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This American Life · Arts & Culture

This American Life

Each week we choose a theme. Then anything can happen. This American Life is true stories that unfold like little movies for radio. Personal stories with funny moments, big feelings, and surprising plot twists. Newsy stories that try to capture what it’s like to be alive right now. It’s the most popular weekly podcast in the world, and winner of the first ever Pulitzer Prize for a radio show or podcast. Hosted by Ira Glass and produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago.

Episodes

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241: 20 Acts in 60 Minutes

31 Dec 2023
59m
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This podcast episode features humorous anecdotes, reflective stories, and unique characters, exploring themes such as mistaken identity, forgotten connections, the power of words, deception, the pursuit of success, the role of art in redemption, and the challenges of anonymity and communication. Takeaways • Embrace un...

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820: It Wouldn’t Be Make-Believe If You’d Believe In Me

24 Dec 2023
1h 2m
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This podcast episode delves into the tumultuous journey of the Republican Party in Michigan following the midterm elections, highlighting the rise of outsider Christina Caramo as the party chair and the challenges she faced. It explores the intra-party conflicts, power struggles, and financial woes that characterized h...

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819: Special Bonus Podcast — Yousef’s Week

22 Dec 2023
42m
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This podcast episode discusses Yusuf's experiences during the conflict in Gaza and his efforts to convince his sisters to move to a safer location. Despite facing challenges such as airstrikes and the reluctance of his sisters, Yusuf manages to relocate his immediate family to a safe zone in Rafah. The episode explores...

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818: Stand Clear of the Closing Doors

17 Dec 2023
1h 17m
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This podcast episode explores the impact of migrants on New York City's budget and the city's efforts to welcome and support them. It delves into the experiences of migrants arriving in the city, the challenges they face in finding shelter and employment, and the difficulties encountered by migrant children in schools....

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786: It's a Game Show!

10 Dec 2023
1h 5m
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This podcast episode explores the ability to determine the age of immigrants based on their speech and the cadence of their writing. The hosts create a game show-like setup to test this claim, where one host listens to immigrants reading aloud sentences and guesses their age of arrival. The episode showcases the hosts'...

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817: The Cavalry Is Not Coming

03 Dec 2023
59m
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This podcast episode explores various challenges faced in different contexts, including the difficulties of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, the financial struggles of Bucktail Medical Center in Pennsylvania, the impact of asylum policies on USCIS officials under the Biden administration, and the implementation of ...

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816: Poultry Slam

26 Nov 2023
57m
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This podcast episode explores different aspects of the narratives surrounding chickens. It discusses a court case that involved a chicken as evidence and reflects on the personal significance of chicken stories. The episode also examines the artistic appeal of chickens in opera and photography, as well as the challenge...

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814: 814: Parents Are People

12 Nov 2023
1h 3m
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This podcast episode tells the story of Madison, a 13-year-old girl who witnesses a potential school violence incident and reports it, only to face severe punishment. It emphasizes the importance of taking threats seriously and speaking up when necessary. The episode explores the challenges that Madison and her family ...

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813: Is That What I Look Like?

05 Nov 2023
56m
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This podcast episode explores the impact of unexpected observations and comments on individuals' self-perception. It challenges the notion that we know ourselves best by highlighting the power of outside assessments in shaping self-image and confidence. The episode includes various stories and anecdotes, such as the ro...

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319: And the Call Was Coming from the Basement

29 Oct 2023
58m
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This podcast episode delves into a range of frightening narratives and experiences, spanning from the otherworldly to realistic threats. It encompasses tales such as a savage raccoon assault, the hazards of hitchhiking, a chilling incident in a cemetery, a mischievous prank turned awry, childhood anxieties, and persona...

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812: The Bear at the End of the Tunnel

22 Oct 2023
1h 3m
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This podcast episode explores various stories including wildlife encounters, restrictive abortion laws, and issues faced by pregnant women in Idaho. It begins by highlighting Jeff's experience working with black bears and the excitement of his job. The episode then discusses the consequences of human interactions with ...

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477: Getting Away With It

15 Oct 2023
59m
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This podcast episode explores various narratives of sneaking and getting away with actions, whether for personal gain or the benefit of others. It covers stories of individuals justifying their actions, politicians lying for four-year-olds, and the motivations behind sneaking. The episode also includes accounts of a fa...

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751: Audience of One

08 Oct 2023
1h 11m
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This podcast episode explores the emotional connection individuals have with various movies. It delves into personal experiences and memories associated with films such as "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Sound of Music." The podcast discusses the impact of specific scenes, the realistic arcs of characters, and the po...

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811: The One Place I Can’t Go

01 Oct 2023
1h 0m
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This podcast episode explores a comedian, Atsco Okatska's relationship with her grandmother and the complex circumstances surrounding her move to the United States. The episode delves into themes of familial secrets, personal growth, and the power of storytelling. It highlights the impact of communication and addresses...

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779: Ends of the Earth

24 Sep 2023
1h 6m
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This podcast episode explores various topics, including the challenges of balancing a career and family responsibilities, the evolving dynamics of a relationship, the controversies surrounding assisted dying, the impact of Alzheimer's disease on individuals and their loved ones, the process of making end-of-life decisi...

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714: Day at the Beach

13 Aug 2023
1h 4m
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This podcast episode explores various stories and experiences related to lifeguards, swim attire, age discrimination, and personal beliefs. It starts with the story of Roy, a lifeguard at Jones Beach, who challenged the requirement to wear an official speedo swimsuit for a physical fitness test. Roy believed that the r...

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807: Eight Fights

06 Aug 2023
1h 0m
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This podcast episode explores the various aspects and consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The narrative revolves around the experiences of different individuals and families caught in the midst of the war, highlighting the complex dynamics within relationships and personal identities. It delves into the str...

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806: I Can't Quit You, Baby

30 Jul 2023
1h 1m
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This podcast episode explores the difficulties associated with quitting smoking, particularly the challenge of overcoming nicotine addiction and the lingering presence of cravings even after quitting. It also delves into the controversial Alan Carr method for quitting smoking, with discussions about its effectiveness a...

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199: House on Loon Lake

23 Jul 2023
59m
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This podcast episode delves into the story of an abandoned house and its enigmatic occupants, the Nason family. Through explorers' accounts, historical research, and personal anecdotes, listeners journey through the remnants left behind, uncovering layers of hardship, mystery, and intrigue surrounding the family's disa...

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805: The Florida Experiment

16 Jul 2023
1h 15m
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This podcast episode explores how Florida's policies, particularly those during the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Ron DeSantis's anti-woke stance, have shaped migration patterns and led to the growth of a medical freedom movement. It also delves into the controversies surrounding the use of ivermectin as a COVID-19 tr...

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