This American Life

This American Life

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1 hr

There's what happened, and there's the story that gets told about what happened. Sometimes the two things don't match up very well. Learn more at This American Life.

All Episodes

This week, stories about people trying their best to turn themselves into something else—like a badger.

Even the best laid plans can go catastrophically wrong when humans get involved.

In hour two from Albertville, Alabama, we head into town, where a wave of immigrants has transformed the place.

The man whose views on immigration are the cornerstone of Trump administration policy — Attorney General Jeff Sessions — apparently came to his opinions on the issue from seeing what…

Spider-Man and other people with talents that cause them pain and suffering.

The story of Harold Washington, the greatest politician you've probably never heard of, and the political race war he set off when he became Chicago's first black mayor.

Stories of people who decide to rethink the way they've been doing things ... or try to get others to do that.

This week, blurring the line between animal and human.

More from KCRW

Film critic Alonso Duralde recommends holiday movies: “See You Next Christmas,” “Better Watch Out, “1985,” and “Christmas, Again.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Critics review the latest film releases: “Mufasa,” “The Room Next Door,” “The Brutalist,” and “Nickel Boys.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Author Carrie Courogen discusses her admiration for Aimee Mann's album, “Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo”.

from The Treatment

The Latest

Colman Domingo on “Sing Sing,” Rodrigo Prieto on “Pedro Paramo,” and Carrie Courogen on a rule-breaking artist.

Colman Domingo, Rodrigo Prieto, and Carrie Courogen on The Treat

Colman Domingo on “Sing Sing,” Rodrigo Prieto on “Pedro Paramo,” and Carrie Courogen on a rule-breaking artist.

from The Treatment

The veteran DP tries his hand at directing in the film adaptation of the 1955 novel by Juan Rulfo.

Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto on his directorial debut, ‘Pedro Páramo’

The veteran DP tries his hand at directing in the film adaptation of the 1955 novel by Juan Rulfo.

from The Treatment

Domingo is up for a Golden Globe for his role as Divine G, an inmate serving time for a crime he didn’t commit and who finds new purpose in a prison theater group.

Colman Domingo on ‘Sing Sing’ and masculine vulnerability

Domingo is up for a Golden Globe for his role as Divine G, an inmate serving time for a crime he didn’t commit and who finds new purpose in a prison theater group.

from The Treatment

Adeena Sussman continues her mother's tradition of Shabbat and shares a recipe for her grandmother's potato kugel.

Slowing down for Shabbat, a weekly Jewish ritual that brings calm and connection

Adeena Sussman continues her mother's tradition of Shabbat and shares a recipe for her grandmother's potato kugel.

from Good Food

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa.

Dr. Jessica B. Harris revisits her classic Kwanzaa cookbook

Culinary historian Jessica B. Harris lays out the symbolism and traditions of Kwanzaa.

from Good Food

Chef Brian Polcyn knows his way around a meat pie.

Brian Polcyn bakes savory pies with a 'wow factor'

Chef Brian Polcyn knows his way around a meat pie.

from Good Food

Restaurant critic Bill Addison recruited Jenn Harris to help him divide and conquer as they determined LA's best restaurants. Culinary historian Jessica B.

Kwanzaa, Shabbat, meat pies, cake

Restaurant critic Bill Addison recruited Jenn Harris to help him divide and conquer as they determined LA's best restaurants. Culinary historian Jessica B.

from Good Food

Rose Levy Beranbaum preaches the glory of cake.

Rose Levy Beranbaum celebrates 35 years of divine cake inspiration

Rose Levy Beranbaum preaches the glory of cake.

from Good Food