This American Life
This American Life is a weekly public radio show founded in 1995 that produces narrative, long-form audio journalism reaching ~2.2 million weekly listeners via 500+ stations, podcast platforms, and a premium subscription membership on Supercast.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What This American Life does
This American Life is a weekly public radio program founded in 1995 by Ira Glass, producing narrative, long-form audio journalism organized around a weekly theme. The show is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and distributed nationally by PRX (Public Radio Exchange) to more than 500 public radio stations, reaching approximately 2.2-2.5 million weekly listeners, with additional distribution via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and direct website streaming. Its content archive spans 800+ episodes and over 30 years of continuous production, forming a deep library of first-person stories, reported journalism, and original audio drama that is actively curated for new listeners.
The company's product surface extends beyond the flagship radio show. It operates the Life Partners premium membership on the Supercast platform, offering ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and 250 greatest hits hand-picked by Ira Glass. It runs a merchandise e-commerce store (shirts, posters, tote bags), maintains a video content collection (animations, music videos, live stage shows), and has historically produced television adaptations and spin-off podcasts (notably Serial in 2014 and S-Town). The technology stack is fundamentally an audio production and podcast distribution operation with no documented AI/ML capabilities, no public API, and no proprietary platform beyond standard RSS-based podcast delivery.
The business model blends recurring subscription revenue (Life Partners via Supercast), direct-to-consumer merchandise sales, and public radio distribution/licensing fees, with implied listener donations typical of public-radio-supported programming. The legal entity is This American Life, PBC, a privately held public benefit corporation governed by New York State law, with no venture capital backing, no parent company, and no disclosed funding rounds. The organization operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees and has remained under Ira Glass's creative leadership since founding.
This American Life firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- This American Life
- Legal name
- This American Life, PBC
- Website
- https://thisamericanlife.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- This American Life is a weekly public radio show founded in 1995 that produces narrative, long-form audio journalism reaching ~2.2 million weekly listeners via 500+ stations, podcast platforms, and a premium subscription membership on Supercast.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
This American Life industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio and Podcast Programming
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB), Live Podcast Recordings (MPAGACAJ), Radio Program Syndication (Talk, Music, Sports) (MPABAMAE)
Keywords
Where This American Life is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
This American Life business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Life Partners Membership Subscription: Premium subscription program offering ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and 250+ greatest hits episodes hand-picked by Ira Glass, accessed through Supercast platform
- Merchandise Sales: Online store selling shirts, posters, tote bags, and other branded merchandise through store.thisamericanlife.org
- Public Radio Distribution: Content distributed to public radio stations via PRX, reaching millions of weekly listeners through traditional broadcast
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Life Partners premium membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
This American Life product offering
Product offeringCore offering
This American Life produces and distributes a weekly themed public radio program built on first-person narrative journalism, reported stories, and short audio pieces. The program is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago, distributed to more than 500 public radio stations via PRX, and made available as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and through direct website streaming. The organization also operates a premium subscription membership (Life Partners) on Supercast, a video content library, and a branded merchandise store.
Product overview
This American Life operates as a single flagship radio program (the core product) distributed through broadcast, podcast platforms, and its website. The portfolio includes a subscription membership tier (Life Partners) offering ad-free listening and bonus content via Supercast, a collection of video content (Videos) featuring animations and live performances, and an e-commerce store (Merch) selling branded merchandise. A TV adaptation (TV Show) aired two seasons. The show is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and distributed by PRX. Content is accessible through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and direct RSS feeds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- This American Life Radio Show Weekly themed public radio program and podcast featuring first-person narrative journalism, reported stories, and short audio pieces, produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and distributed via PRX to 500+ affiliate stations and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the show's website.
- Life Partners Membership
- Videos Collection Library of supplementary video content including animations, music videos, live stage show recordings, speeches, and TV adaptations of radio stories, for fans wanting visual extensions of the program.
