When President Trump issued an executive order about white South Africans, Sam didn't know it was coming. But she got to work organizing thousands of fellow white South Africans to turn a vague declaration into an actual refugee program. link.podtrac.com/oho4ky9w

We follow the progress of one woman as she builds up, from scratch, a whole movement based on one of Trump’s executive orders. link.podtrac.com/oho4ky9w

America loves winners—now more than ever. But how do you get to a win in 2025 America? We get up close and follow someone trying to build a big win for herself and thousands of others like her.

Bonus episode: Former producer Alex Blumberg returns, to continue his tour through our show's coverage of world events — including an episode Alex did that was one of our most popular ever. Become a Life Partner today to listen.

"Some people collect coins. Some people collect comic books. Gregor's mother, Etta, collects collections." This week, the strange power inanimate objects can hold over us. bit.ly/48PEsjS

Who's really in charge? This week, we explore objects that somehow end up running our lives—like we're working for them instead of the other way around. bit.ly/48PEsjS

Ted was six when he stole a rock from Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park—ancient trees turned to rainbow-colored stone over millions of years, like the ones pictured here. Nearly 50 years later, he really wishes he hadn't. bit.ly/48OrJOk

This scooter sat in pieces for 24 years. Nunzio could've bought a new engine at any time. Instead, he spent years tracking down the original to restore it. This week: objects and the strange power they hold over us. bit.ly/48OrJOk

Ted took a rock from a national park when he was six years old—and 50 years later, he deeply regrets it.

Three stories about the strange power inanimate objects can hold over us, including Jonathan Goldstein attempting to assist a family with getting rid of their stuff—even though they're not entirely sure they want his help.

The Thing About Things: Three stories about the strange power inanimate objects can hold over us. bit.ly/42XL9wq

Parole board hearings are a part of the judicial system that doesn't get a lot of scrutiny. This week, we listen in as 13 people decide whether or not one man should be released. link.podtrac.com/0ejp3o1q

Bonus episode: Ira talks to David Simon (THE WIRE, TREME) about making stories based on true events, and making stories that try to cut through the clutter. Become a Life Partner today to listen.

We’re a year into our Life Partners program, and it’s working—but we need more support to sustain the show long-term. Your contribution = stories made with care + ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and 250+ hand-picked classics. Join us!

I have a small thing on the show this week about me and my dad. Have a listen!

Emmanuel explores the phenomenon of people lying on first dates to project a better version of themselves, including a very personal example from his own life.

Evan creates an AI version of himself and then sets it loose on the world.

On the radio this weekend: What happens when people create alternate versions of themselves and release them into the wild? bit.ly/4he0KOo

Become our Life Partner! Help support the show and get ad-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, and access to hundreds of archive favorites curated by Ira Glass himself. bit.ly/426srCu

The story of Harold Washington—the greatest politician you might never have heard of—and the backlash he faced as Chicago's first Black mayor.

As NYC’s Democratic establishment attempts to resist the candidacy of Zohran Mamdani, we look back at another mayoral candidate who upset the established political machine. link.podtrac.com/829uwl76

On the radio this weekend: As NYC’s Democratic establishment attempts to resist the candidacy of Zohran Mamdani, we look back at another mayoral candidate who upset the established political machine.

Scott Carrier explores how Salt Lake City residents failed to recognize Elizabeth Smart, the 14-year-old who was kidnapped in 2002, when her captors brazenly walked her through her own neighborhood in broad daylight. link.podtrac.com/jed2irov

Have you been thinking about applying for our fellowship? The deadline is this Wed, Oct. 1. Join us to learn to structure and mix radio stories, participate in group edits, and pitch your own pieces for the show. bit.ly/38WSNey

A group called Improv Everywhere packs a small band's first NYC show with fake superfans to make their dreams come true. But the band doesn't experience it that way at all. link.podtrac.com/jed2irov

Ira talks to Lori Gottlieb about what happened after she sent a letter to a writer in a magazine. A letter packed with white lies.

