When you’re the only one who can see something, sometimes it feels like you’re in on a special secret. The hard part is getting anyone to believe your secret is real. This week, people trying to show others what they see—including a woman with muscular dystrophy who believes she has the same condition as an Olympic athlete. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/577/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58m

Jul 13

Summer is a time when change seems more possible than ever. But is that really how it happens? Can people actually reinvent themselves in the warmer months? This week, we present stories — and some comedy — about people and their summer selves. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/594/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 0m

Jul 06

People on a mission to achieve their goals before their window of opportunity closes. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/863/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

57m

Jun 29

On his first day in office, President Trump decided to freeze all U.S. foreign aid. Soon after, his administration effectively dissolved USAID—the federal agency that delivers billions in food, medicine, and other aid worldwide. Many of its programs have been canceled. Now, as USAID officially winds down, we try to assess its impact. What was good? What was not so good? We meet people around the world wrestling with these questions and trying to navigate this chaotic moment. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/862/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 6m

Jun 22

In honor of Father’s Day, stories of sons and daughters finding out the one thing they've always wanted to know about their father. The answers aren't always what they’d hoped for. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/289/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

59m

Jun 15

We got a tip about a meat plant selling pig intestines as fake calamari, wondered if it could be true, and decided to investigate. Doppelgängers, doubles, evil twins and not-so-evil twins, this week. Fred Armisen co-hosts with Ira Glass. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/484/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58m

Jun 08

Conversations across a divide: Palestinians who are outside Gaza check in with family, friends, and strangers inside. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/ This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 1m

Jun 01

A show about people who are suddenly confronted with who they are. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/860/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

59m

May 25

Mike Birbiglia got used to strange things happening to him when he slept—until something happened that almost killed him. This and other reasons to fear sleep, including bedbugs, "The Shining," and mild-mannered husbands who turn into maniacs while asleep. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/361/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

59m

May 11

People immersed in chaos try to solve for what it all adds up to. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/859/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 7m

Apr 27

For Easter weekend — and the end of Passover! — stories of people struggling to follow the Ten Commandments. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/332/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 0m

Apr 20

A couple devises a strategy to get their daughter's killer prosecuted and to get attention for other Native families.  Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/858/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 6m

Apr 13

People tossing words out into the world impulsively to ignite and burn over decades. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/668/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 6m

Apr 06

Artifacts and exhibits of this particular moment we are living through. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/857/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 5m

Mar 30

The radio version of an episode we did live on stage and beamed to movie theaters. David Sedaris, Tig Notaro, Ryan Knighton, and the late David Rakoff in his final performance on the show. The other half of this two-hour show was visual, including dancers, animation, and more. You can watch it on YouTube. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/464/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 0m

Mar 23

Sometimes, life’s biggest mysteries require one very specific person to answer them. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/856/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 1m

Mar 16

Little-known and surprising stories of how all sorts of institutions began. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/535/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 0m

Mar 09

Unnecessary and outrageous lies that make you wonder — why lie about that in the first place? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/855/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 3m

Mar 02

Zach Mack and his dad try to mend a rift between them in a very unusual way.  Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=bonus-content-promo&utm_id=lifepartners&utm_content=02501-pilot to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/854/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

59m

Feb 23

Stories from the heart of heartbreak. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_id=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/339/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 0m

Feb 09

People stuck in a loop, trying to find their way out. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_id=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/ This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

55m

Feb 02

People living in that in-between moment before everything changes. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_id=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/852/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58m

Jan 19

In the new year, stories of people trying a radical approach to solving their problems. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_id=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/ This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 0m

Jan 12

People climbing to be number one. How do they do it? What is the fundamental difference between us and them? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_id=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/198/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

59m

Jan 05

We leave the normal realm of human error and enter the territory of huge breakdowns. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_id=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes to sign up for our premium subscription. __ Prologue: Jack Hitt tells the story of a small-town production of Peter Pan in which all the usual boundaries between the audience and actors dissolve entirely. (6 minutes) __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/699/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58m

Dec 29, 2024

The tiny thing that unravels your world. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_id=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/850/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 5m

Dec 22, 2024

Banias is an 8-year-old kid living in Gaza. And she has a story to tell — many stories, in fact. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_id=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/849/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

58m

Dec 15, 2024

How do you count almost 12 million votes if you’re not the government? This week, we bring you the extraordinary story of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who created the only verifiable public record of votes in their presidential election — and other stories of people trying to correct the official record with their own versions. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/848/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 1m

Nov 24, 2024

Keiko was a hugely beloved adventure park attraction. He was also captured in the wild and taken away from his mother when he was just a calf. When Hollywood learned about him, a colossal effort began to un-tame him and send him back to the ocean. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/847/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 2m

Nov 17, 2024

With Donald Trump’s victory this week, many people looked at the election results and thought, yeah, this is the country I thought it was. For some people, that was a hopeful thing. For others, kind of the opposite. This week, we talked with people who helped make it happen and some who are looking to what’s next. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com to sign up for our premium subscription. __ __ Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org https://www.thisamericanlife.org/846/transcript This American Life privacy policy. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy Learn more about sponsor message choices. https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1h 2m

Nov 10, 2024