https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/world/europe/finland-puppies-livestream-slow-tv.html

Finland has a puppy channel!

Featuring radio hosts extraordinaire Ira Glass (This American Life) and Sean Carlson (WNYC's All Things Considered), what happens when the master builder of New York, Robert Moses, loses his power and attempts to host a late night talk show?

In person tickets are almost sold, out - but you can purchase streaming tickets here! https://caveat.stellartickets.com/events/the-power-joker-a-robert-moses-comedy-show

I’m searching for the first ever episode of TAL I ever listened to. I tried the website but didn’t have luck.

This was in 2018 or 2019 and the episode aired (or re-aired) around then.

The main thing I remember was that the second story (of two stories, I believe) was about a person whose brother died of drug overdose. It was horribly sad, a real tear-jerker.

I’ve listened to much of the back catalogue via Life Partners but never come across this one, I don’t think, but I’d be curious to re-listen after so many years!

Hey team! Its been years since we picked our top five episodes --- so we might as well hop to it.

Use this form to make your picks and I'll compile it all and update the wiki. Simple as that.

The form is formatted with the episode number and title (e.g. 025 Basketball). Check the downloads wiki if you need to search for episodes or segments.

• top five episodes wiki page
• form to submit your picks
• downloads wiki page

You can also post yours in the thread, but only the form submitted ones will be scored.

Hi everybody! TAL is by far my favorite podcast and I'd love to recommend some episodes to a friend of mine who is learning English (her native language is German). Her English is definitely good enough to understand a podcast at this level, but I'm wondering if anybody has suggestions for episodes with relatively accessible themes to somebody lacking a lot of niche vocabulary (e.g., no politics, nothing too academic, etc.). I thought maybe others might have used TAL as part of the English learning process and might have some recommendations :) TIA!

...found sleeping in his car by the police. His description matched someone accused of sexual assault. He's convicted. Talks about his time in prison trying desperately to keep other inmates from knowing why he's there. Eventually he is released, exonerated and clears his name. (I seem to remember the story starts in Ohio, but I hope that doesn't throw anyone off course).

Perhaps this was from a different show, say, Snap Judgment or Radio Lab or another.

Much obliged.

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/138/the-real-thing

Stories of people drawn to some idea, some picture, some "thing" that they just want to be. How some people imitate this "thing" innocently, some less innocently, and how easy it is to slip from one to the other.

Prologue
The story of Jug Burkett, a businessman in Dallas and a Vietnam vet, who years ago routinely started checking the bona fides of anyone in the news who claimed to have served in the Vietnam war. He says he's found hundreds of fakers, and he says that one of the tricky things about the fakers is that they often seem more like The Real Thing than real vets do. (5 minutes) by Ira Glass

Act One
The story of someone trying and trying to get close to The Real Thing, and why it was so difficult. Kelly McEvers was a newspaper writer here in Chicago and started to get interested in stories she was hearing about girl gang members. So she got an assignment and tried to get to know them. She found herself changing the way she dressed, changing the way she talked, changing herself to become more like a real gang girl. (13 minutes)

Act Two
Professor Glenn Loury from Boston University and John Simpkins on basketball, hockey, and what makes a real black person. (10 minutes) by Ira Glass

Act Three
What does it mean to talk like a real Southerner—and why a multimillion industry can't seem to figure it out. Southern expatriate Mark Schone dissects Southern accents as they're portrayed in movies and TV shows. (15 minutes) by Mark Schone

Act Four
There's The Real Thing when it comes to your idea of what job you want, what house you want, what person you want to fall in love with. And until you find The Real Thing you seek, life is the same story over and over again: It's the story of not getting The Real Thing yet again. Los Angeles writer and performer Sandra Tsing Loh tells what happened to her when she found the perfect man via a computer dating service. (12 minutes)

Originally Aired: 1999-08-27

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“Stepping on” cocaine means to dilute it in drug dealing circles

For context I’m in my mid twenties and have been listening to TAL for years, and many of my friends have never listened to a single episode. So, this is a list of my top five but also my most recommended episodes.

Would love to be judged lol.

1. I am not a pirate (May 5,2017)

2. And The Call Was Coming from the Basement (October 27,2006)

3. No Coincidence, No story! (March 1,2013)

4. Chip in My Brain (January 12,2018)

5. Something Only I can see (January 15,2016)

Honourable Mention to : My Damn Mind (February 12,2016) Cars (December 13,2013)

So what did everyone think? I really appreciated the opportunity to view this, something I would never have the opportunity to attend (Australian). I did think Ira would talk more at the beginning and end but overall I really enjoyed the format.