On the radio this weekend: Stories of people who try simple mind games on others, and then find themselves way in over their heads. bit.ly/3VzsXFl

Become our Life Partner! Support the show and you’ll get ad-free listening, bonus content, and access to hundreds of archive episodes hand-picked by Ira Glass. bit.ly/426srCu

One week left to get your application in for our next fellowship session. It's a paid position with benefits, and you'll observe and participate in all aspects of the show’s production. Deadline: Oct. 1. bit.ly/38WSNey

"I was angry that we were being manipulated." Immigration judges speak up about how different their jobs have become in the past few months. link.podtrac.com/jg02r5r2

Wow! One was fired by a 3-line email mid-hearing!! 😖

@thisamericanlife.org has an incredible show about what's going on in our immigration system. www.thisamericanlife.org/868/the-hand...

Turn your public radio station, stream on line, sign up for their podcast. This is a MUST listen.

A group of immigration judges, who rarely speak to the press, describes the dismantling of our immigration court system from the inside. link.podtrac.com/jg02r5r2

Immigration judges explain how different their jobs have become in the past few months because of sweeping policy changes by Trump’s Department of Justice. link.podtrac.com/jg02r5r2

On the radio this weekend: A group of immigration judges, who almost never speak to the press, describes the dismantling of our immigration court system from the inside. bit.ly/4neQ5Fi

Become our Life Partner! Help support the show and get ad-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, and access to hundreds of archive favorites curated by Ira Glass himself. thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_campaign...

Anti-DEI laws are reshaping college campuses across the country. Utah passed theirs a year ago, becoming a testing ground for how these policies will work in practice. We followed one student, president of her college's Black Student Union, as she navigated the new reality. link.podtrac.com/x1rke2j8

We're still taking applications for our next fellowship session. We’re looking for someone with great ideas and Pro Tools (or similar) skills to help us with all parts of making the show. It's a paid position with benefits. Deadline to apply: Oct 1. bit.ly/38WSNey

The Trump administration withheld $400M from Columbia until the university agreed to a settlement with specific conditions—including adopting a government-approved definition of antisemitism. Professors are asking: what does this actually mean for their classes this year? link.podtrac.com/x1rke2j8

The president of the Black Student Union at the University of Utah fights to keep the B in BSU. link.podtrac.com/x1rke2j8

Things are different on college campuses this year. We see inside the drama, with students and staff. lnk.to/gf57RJ

NYC: Join Ira at the book launch for "The Podcast Pantheon" by Sean Malin — also featuring Dan Taberski, Negin Farsad, and Pam Grossman. They'll be talking about the art of podcasting and shows that changed how we listen. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launc...

Applications are open for our fellowship program! Our fellows learn to structure and mix radio stories, participate in group edits, and pitch their own pieces. It’s paid, with benefits like health insurance and a relocation reimbursement. Apply by Oct. 1. www.thisamericanlife.org/fellowships

Mahmoud Khalil, the first student protester detained by the Trump administration, is on our show this week. We explore who he really is and what it's been like living through the day-to-day of his arrest, detention, and new notoriety. link.podtrac.com/gtm3o2gj

This week: people who carefully, meticulously plan for one future, and then the plans are derailed by forces much bigger than they are. link.podtrac.com/gtm3o2gj

A sixteen-year-old plans a prank, and a complete stranger from Honduras ends up in a million-dollar deal. What could go wrong? link.podtrac.com/gtm3o2gj

A young couple, excited to start a new chapter in their lives, is suddenly put on a very different trajectory.

On the radio this weekend: Small human plans that run into much larger obstacles. bit.ly/45RGHkM

The deadline to apply for our next fellowship session is October 1. ✅ paid position ✅ health insurance ✅ relocation reimbursement And you'll participate in all aspects of show production. www.thisamericanlife.org/fellowships