r/thisamericanlife
This American Life is an American weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. Primarily a journalistic…
How to think about r/thisamericanlife
This community is dedicated to discussions surrounding the popular radio program 'This American Life,' which features a blend of journalism, essays, and storytelling. Members share insights, favorite episodes, and engage in conversations about the themes presented in the show. The community is distinct for its focus on narrative storytelling and personal experiences, often reflecting on the human condition and societal issues.
Confidence 4/5
Audience
Participants in this community tend to be fans of narrative journalism and storytelling, often ranging from young adults to older listeners who appreciate thoughtful content. They are typically engaged, reflective, and enjoy deep discussions about the episodes. The vibe is generally positive and supportive, with members valuing authenticity and personal connections to the stories shared.
Posting culture
Content that thrives includes episode discussions, personal reflections related to the show's themes, and recommendations for similar podcasts or stories. Members appreciate thoughtful commentary and original insights, while promotional posts or superficial comments are often downvoted. The posting cadence is moderate, with activity peaking around new episode releases and significant discussions following each airing.
Brand engagement notes
Brands looking to engage with this community should focus on authenticity and storytelling rather than overt promotion. Sharing meaningful narratives or insights that align with the themes of 'This American Life' can resonate well. Collaborations with the program or contributions that enhance the community's discussions are more likely to be welcomed than traditional advertising. Brands should avoid spammy promotions, as the community is sensitive to inauthentic engagement.
Top keywords
What r/thisamericanlife talks about
Weighted by how often each term appears in posts and comments, relative to baseline frequency. The largest words are the strongest signals of community focus.
External signals
Where the community looks
Top external domains linked from posts and comments — a quick read on the sources of truth this audience trusts.
Top contributors
Who shapes the conversation
The most active and most-upvoted posters and commenters in this community. Useful when planning outreach or studying a community's tastemakers.
Top posters
By post count
- u/6745408
- u/Lukin1989
- u/ShakerOvalBox
- u/jman_voted
- u/Sea-Beginning-5234
- u/Raskog64
- u/Majestic-Answer8342
- u/Federal-Layer-8203
- u/UnclePeaz
- u/OKSpartan
- u/Smitho15
- u/as9934
- u/gidklio
- u/herbicarnivorous
- u/GrassyLand
- u/boundfortrees
- u/Professional-Try8144
- u/dmacdunc
- u/amdale3
- u/AspireAgain
- u/dskippy
- u/BrawlersBawlers
- u/Comprehensive-Fun47
- u/lettadaloki
- u/wormnyc
- u/mossimo654
- u/tylerdhenry
- u/EliteOreo
- u/Teacherlady1982
- u/ravia
- u/bionicgram
- u/Bagel_Mode
- u/throwaway312647
- u/Robrob_42
- u/Squidalopod
- u/Curious-Macaroni
- u/Jacob_Ritter
- u/gmviking
- u/JEMColorado
- u/scottlacy
- u/Signal-Land-8676
- u/Zanamo
- u/terra_cascadia
- u/tetrahydrocannabinol
- u/keepmoving2
- u/TheGreatAlexandre
- u/UCLAdy05
- u/palebluekat
- u/brumbaru
- u/LunchBox7000
- u/OriginalHappyFunBall
- u/chenbuxie
- u/mtqma
- u/BreadFlintstone
- u/sarahrosy
- u/jcolv26
- u/-megapants-
- u/Father__Thyme
- u/Ok_Trash_515
- u/OohIDontThinkSo
- u/Eastern-Hold-6301
- u/Mtnbrowncoat
