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.

PodSkip has analyzed 24 episodes of This American Life, averaging 4.0 ads per episode (8% of runtime).

Episode

206: Somewhere in the Arabian Sea
Aug 23, 2026
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been in the news thanks to an extra-long deployment that's taken a toll on its crew. What's life on an aircraft carrier at war really like? Back in 2002…
12 ads · 5 min · 0% ads
Anthropic/Claude ad, Square ad
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★★★★☆ 8.1/10
This American Life '676: Here's Looking at You, Kid' Review This American Life is the gold…
Read review →
895: Label Maker!
Aug 16, 2026
Labels are powerful. They can distill you down to a single word. They can get stuck on you without your permission. And sometimes, when they get taken away, they can upend your entire life. On this…
3 ads · 2 min · 0% ads
End credits/show outro, Life Partners subscription promo
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443: Amusement Park
Aug 09, 2026
We head to some of the happiest places on earth: amusement parks! Ira Glass takes us behind the scenes at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, where the young staff – coached by a funny, fun-loving boss…
6 ads · 4 min · 0% ads
Squarespace ad, Self-promo: bonus episodes / Life Partners subscription
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894: I Couldn't Help but Notice
Aug 02, 2026
People dealing with new, glaring, massive changes happening right where they live. (00:00:00) Prologue: Rick Cole, a city councilmember in Pasadena, CA, talks to Ira about how he responded to a…
9 ads · 6 min · 0% ads
Capella University sponsor read, Shopify ad
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893: Testosterone
Jul 26, 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered everyone over 30 in the military to have their testosterone tested. That inspired us to rerun this classic episode where everyone at This American Life…
5 ads · 3 min · 0% ads
Promo music/filler, Self-promo: bonus episodes / Life Partners subscription
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892: Trapped on a Bus
Jul 19, 2026
People on journeys they did not intend — or agree to. (00:00:00) Prologue: A woman on a nighttime bus ride wakes up to discover the bus driver is taking the passengers somewhere none of them want…
2 ads · 2 min · 0% ads
NPR+ cross-promo, End credits
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891: The Test Case
Jul 12, 2026
Some people in this country think Antifa is a dangerous domestic terror organization. Some think that’s a complete myth. This week, we go to the federal trial where, for the first time, the…
4 ads · 4 min · 0% ads
NewsMakers promo, NPR+ sponsor read
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890: Maximal Americanness
Jul 05, 2026
On this country's 250th birthday, we bring you stories about the most American people, places, objects, and social norms that make this country what it is. (00:00:00) Prologue: Ira talks to Pablo…
2 ads · 2 min · 0% ads
Listener support/partnership promo, End credits and partnership promo
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128: Four Corners
Jun 28, 2026
2 ads · 1 min · 0% ads
End credits / next episode promo, Next week episode promo
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889: There’s Something About Hail Mary
Jun 21, 2026
We spend an hour in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, behind and desperate, with people trying any damn thing they can think of. (00:00:00) Prologue: Five years after Ora first started…
1 ads · 0 min · 0% ads
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354: Mistakes Were Made
Jun 14, 2026
6 ads · 3 min · 0% ads
Squarespace sponsorship, AT&T sponsorship
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888: Not Today, Hades!
Jun 07, 2026
Regular people trapped inside Greek myths. (00:00:00) Prologue: When a mysterious, ripped-open package arrives on Pablo's doorstep, he takes it as a sign. (4 minutes) (00:04:47) Act One: Pablo…
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137: The Book That Changed Your Life
May 31, 2026
2 ads · 1 min · 0% ads
Planet Money promo, This American Life Membership/Life Partners Promotion
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676: Here’s Looking at You, Kid
May 24, 2026
6 ads · 2 min · 0% ads
NPR podcast promo, Snapchat podcast ad
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318: With Great Power
May 10, 2026
4 ads · 1 min · 0% ads
NPR podcast promo, NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour Ad
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Ira (Reluctantly) Gives a Graduation Speech
Apr 30, 2026
Ira always hated commencement speeches. Then he felt like he had to give this one.
2 ads · 1 min · 0% ads
Promotional intro for bonus episode, Promotional outro for bonus episode/subscription
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466: Blackjack
Apr 26, 2026
8 ads · 3 min · 0% ads
Bonus episode subscription ad, Mid-show break/station ID
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393: Infidelity
Apr 19, 2026
6 ads · 2 min · 0% ads
Credits and promo, Show structure narration / rerun intro
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New Lore Drop
Jan 08, 2026
People discovering information about their own lives that they did not know and suddenly everything looks very different.
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An Update from Ira
Oct 15, 2025
Ira Glass shares some news about This American Life
1 ads · 5 min · 0% ads
Subscription pitch / fundraising appeal
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Bonus: Nancy's Deep Cuts
Jul 16, 2025
Ira Glass talks with Nancy Updike about the most personal stories they have put on the radio.
2 ads · 1 min · 0% ads
Membership/subscription promotion
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A Big Announcement
Oct 15, 2024
Ira Glass has news to share about some things happening here at This American Life.
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