Real impactful stories; maturity levels of content vary.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Language
some
Many episodes include cursing, including both milder language like "a--hole" as well as stronger language including "f--k." Episodes with bleeped-out swearing available on the website.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Doesn't include dramatizations of violence or intentional scariness. That said, some episodes tell historical and contemporary stories that may be upsetting for younger listeners. Episodes tackle stories about racial violence, systemic injustices, and people trapped in dangerous situations out of their control.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
The show promotes openness and curiosity through its grab-bag storytelling. Episodes aren't moralistic and more often leave listeners with questions to contemplate on their own. Stories follow real people navigating our world, where things are rarely black and white. Teens may find these nuanced stories compelling as they wrestle with the shades of gray in their own lives.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Stories feature a broad array of people in the United States and generally do a good job of presenting different cultures and communities with respect. The show has tackled both personal and systemic issues of racial justice, including award-winning investigative pieces on issues like school segregation and immigration policy. The production team includes staff from diverse backgrounds working both as producers and in leadership roles.
Stories explore the lives and perspectives of people from all walks of life, exposing listeners to new and different ideas. Listeners will sometimes learn new facts about historical events or how things work through stories told.
Positive Role Models
some
The stories concern real people, both admirable and flawed. Not all stories end with the protagonists winning out in the end, and characters are presented without judgment. Listeners are invited to draw their own conclusions about people featured on the show, and parents may at times want to engage kids in critical thinking and open discussion about why people featured on the show speak and behave as they do.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that This American Life is a touchstone in modern podcasting with a catalog of over 500 episodes that run the gamut from serious reporting to fun family listening. Parents with younger children may want to read episode descriptions to decide if certain episodes are appropriate for their kids. Parents can also explore the show's own list of family-friendly episodes available on their website. These episodes focus on stories about things like "promposals," summer camp, and babysitters. Tweens and teens may be ready to engage with a wider range of episodes. Episodes with mature themes include a disclaimer at the beginning of the show. Many of the more difficult episodes cover important social and historical topics through impactful interviews and thoughtfully crafted storytelling. Many episodes include cursing, including both milder language like "a--hole" as well as stronger language, including "f--k." Episodes with bleeped-out swearing are available on the website. Compassion, perseverance, and empathy are all central themes throughout the episodes of this podcast.
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What’s It About?
The classic format of THIS AMERICAN LIFE involves diving deep into a single idea through a series of 15- to 20-minute-long acts that engage with the theme from different angles. Over the 25-plus years the show has been running, creators have played with the structure -- producing multi-episode investigative reporting, live shows, and recording experiments like the time producers camped out in a diner for 24 hours just to see what they could capture. Episodes vary widely in tone, from serious fact-based exposés to lighthearted and personal narratives. The podcast has become increasingly ambitious over the years, to the point that it has spawned multiple spin-off podcasts, including the smash hit Serial. Despite this evolution, listeners can expect to find compelling, first-person storytelling regardless of whether they pick an episode from 2003 or 2023.
There's a reason that this show has been on air for over 25 years. Widely considered to be the gold standard of storytelling podcasting, This American Life created a blueprint for the genre that remains influential even as the show itself has grown and changed over the years. The team has garnered an impressive slate of accolades, including multiple Peabody awards and the first-ever Pulitzer Prize for audio reporting.
While the show boasts high-caliber production and diligent reporting, what makes it so consistently compelling is the bedrock of personal stories and intimate interviews at the heart of its style. The hosts' compassionate and generous connections with their interviewees lead to deeply moving exchanges that will leave listeners with lots to talk about. For teens interested in learning about history and current events, these features make This American Life an accessible and engaging media choice.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how This American Life gives perspective to the many different experiences and backgrounds of people in the United States. How does a show like this help give perspective?
This podcast brings up feelings of compassion and empathy as you listen to the different stories and experiences of so many people in the country. Why are these important character strengths to have when listening to others tell their stories?
How does this podcast inspire curiosity about the world we live in? Were there any stories that impacted you more than others? Why?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Diana Baron-Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