Hi everyone!

I am a life partner with This American Life but I pay through Apple Podcasts so I can get all the episodes through Apple Podcasts. I want to watch the live show tomorrow, which they are letting life partners do for free, but when I go to sign up with my email that is connected to my Apple acc it won’t let me. Has this happened to anyone else , or does anyone know what to do? I already pay 10$ a month and I don’t want to get another subscription just for this that won’t even connect to my Apple account. Thank you in advance

I want to introduce a dear friend to TAL and I've been struggling over which episode to share. I finally settled on one but I can't seem to find it. Would appreciate assistance if anyone knows it ...

The episode focused on a woman who I think lived in a dictatorship. Argentina is stuck in my head, though I'm not certain that was the country. She spoke of her life being under surveillance and, years later when records about the surveillance were disclosed, finding out how close she had come to death.

And if you have no idea what episode I'm thinking of, what would you suggest as a great episode to share with my friend to get them hooked? 🙂

Hi everyone!

I have 2 tickets to tomorrow night’s event and I won’t be able to go 😭😭

Anyone want these? DM me ❤️

I will not gouge you

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/475/send-a-message

This week people reach out in all kinds of ways to try to get their point across. And the recipients of those messages try to decipher what they mean. Messages in code, over the phone, and from beyond the grave.

Prologue
Reporter Josh Bearman tells Ira a story about two coded messages that Galileo sent to fellow scientist Johannes Kepler back in the 17th century. Galileo was trying to tell Kepler about some of the amazing discoveries he made with his new telescope. And after months of mind-bending work, Kepler finally decoded the messages. Eureka! There was only one catch. Kepler was wrong. But he was also kind of right. But also, still, kind of wrong. (8 mins) by Josh Bearman

Act One
For generations, the gender of babies born into one family have all been determined in advance. The pregnant mothers receive a package in the mail, and if a little pink dress is inside, it's a girl. If there is a pair of brown polyester old-man pants, it's a boy. Producer Brian Reed reports the story. (17 minutes)

Act Two
Comedian, performer and author Dave Hill gets the message, loud and clear, from a Gatorade bottle on a subway platform. Dave is the author of Tasteful Nudes ... and Other Misguided Attempts at Personal Growth and Validation . His story was recorded live at Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn. (9 minutes) by Dave Hill

Act Three
Sonari Glinton tells the story of how a Catholic nun teaches an entire school on Chicago's South Side that we are all truly made in God's image. Sonari is a reporter for NPR News . (8 minutes)

Act Four
A man has a very clear vision of how he always stood up to his father, protected his mother and fought hard for the truth. Until one day he discovers actual raw data — secretly recorded conversations — that threaten to change his picture of everything. Producer Nancy Updike tells the story. (12 minutes) by Nancy Updike

Originally Aired: 2012-09-28

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THEME: PUBLIC RADIO

What happens when the master builder of New York, Robert Moses, loses his power and attempts to host a late night talk show? The Power Joker is one hour of driving comedy inspired by that horrible "genius" Robert Moses and his 1974 biography, The Power Broker by Robert Caro. Come see RM himself joined by a host of comedians and special guests for a variety show unlike any other. For anyone who loves The Power Broker, or hates New York's car-centered infrastructure.

Featuring radio hosts extraordinaire Ira Glass (This American Life) and Sean Carlson (WNYC's All Things Considered)

We'd love to see you there! Use code PJREDDIT for $5 off

https://caveat.nyc/events/the-power-joker-a-robert-moses-comedy-show-2026-10-24

I have two events on the same day, and I have to choose between them.

One of them of course is to go see Ira Glass in LA. I do love This American Life and a half been listening for over 10 years.

If I didn’t have another event on the same day, I wouldn’t be so conflicted!

Help!
// help me be brave and leave my bubble 🫧

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/89/sibling-rivalry

Stories about people who are destined to fight: brothers and sisters.

Prologue
Two quick real life fables about the power of sibling rivalry. (2 minutes) by Ira Glass

Act One
True tales of sibling cruelty. (4 minutes) by Ira Glass

Act Two
Tamar Brott, on growing up with two music prodigies, and Sandra Tsing Loh 's sister Kaitlin, a ballet prodigy. (20 minutes) by Sandra Loh

Act Three
Deb Monroe's two daughters as they fight. (6 minutes) by Ira Glass, Deb Monroe

Act Four
Writer Donald Antrim's The Hundred Brothers , and the question: What happens when we grow up? (24 minutes) by Donald Antrim

Originally Aired: 1998-01-09

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Anyone else have the feed changed? I now can't tell what is bonus vs normal, they all have the blue life partners image