What We Are and What We Do

It's a weekly show. It's an hour. Its mission:

to document everyday life in this country. We sometimes think of it as a documentary show for people who normally hate documentaries. A public radio show for people who don't necessarily care for public radio.

Find Out More About the Show

If you've never heard This American Life,our staff's favorite shows page provides a great introduction to what we do.

looking for a written introduction?click here.

All about Our Staff

To find out all about our incredible staff(complete with photos when available) click here.

Our individual stories are as interesting as the show itself.

This Week

ReRuns

Reruns. Stories of people who can't stop replaying a certain moment in history or a certain episode from their lives over and over in their minds. Starlee Kine tells the story of a man more obsessed with reruns than even she is. Sarah Vowell identifies a phenomenon that's sort of a cultural rerun: people – often who aren't black or women or in any way involved with civil rights – comparing themselves to Rosa Parks (pictured in 1955). Broadcast the weekend of May 14-16 in most places, or available here via RealAudio next week.

Last Week

Ketchup

We love it when we get it, but is it ever really fair? Is trying to get it worth it? This week, The U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Missouri is experimenting with a pilot program aimed at treating psychiatric prisoners. Also, Howard Chackowicz explains how you can measure the special treatment you're getting, by the number of ketchup packets the delivery man gives you. Here's more about the study from the top of the show about kids and preferential treatment.