This American Life

872: Winners

America loves winners—now more than ever. But how do you get to a win in 2025 America? We watch someone trying to score a win in a game whose rules are being made up as she plays.  Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners [https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com] to sign up for our premium subscription. * Prologue: Ira talks to producer Diane Wu about an informal survey she’s done with the staff of This American Life about a phrase Ira says a lot that includes the word “winners.” (8 minutes) * Act One: Two people see one of President Trump’s first executive orders and get excited, and then get to work. (30 minutes) * Act Two: We follow the progress of one woman as she builds up, from scratch, a whole movement based on one of Trump’s executive orders. (19 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org [https://www.thisamericanlife.org/872/transcript] This American Life privacy policy. [https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy] Learn more about sponsor message choices. [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

871: The Thing About Things

Three stories about the strange power inanimate objects can hold over us. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners [https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com] to sign up for our premium subscription. * Prologue: Nunzio gets caught in a kind of servile relationship—with a scooter. (8 minutes) * Act One: Ted was six when he first picked up a rock from the Petrified Forest National Park. Nearly 50 years later, he really wishes he hadn’t. Aviva DeKornfeld talked to him. (15 minutes) * Act Two: Heavyweight host Jonathan Goldstein leaps in to help a family, who are not entirely sure they want or need his help, get rid of their stuff. (31 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org [https://www.thisamericanlife.org/871/transcript] This American Life privacy policy. [https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy] Learn more about sponsor message choices. [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

844: This Is the Case of Henry Dee

Thirteen parole board members decide whether or not one man should be released from prison. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners [https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com] to sign up for our premium subscription. * Prologue: Henry Dee has been locked up for most of his life, nearly 50 years. Now, he’s up for parole. Reporter Ben Austen tells the story. (19 minutes) * Part 1: The parole board members puzzle through the pros and cons of releasing Henry Dee from prison and cast their votes. (26 minutes) * Part 2: Reporter Ben Austen continues the story. (8 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org [https://www.thisamericanlife.org/844/transcript] This American Life privacy policy. [https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy] Learn more about sponsor message choices. [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

An Update from Ira

Ira Glass shares some news about This American Life To sign up as a Life Partner, visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners [https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_campaign=lifepartners&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes]

870: My Other Self

What happens when people create alternate versions of themselves and release them into the wild? Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners [https://thisamericanlife.supercast.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_id=lifepartners] to sign up for our premium subscription. * Prologue: Host Ira Glass talks about a recent experience being interviewed and the realization that he was being asked about another version of himself. (4 minutes) * Act One: Reporter Evan Ratliff creates an AI version of himself and then sets it loose on the world. This story was adapted from Evan's podcast, Shell Game. (43 minutes) * Act Two: Emmanuel Dzotsi explores the phenomenon of people lying on first dates to project a better version of themselves. Plus, he gets into a very personal example from his own life. (8 minutes) Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org [https://www.thisamericanlife.org/870/transcript] This American Life privacy policy. [https://www.thisamericanlife.org/page/privacy-policy] Learn more about sponsor message choices. [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]