881: I Want What I Want

885: Bless This Mess

Apr 12, 20261h 1mSummary

In this episode of This American Life, host Emmanuel Berry explores the lives of Paul and Eslanda Robeson, a mid-20th-century power couple whose immense fame and radical political activism eventually led to their erasure from American history. The narrative is framed through the lens of Nicole Hill’s podcast, Our Ancestors Were Messy, which aims to unearth the nuanced, often dramatic, and deeply human stories of Black historical figures beyond the sanitized versions found in traditional textbooks. Joined by author Jason Reynolds, Hill traces the Robesons’ journey from their vibrant, intellectual beginnings in Harlem to their time as international superstars. The discussion highlights their unconventional marriage, marked by both profound professional support—with Eslanda effectively managing Paul’s ascent to global stardom—and personal turmoil involving infidelity and open-relationship dynamics. The episode also details their deep fascination with the Soviet Union, which they viewed as a potential haven from Western racism, a stance that ultimately made them targets of intense government surveillance. This episode offers an engaging, candid look at how personal complexity and political courage can lead to historical marginalization.

212: The Other Man

Apr 5, 20261h 2mSummary

In this episode of This American Life, titled The Other Man, the hosts explore the complex dynamics that emerge when an outsider enters a family system or personal narrative, shifting established orbits and forcing individuals to renegotiate their roles. The episode opens with a deeply personal story from Sarah, who recounts the chaotic arrival of Robert Redford at her family home during her childhood. She describes how the actor’s presence upended her role as the center of her family's attention, leading to feelings of jealousy and rebellion. The central act features reporter Davy Rothbart, who examines his mother’s long-standing practice of channeling an ancient Buddhist spirit named Aaron. This segment provides a fascinating look at how this unseen entity became an integral, albeit controversial, member of the family. The narrative delves into the psychological and emotional impact of Aaron’s presence on Rothbart’s parents, particularly regarding his mother's deafness and his father’s temper, ultimately raising profound questions about belief, mental health, and the subjective nature of what we consider to be real.

884: The Idiot

Mar 29, 202659 minSummary

In this episode of This American Life, host Ira Glass and guest Masha Gessen delve into the haunting, complex story behind Gessen’s new podcast, The Idiot. The narrative centers on Gessen’s cousin, Alan, and a family history that shifts from eccentric to devastating. Initially perceived as an annoying, pompous entrepreneur, Alan’s behavior takes a dark turn when he abducts his young son, O, from his mother, Priscilla, taking the child across multiple continents. Gessen recounts their role as a reluctant double agent, maintaining a veneer of normalcy with family members while covertly helping Priscilla navigate legal channels to recover her child. The situation escalates from international custody battles to a shocking climax: Alan’s arrest for a murder-for-hire plot targeting Priscilla. Through interviews with Priscilla and observations from the trial, Gessen explores the psychological toll of these events, particularly on the young boy caught in the middle. The episode provides a deeply personal investigation into how a family reconciles with the unthinkable, examining the boundaries of loyalty, the nature of truth, and the disturbing reality of a relative capable of extreme harm.

883: Call Your Parents

Mar 22, 20261h 0mSummary

In this episode of This American Life, host Ira Glass explores the evolution of his relationship with his parents, Shirley and Barry Glass. Reflecting on a period in his early thirties when he felt distant from them due to their disapproval of his career choices and personal life, Glass explains how including his parents in his radio work transformed their connection. By inviting them to appear on the show, he inadvertently created a space for open communication and mutual affirmation. The episode features candid archival recordings from the 1990s, capturing conversations between Glass and his parents. These clips highlight the inherent tensions and humor found in parent-adult child dynamics, covering topics ranging from career paths to personal expectations. Glass also shares his father’s brief, early foray into radio—a pursuit his father eventually abandoned for the stability of accounting—and reflects on how witnessing his parents’ vulnerabilities on air fundamentally healed their relationship. Through these personal, behind-the-scenes recordings, the episode offers an intimate look at how shared projects and honest dialogue can bridge generational gaps and create lasting, meaningful intimacy.

628: In the Shadow of the City

Mar 15, 202657 minSummary

In episode 628 of This American Life, titled In the Shadow of the City, the program explores the strange, often overlooked spaces that exist on the periphery of major metropolitan areas—what the hosts describe as the weird no-man's-lands just out of sight. The episode unfolds in three acts. The first follows the surreal misadventures of a teenager named Alex Zharov, who ends up shipwrecked on an island in Jamaica Bay within view of the Manhattan skyline. Despite his perilous situation, Alex approaches the event with a sense of youthful wonder and cinematic imagination. The second act shifts to Nanjing, China, where a man named Chen Si commits himself to patrolling a bridge over the Yangtze River to prevent individuals from taking their own lives. His quiet, determined efforts highlight a profound human connection in an otherwise isolating environment. Finally, the third act examines local controversies surrounding industrial odors, capturing the complex relationship between city dwellers and the infrastructure that supports them. Together, these stories illuminate the hidden, mysterious, and deeply human experiences that unfold in the shadows of our modern cities.

882: Give a Little Whistle

208: Office Politics

605: Kid Logic

75: Kindness of Strangers

880: What Is Your Emergency?