- u/ArchiveDump
- u/mycopea
- u/PaleoEskimo
- u/doombuzz
- u/Scared_Sherbet8530
- u/HDoug808
- u/kaze987
- u/willietromb0ne
- u/Lucky-Principle-7282
- u/cursethrower
- u/Nice_Exercise5552
- u/the_navillus
- u/entropy_bucket
- u/josephinenatalie
- u/thebite101
- u/Meister_Retsiem
- u/mattleo
- u/GirlLunarExplorer
- u/jelkejelke
- u/babymootmountain
- u/poorlilfashiongirl
- u/Appropriate-Volume-6
- u/Last_King_Of_Bavaria
- u/yikesthatsachoice
- u/Emanuela-Kabawula
- u/yuniorsoprano
- u/bakahead
- u/dasdiganta
- u/ECDCA1
- u/OnceThrownTwiceAway
- u/ChicoAthletics
- u/zeekiescheekies
- u/Throw_Away291987
- u/mallorn_hugger
- u/edurlester
- u/Danger-Cats
- u/Bewarsepanthulu
- u/graveyardshift3r
By votes
- u/6745408
- u/UnclePeaz
- u/ShakerOvalBox
- u/OKSpartan
- u/Smitho15
- u/as9934
- u/gidklio
- u/herbicarnivorous
- u/GrassyLand
- u/boundfortrees
- u/jman_voted
- u/Professional-Try8144
- u/dmacdunc
- u/amdale3
- u/AspireAgain
- u/dskippy
- u/Comprehensive-Fun47
- u/BrawlersBawlers
- u/lettadaloki
- u/wormnyc
- u/mossimo654
- u/Lukin1989
- u/EliteOreo
- u/Teacherlady1982
- u/tylerdhenry
- u/ravia
- u/bionicgram
- u/Bagel_Mode
- u/throwaway312647
- u/Robrob_42
- u/Squidalopod
- u/Curious-Macaroni
- u/gmviking
- u/JEMColorado
- u/Jacob_Ritter
- u/Zanamo
- u/TheGreatAlexandre
- u/Signal-Land-8676
- u/tetrahydrocannabinol
- u/keepmoving2
- u/scottlacy
- u/terra_cascadia
- u/UCLAdy05
- u/palebluekat
- u/brumbaru
- u/Sea-Beginning-5234
- u/LunchBox7000
- u/chenbuxie
- u/sarahrosy
- u/-megapants-
- u/OriginalHappyFunBall
- u/BreadFlintstone
- u/jcolv26
- u/Father__Thyme
- u/mtqma
- u/Ok_Trash_515
- u/OohIDontThinkSo
- u/Mtnbrowncoat
- u/Eastern-Hold-6301
- u/ArchiveDump
- u/willietromb0ne
- u/mycopea
- u/PaleoEskimo
- u/doombuzz
- u/Scared_Sherbet8530
- u/HDoug808
- u/kaze987
- u/Lucky-Principle-7282
- u/Raskog64
- u/Nice_Exercise5552
- u/josephinenatalie
- u/thebite101
- u/Federal-Layer-8203
- u/cursethrower
- u/entropy_bucket
- u/Meister_Retsiem
- u/the_navillus
- u/mattleo
- u/jelkejelke
- u/yikesthatsachoice
- u/GirlLunarExplorer
- u/poorlilfashiongirl
- u/Appropriate-Volume-6
- u/Last_King_Of_Bavaria
- u/Emanuela-Kabawula
- u/yuniorsoprano
- u/babymootmountain
- u/bakahead
- u/dasdiganta
- u/Majestic-Answer8342
- u/ECDCA1
- u/OnceThrownTwiceAway
- u/ChicoAthletics
- u/zeekiescheekies
- u/mallorn_hugger
- u/edurlester
- u/Bewarsepanthulu
- u/graveyardshift3r
- u/Danger-Cats
- u/SamGreenaway
Top commenters
By comment count
- u/[deleted]
- u/Comprehensive_Main
- u/MarketBasketShopper
- u/PlayfulOtterFriend
- u/loopywidget
- u/chonky_tortoise
- u/iamagainstit
- u/justsomechickyo
- u/Hog_enthusiast
- u/skys_vocation
- u/SXnk4-eN36G-MQ4gX
- u/Booopbooopp
- u/kirk-o-bain
- u/CliffordAndTinee
- u/HotelLima6
- u/offlein
- u/Comprehensive-Fun47
- u/SwimsDeep
- u/polishhottie69
- u/3917
- u/curiouser_cursor
- u/yesitsyourmom
- u/AsleepInPairee
- u/jednaz
- u/MoshetheMean
- u/josephinenatalie
- u/KingKingsons
- u/Qoeh
- u/lucky_earther
- u/CawfeePig
- u/SmarkieMark
- u/NotAFederales
- u/ChubbyBlackWoman
- u/DreamingofBouncer
- u/Lovely_catastrophes
- u/fairySprings
- u/hectoByte
- u/fractalfrenzy
- u/Chalupa_Dad
- u/Nice_Exercise5552
- u/dec10
- u/hail_termite_queen
- u/FeistyMathematician
- u/much_blank
- u/6745408
- u/moorecha
- u/TA8601
- u/forg9587
- u/comfortoverstyle
- u/RadicalDog
- u/LimaDeltaTO
- u/44problems
- u/berflyer
- u/space_gypsy1164
- u/e_a_blair
- u/anonyfool
- u/RealHeyDayna
- u/yetanotherwoo
- u/coltvahn
- u/CaitMonsterrr
- u/7minegg
- u/Toxic_Snow5802
- u/polyworfism
- u/Electrical_List_2125
- u/zuesk134