- Merch Store Online store selling branded merchandise including shirts, posters, and tote bags to listeners and fans.
- TV Show (adaptation)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2.5 million weekly listeners through public radio broadcast
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use This American Life
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
This American Life technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
This American Life partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WBEZ ChicagocoreThis American Life is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago, the flagship public radio station. WBEZ serves as the production home and broadcast partner for the show.
- PRX (Public Radio Exchange)corePRX delivers This American Life to public radio stations nationwide. PRX is the primary distribution channel for the show's broadcast content.
- SupercastcoreSupercast platform powers the Life Partners subscription program, providing ad-free listening, bonus episodes, and exclusive content access for premium members.
- Serial (Podcast)minorSerial podcast was developed by This American Life, with Sarah Koenig (TAL producer) becoming host. Serial became a major hit spin-off of the parent show.
- S-Town (Podcast)minorS-Town podcast was produced under the This American Life umbrella, hosted by Brian Reed (TAL Senior Producer), representing a successful spin-off production.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
This American Life competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- This Is Criminal: Narrative non-fiction podcast about crime and justice. Similar storytelling approach and public radio/podcast distribution, with a narrower topical focus.
- Serial: Direct spin-off of This American Life, hosted by former TAL producer Sarah Koenig. Same production DNA, same narrative non-fiction format, same target audience of public radio and podcast listeners.
- Radiolab: WNYC-produced narrative public radio show exploring science, philosophy, and culture through sound-rich storytelling. Closely comparable in format, distribution (public radio + podcast), and audience to This American Life.
- The Moth Radio Hour: Public radio-distributed program featuring true stories told live on stage. Directly comparable as a narrative, story-driven public radio show with live-event programming roots.
- Fresh Air (NPR): Long-running NPR interview and cultural commentary program. Directly comparable public radio talk/interview format with similar national distribution and listener demographics.
- Planet Money (NPR): NPR narrative podcast explaining economics through storytelling. Comparable in narrative-non-fiction podcast approach, public radio distribution, and engaged listener base.
- Reveal: Center for Investigative Reporting's public radio show and podcast, combining investigative journalism with narrative storytelling. Directly comparable format and public radio distribution model.
- Hidden Brain (NPR): NPR's social-science and behavioral-economics narrative podcast hosted by Shankar Vedantam. Directly comparable as a narrative, story-driven public radio podcast with national distribution.
Emerging players
- The Daily (The New York Times): Narrative daily news podcast from NYT. Comparable as a high-production narrative journalism podcast, but with significantly larger institutional backing and a narrower news-focused scope.
Others
- WBEZ Chicago: Flagship public radio station in Chicago that co-produces This American Life. Operates as both a production partner and adjacent public broadcaster; not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem participant.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
This American Life social profiles
Digital presenceThis American Life financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
This American Life leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
This American Life funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
This American Life M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about This American Life
What does This American Life do?
This American Life produces and distributes a weekly themed public radio program built on first-person narrative journalism, reported stories, and short audio pieces. The program is produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago, distributed to more than 500 public radio stations via PRX, and made available as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and through direct website streaming. The organization also operates a premium subscription membership (Life Partners) on Supercast, a video content library, and a branded merchandise store.
Is This American Life a public or private company?
This American Life is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was This American Life founded?
This American Life was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is This American Life based?
This American Life is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does This American Life make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Life Partners Membership Subscription is the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and public Radio Distribution.
Who are This American Life's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are This Is Criminal, Serial, Radiolab, The Moth Radio Hour, Fresh Air (NPR), Planet Money (NPR), Reveal and Hidden Brain (NPR). The Daily (The New York Times) is listed as an emerging player. WBEZ Chicago is listed as an others.
Does This American Life have an API?
No public API is recorded for This American Life.
What industry is This American Life in?
This American Life's product category is Public Radio and Podcast Programming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABABAB, Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style), with a secondary code of MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.