 7th. Cheers and praises to a dead violated woman body paraded in the streets, her violated and mutilated body thrown on a pick up truck. Barbaric and inhumane. We will never forget !! Uncivilized voices from Gaza!!

So disappointed with their story in the Gaza “reporters”. No mention of these “journalists” tied to Hamas, huh? Conveniently left those people off the list to tell their stories. NPR is so biased against Israel - it is pretty disgusting. I’ve been a long time listener but they’ve lost me now.

This podcast is great and funny and you can’t help LOVING it.

I listen to many podcasts and this is the first one I put on each week. Great stories thoughtfully presented. Ira and the staff here are amazing.

Not balanced but i enjoy the ones i enjoy. Just take it with a grain of salt

I love this show, I love that we got to hear Yumna’s story. But, for an episode that is about “the words to say it”, it leaves a whole lot out. Yumna’s family has had to evacuate countless times not because of a natural disaster. The words are there, I encourage the producers to use them. Yumna’s family has had to evacuate because Israel is on a murderous campaign in Gaza. As of today over 30,000 people have died. 80% of those facing famine globally are in Gaza. Again, that is not a natural disaster. It is a man-made disaster, it is an Israeli-made disaster, a US-funded disaster. The words are there, using them can save lives.

Ira Glass is so seamlessly compelling that there is none better. He is the father of podcasts for me because my love of podcasts began with This American Life a long time ago. To agree with another reviewer he will indeed leave you crying in the Target parking lot. ❤️

I thought it was just me. If you read the Bible, see how it speaks to you personally. Churches do not have a monopoly on what the Bible says. You do not need anyone to interpret it for you. Thanks TAL, this show has been bringing me joy since the 90’s ❤️

Don’t get me wrong this was an amazing podcast but… the story’s now days are on modern problems and I want a story. I want there to be more episodes like in the past.

That a show run by a Jewish person would be so quiet about October 7th, when Israelis were slaughtered and raped en masse while their wicked tormenters laughed and cheered, and then make such efforts to virtue signal with the people of Gaza. Both are correct, if both are equally covered. When only one story is told it lends only legitimacy to Hamas, monstrous terrorists who want only the destruction of Israel and the deaths of all Jews. Again, it's noble to tell all sides of the story. Ignoble to tell only one. Perhaps their will be a time in the future when the true history of Israel will be acknowledged by this generally brilliant program that I have listened to for decades. Here's hoping.

when people in podcasts talk about podcasts, they are literally comparing themselves to this american life . ie host 1: "i wish my audio was clearer when i have to record from home"; host 2: " what mike are you using there"; host 1: "same as in studio but like on 'this american life' they have perfect audio even over phone or whatever. i can't seem to get that." host 1: "well you aren't ira glass" host 2: "sigh." as in, maybe another podcast will try to be this american life to meet the standard but fundamentally it's just not the standard and can't be. so in short, while i don't always listen to this podcast, i'd never hesitate to give it a perfect score because nearly everyone else is listening to it and knows that just because you didn't run in the marathon doesn't mean you don't know it ends at the finish line .

I’ve been an Audible.com listener since before smartphones so I could listen to this show. Now it is available via podcast. Real life from real people.

The show is attempting to evolve with the times, sometimes managing to do so effectively. Other times, it's lost the magic that long positioned it as the gold standard in radio storytelling.

Thanks a lot for ruining me for other podcasts by making your stories so entertaining and thought provoking and heartwarming and challenging. Every other show feels flat to me now.

This story was in bad taste. Very hard to listen to a family talk about how their kids were bored in a hotel. I have listened to this show since the mid 90s and it was gross to listen to them simp for Netanyahu.

It took me over a year to start from the beginning and listen to every single episode. So very grateful that I was able to appreciate each and every one. Love all the bonus material on their website.

The Jane Doe episode is highly biased. Yet just another one of these me to foamed up whipped crazy hysteria pieces. They called the supporters of the accused, sympathisers and of course that’s a biased term that seeks to discredit those who don’t immediately fall into line and believe an accuser. Just one of the gazillion points of bias in this episode. Who do you think believes this stuff anyway? Just more of the lib agenda pushed by NPR

Somehow Ira failed to mention this fact.