- u/BlackJoeGatto
- u/smalljean
- u/livoniax
- u/duralyon
- u/hungry4danish
- u/carbonlandrover
- u/rkcr
- u/tuskvarner
- u/Rbarb
- u/phrostbyt
- u/slybird
- u/Bucs-and-Bucks
- u/JesseTheNorris
- u/scotch-o
- u/JashDreamer
- u/lettadaloki
- u/executivejeff
- u/chemtitan
- u/circadianist
- u/a_ronn
- u/kenerwin88
- u/Delushus
- u/noblewind
- u/lavahot
- u/ALittlePeaceAndQuiet
- u/redditshy
- u/zorandzam
- u/catfishmermaid
- u/ifitistobesaidsoitis
- u/abouh002
- u/DickBeaterNation
- u/Lurker-O-Reddit
- u/crumario
- u/Tttttttttt83
- u/Robsmithwtop
By votes
- u/[deleted]
- u/Comprehensive_Main
- u/smalljean
- u/SXnk4-eN36G-MQ4gX
- u/MarketBasketShopper
- u/chonky_tortoise
- u/ILoveCornbread420
- u/hail_termite_queen
- u/SpicyPeach14
- u/WhatUpGord
- u/offlein
- u/PlayfulOtterFriend
- u/imatumahimatumah
- u/CliffordAndTinee
- u/rkcr
- u/anonyfool
- u/Hog_enthusiast
- u/livoniax
- u/yesitsyourmom
- u/kirk-o-bain
- u/daaaaaaBULLS
- u/moorecha
- u/space_gypsy1164
- u/mesohungrier
- u/teamcoltra
- u/lucky_earther
- u/lettadaloki
- u/TroyAtWork
- u/7minegg
- u/ASK_ABT_MY_USERNAME
- u/Rbarb
- u/fairySprings
- u/loopywidget
- u/skys_vocation
- u/executivejeff
- u/polishhottie69
- u/SwimsDeep
- u/RadicalDog
- u/punyidea
- u/keshaprayingbestsong
- u/mopoke
- u/LimaDeltaTO
- u/Treflip180
- u/lunargiraffe
- u/Comprehensive-Fun47
- u/AggravatingTea1992
- u/dec10
- u/jesagain222
- u/2dnuk2tpye
- u/aplantnamedmozart
- u/meany_beany
- u/e_a_blair
- u/Cruijff_Neeskens
- u/HotelLima6
- u/Tttttttttt83
- u/Grahambert
- u/Very-Expired-Milk
- u/fullyrealizedhuman
- u/jednaz
- u/josephinenatalie
- u/KingKingsons
- u/Tokenchick77
- u/Anneisabitch
- u/Booopbooopp
- u/diedofwellactually
- u/Rubberbandballgirl
- u/zuesk134
- u/Efficient-Thought-34
- u/Mycophyliac
- u/6745408
- u/Mel1764
- u/SoftishPaw
- u/wetfloors42
- u/Equal-Coat5088
- u/anothernotavailable2
- u/kcreature
- u/comfortoverstyle
- u/curiouser_cursor
- u/CertainAlbatross7739
- u/Aeroflight
- u/MacManus14
- u/bookdrops
- u/leslea
- u/Toxic_Snow5802
- u/march221
- u/frasierlover
- u/phrostbyt
- u/SparkySparketta
- u/fusion260
- u/Zealousideal-Pain101
- u/pixieclifton
- u/fitzypooch
- u/julianpratley
- u/gregorspv
- u/femputer1
- u/DreamingofBouncer
- u/TA8601
- u/garuffer
- u/Very_Expired_Milk
- u/mad_humanist
Similar communities
Where this audience also spends time
Topic-adjacent communities surfaced from Reddit's own related subreddit signal.
FAQ
r/thisamericanlife — frequently asked questions
Quick facts about this subreddit's size, history, focus, and related communities.
How many subscribers does r/thisamericanlife have?
r/thisamericanlife has approximately 29,078 subscribers as of May 27, 2026.
When was r/thisamericanlife created?
r/thisamericanlife was created on December 13, 2008 (17 years ago).
What is r/thisamericanlife about?
This community is dedicated to discussions surrounding the popular radio program 'This American Life,' which features a blend of journalism, essays, and storytelling. Members share insights, favorite episodes, and engage in conversations about the themes presented in the show. The community is distinct for its focus on narrative storytelling and personal experiences, often r…
What subreddits are similar to r/thisamericanlife?
Communities similar to r/thisamericanlife include r/radiolab, r/thedaily, r/gimlet, r/heavyweight, r/nprplanetmoney.
Who are the most active posters on r/thisamericanlife?
The most frequent posters on r/thisamericanlife include u/6745408, u/Lukin1989, u/ShakerOvalBox.
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