This American Life
Award-winning radio show and podcast with themed stories
★ 4.8 / 5.0 Editors' score
This American Life is a Storytelling podcast hosted by Ira Glass. Award-winning radio show and podcast with themed stories It has 850 episodes on a weekly schedule, averaging 60 minutes per episode, with its first episode in 1995-11-17. It is rated 4.8/5. Known for weekly themed episodes, multiple stories per episode, peabody award-winning.
Key Facts
| Host | Ira Glass |
|---|---|
| Category | Storytelling |
| Episodes | 850 |
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Avg. duration | 60 minutes |
| First episode | 1995-11-17 |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5.0 |
| Last updated | 2026-02-24 |
Overview
This American Life is a weekly public radio show and podcast. Each week they choose a theme and put together different stories on that theme. The show has won numerous awards including Peabody Awards and is hosted by Ira Glass.
Visit This American Life →Where to Listen
What Makes It Stand Out
- ✓Weekly themed episodes
- ✓Multiple stories per episode
- ✓Peabody Award-winning
- ✓NPR production quality
- ✓Diverse story types
Pros
- ✅ Exceptional storytelling
- ✅ Consistently high quality
- ✅ Wide range of topics
Cons
- ❌ Can be emotionally heavy
- ❌ US-focused perspectives
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the This American Life podcast about?
This American Life is a weekly public radio show and podcast. Each week they choose a theme and put together different stories on that theme. The show has won numerous awards including Peabody Awards and is hosted by Ira Glass.
Who hosts This American Life?
This American Life is hosted by Ira Glass.
How often does This American Life release episodes?
This American Life publishes on a weekly schedule, with 850 episodes to date, averaging 60 minutes each.
What are the downsides of This American Life?
Some listeners note: Can be emotionally heavy; US-focused perspectives.
What podcasts are similar to This American Life?
See our full list of This American Life alternatives, with side-by-side details and ratings, on the This American Life alternatives page.
Last updated: 2026-02-24