This episode unfortunately sympathized with a family a family from Israel. I’m sure as many should know the culture in Israel is oppressive, racist and genocidal toward Palestinians. I felt irritated that this family was the subject of misfortune while Palestinians have suffered so much more. This was in poor taste and also shows where this American life holds up to loyalty. I can see they must do so because of the anti boycotting laws Israel have put in place and NPR may have to comply. There should be more coverage on Palestinians during the genocide taking place on there homeland of Palestine. I’m sorry but if you are a person that disagrees with the corrupted relationship between the United States and Israel abd/or Genocide then I would boycott this podcast for their distasteful mistake of supporting a toxic colonialism and murderous Soceity. I’m sure this episode was under a political agenda and I want no part of it. Free Palestine!

The show has changed from heartwarming slices of life to “important journalism”. It’s still good most of the time, but it seems like a different show than the one I originally loved. Maybe the title should be changed as the focus has shifted to the global stage. I preferred this show when it was less concerned with prestige and current events and more about small human stories from America.

Love!

Every week this show is outstanding, unpredictable and the best podcast ever. You never know, but you know it will be superb

I truly believe the world would be a better place if everyone listened to this show, which isn’t to suggest that it’s pedantic or preachy, oh no. It’s simply human and real and perfect.

The first few episodes I listened to were really good. But then every episode had at least one story involving homosexuality. To be honest, I do not have any problem with people who love each other being together. In the world we live in today, I say if you can find love, take it. I wish the homosexual community would realize how the thought of sleeping with the opposite sex disgust them, is the same way straight people feel at the thought of sleeping with the same sex.

This show borders on beyond perfect if that’s possible

I used to love this show. I couldn’t wait for the Sunday realeaae. Now every episode is virtue signaling, political or LGBT. I wish the show would return to normal content.

it’s the best one. ira is a legend. his voice soothes me. the stories are just what i need the end of a long day. keep it going - forever. please.

Impressive Podcast. I learned, laughed and cried. Thank You to everyone for sharing their stories! You really helped me!

This show is one of those things that I hope future civilizations use to learn about us. It’s been consistently entertaining and thought provoking for most of my life!

Ira, can you please enunciate and slow down when you are talking (half the time you sound like you are sucking on a lozenge) and can you please speak to your producers/speakers about their ear splitting vocal fry affect? Other than that, I absolutely love this podcast and reporting, you all are doing a wonderful job!

I have been listening to This American Life for a while. I used to love the show, here’s what’s killing it for me: Ira, the host, sometimes talks too fast and his words run together and I miss what he’s saying. I imagine this is especially challenging for people who do not speak English as a first language. Second, I’m tired of hearing about trump, elections, election fraud, I’m over it. Every time an episode veers towards this topic my anxiety flies off the handle and I have to shut it off, today I remove the show from my library altogether. I don’t love it like I used to.

Thank you for sharing the stories from Gaza- please call the occupation and genocide by name. I understand the fear of alienating some listeners and donors but it is SO wrong and misleading to hear this described as a war

I’m unable to further live my life without this podcast.

This show was never on the top 100 list. Now there are episodes in the top 20. Ever notice it’s always in the same ranking spot now? This show has been mediocre for decades. Now it’s in the top 20! What’s changed? Well, there’s an election coming up and the feds, the media, Soros and his NPR lefty donors are gearing up again. Instead of the usual quirky shows about someone’s high school years, we get propaganda about illegal immigrants and Gaza delivered in familiar characteristic halting dictation. Prepare a ration of dried bugs and enjoy all state sponsored media has to offer!

I have loved this show for well over a decade. In the past few years, it has turned into a political commentary and lost the charm that it once had. Sure, some shows still hit that great stride, but too often the shows are political hit pieces. Honestly, it just gets old. I come to this podcast to get away from politics. Please, get back to what made this program great.

I’m tearing up, in a good way. Great podcast.

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Ira Glass needs to update some of their ancient stories. I am thinking specifically of the 20 Acts in 60 Minutes and the Neofuturists theater company. I don’t know why they are highlighting Greg Allen, a man ousted from the performance ensemble and featuring a play from over 20 years ago even though they have generating new work every weekend since then. Do better or quit airing expired stories.

Love the podcast except for one thing. Almost every other podcast I follow indicates in episode descriptions each time it is not a new one, noting it is “From the Archive,” or giving the original date of upload, or calling it a “Favorite,” etc. I have contacted the show; no response, no change. Sad… I hate looking forward to a new episode and later realizing I’d heard it before.

I love this podcast Ira is such a great host and I love to listen to the David sedaris episodes!