This American Life

This American Life

Hosted by
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. Learn more at This American Life.

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

Ben Blount and Bryan Kett created a chocolate bar to explain why our congressional districts have such weird shapes (hint: gerrymandering).

from Good Food

Left, Right and Center host David Greene discusses how gerrymandering impacts our elections.

from Good Food

“Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell” chronicles the singer’s experiences of loss and sacrifice — and the songs marking turning points in her life.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Latest

In the early 1970s, LA’s Sunset Strip was the epicenter of the rock'n'roll universe. Drugs, sex, private planes, limos, destroying hotel rooms – it wasn’t a myth.

Coming soon... Groupies: Women of the Sunset Strip from the Pill to Punk

In the early 1970s, LA’s Sunset Strip was the epicenter of the rock'n'roll universe. Drugs, sex, private planes, limos, destroying hotel rooms – it wasn’t a myth.

from Lost Notes

Cailtin O’Connell, author of “Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us About Connection, Community, and Ourselves,” shares insights into the ways in which elephants relate.

Here’s what ‘Wild Rituals’ author Caitlin O’Connell learned from the elephants

Cailtin O’Connell, author of “Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us About Connection, Community, and Ourselves,” shares insights into the ways in which elephants relate.

from Life Examined

A model of eye care to increase access without compromising on quality.

Task Shifting

A model of eye care to increase access without compromising on quality.

from Second Opinion

Actor Rob Lowe discusses how the movie ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ inspired his career as an actor.

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ made Rob Lowe want to be an actor

Actor Rob Lowe discusses how the movie ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ inspired his career as an actor.

from The Treatment

Gael García Bernal reflects on an auteur-led early career, new series “La Máquina,” and his lifelong friendship with fellow actor Diego Luna.

Gael García Bernal on re-teaming with his pal Diego Luna for ‘La Máquina’

Gael García Bernal reflects on an auteur-led early career, new series “La Máquina,” and his lifelong friendship with fellow actor Diego Luna.

from The Treatment

Gael García Bernal speaks on his new series “La Máquina,” Cheech Marin goes deep on Chicano art, and Rob Lowe has The Treat.

Gael García Bernal, Cheech Marin, and Rob Lowe on The Treat

Gael García Bernal speaks on his new series “La Máquina,” Cheech Marin goes deep on Chicano art, and Rob Lowe has The Treat.

from The Treatment

Cheech Marin shares highlights from a multi-decade comedy career, parallels between his work and that of filmmaker Robert Altman, and what drew him into art collecting.

Cheech Marin talks art collecting and Robert Altman

Cheech Marin shares highlights from a multi-decade comedy career, parallels between his work and that of filmmaker Robert Altman, and what drew him into art collecting.

from The Treatment

“The Apprentice” screenwriter Gabriel Sherman and distributor Tom Ortenberg share the risky process of bringing their Donald Trump biopic to theaters ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump biopic ‘The Apprentice’ will hit theaters pre-election — here’s how

“The Apprentice” screenwriter Gabriel Sherman and distributor Tom Ortenberg share the risky process of bringing their Donald Trump biopic to theaters ahead of the 2024 election.

from The Business