This American Life

This American Life

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1 hr

There's what happened, and there's the story that gets told about what happened. Sometimes the two things don't match up very well.

All Episodes

This week, stories about people trying their best to turn themselves into something else—like a badger.

Even the best laid plans can go catastrophically wrong when humans get involved.

In hour two from Albertville, Alabama, we head into town, where a wave of immigrants has transformed the place.

The man whose views on immigration are the cornerstone of Trump administration policy — Attorney General Jeff Sessions — apparently came to his opinions on the issue from seeing what…

Spider-Man and other people with talents that cause them pain and suffering.

The story of Harold Washington, the greatest politician you've probably never heard of, and the political race war he set off when he became Chicago's first black mayor.

Stories of people who decide to rethink the way they've been doing things ... or try to get others to do that.

This week, blurring the line between animal and human.

More from KCRW

Critics review the latest film releases: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Past Lives,” “The Boogeyman,” and “Shooting Stars.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

How serious is the threat of artificial intelligence replacing Hollywood writers? It’s a point of contention in the current Writers Guild strike.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

National Association of Theatre Owners leader John Fithian speaks about the industry navigating the pandemic, and why he is optimistic about its future.

from The Business

The Latest

Nimbu pani, balanced between sweet and sour, uses optional spices and a funky black salt. Brazilian lemonade has creamy luxuriousness from sweetened condensed milk.

Look to India and Brazil for lemon/lime thirst quenchers this summer

Nimbu pani, balanced between sweet and sour, uses optional spices and a funky black salt. Brazilian lemonade has creamy luxuriousness from sweetened condensed milk.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Food writer Jean Trinh shares the story of her refugee family's connection to Chinese crullers in her James Beard-nominated essay.

Chinese crullers: When a doughnut is more than just a doughnut

Food writer Jean Trinh shares the story of her refugee family's connection to Chinese crullers in her James Beard-nominated essay.

from Good Food

Philosopher Will MacAskill argues that protecting the future of humanity is the moral priority of our time.

Effective altruism and our collective human heritage

Philosopher Will MacAskill argues that protecting the future of humanity is the moral priority of our time.

from Life Examined

Fashion journalist Maggie Bullock has written for Vogue and Elle, but her latest project isn’t about high fashion.

Writer Maggie Bullock on the layers of J. Crew

Fashion journalist Maggie Bullock has written for Vogue and Elle, but her latest project isn’t about high fashion.

from The Treatment

Emilio Estevez’s more than four decades in the film industry have taken him from a founding member of the Brat Pack to starring in the “Young Guns” and “Mighty Ducks” franchises to a…

Director Emilio Estevez on not taking the easy road

Emilio Estevez’s more than four decades in the film industry have taken him from a founding member of the Brat Pack to starring in the “Young Guns” and “Mighty Ducks” franchises to a…

from The Treatment

This week on The Treatment, Elvis welcomes back actor and director Emilio Estevez who stops by to chat about the re-release of his 2010 film “The Way.”

Emilio Estevez, Maggie Bullock and Joe Manganiello on The Treat

This week on The Treatment, Elvis welcomes back actor and director Emilio Estevez who stops by to chat about the re-release of his 2010 film “The Way.”

from The Treatment

Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” was a game changer for actor Joe Manganiello in how he experienced art and, later, in his career.

Actor Joe Manganiello on how ‘Pulp Fiction’ changed everything

Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” was a game changer for actor Joe Manganiello in how he experienced art and, later, in his career.

from The Treatment

Professor of Philanthropic Studies Tyrone McKinley Freeman tells the story of the life and philanthropic work of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first self-made Black millionaire.

The gospel of giving and the history of African American philanthropy

Professor of Philanthropic Studies Tyrone McKinley Freeman tells the story of the life and philanthropic work of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first self-made Black millionaire.

from Life Examined