This American Life

TAL is easy to explain: it’s primarily non-fiction pieces (interviews, stories, etc…), often from regular people, based around a common theme for each episode. There are sometimes fictional pieces as well. The tone of the show can range from serious and informative to silly and anecdotal. Not every segment works, and there have been occasional lapses in judgement, but overall this show has maintained its quality over time. This is due to Ira Glass, but also to excellent contributors (many coming from other podcasts). If there is one podcast I listen to every week, it’s this one.