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Throughline

NPR
Americans With Disabilities Act
Second Amendment
Civil Rights Movement
Disability Rights Movement
Jack Miller
Nostalgia
National Rifle Association
Covid-19
Institutionalization
Eugenics
Gun Control Act Of 1968
National Firearms Act
Chicago
Disability Justice
Rehabilitation Act
Ed Roberts
Public Apology
American History
Olfaction
Romanticism

Throughline is a time machine. Each episode, we travel beyond the headlines to answer the question, "How did we get here?" We use sound and stories to bring history to life and put you into the middle of it. From ancient civilizations to forgotten figures, we take you directly to the moments that shaped our world. Throughline is hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalists Rund Abdelfatah and Ramti... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes436Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistoryDocumentary

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Artwork for Throughline

Latest Episodes

Political rebellions, family feuds, and power grabs – the founding of the Supreme Court has about as much drama as a Hollywood movie. In this week’s episode, the story of how the Supreme Court went from the weakest branch in the government to the pow... more

James Baldwin believed that America has been lying to itself since its founding. A sharp, funny, and insightful commentator on Black identity and American democracy, he never hesitated to bear witness, regardless of what it cost him. We speak with wr... more

The key to good communication is in the delivery – literally. This week on America in Pursuit, how the creation of the U.S. postal service transformed our political culture and helped start a revolution, one letter at a time.

To access bonus episode... more

YouTube

Iran has been here before. For decades the country has gone through cycles of protest and repression at the hands of the Islamic Republic. What makes this cycle different? 

In this episode of Throughline from NPR, we speak to two Iranian experts abo... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Eddie Glaude
Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton, author of 'Begin Again', a book on James Baldwin's legacy
Princeton University
Episode: James Baldwin's Fire
Ali Alfone
A senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, DC, and an expert on Iranian leadership.
Arab Gulf States Institute
Episode: Iran Protests Explained
Holly Dagras
A senior fellow at the Washington Institute and curator of a popular Iran newsletter, The Iranists.
Washington Institute
Episode: Iran Protests Explained
Dr. Tim Weingard
History professor at Colorado Mesa University; author of The Mosquito, A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator
Colorado Mesa University
Episode: The Deadliest Ally | America in Pursuit
Ken Burns
Documentary filmmaker known for his work on American history
PBS
Episode: Ken Burns and the American Revolution
Nicole Hannah-Jones
Journalist and creator of the 1619 Project
The New York Times
Episode: Your 15-Minute Guide to 250 Years | America in Pursuit
Yuval Levin
Director overseeing the 250th anniversary project at the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Your 15-Minute Guide to 250 Years | America in Pursuit
Kathleen Duvall
Professor of history at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina
Episode: Your 15-Minute Guide to 250 Years | America in Pursuit
Ron Sikowski
Board member of the Heritage Museum in Texas
Heritage Museum
Episode: Your 15-Minute Guide to 250 Years | America in Pursuit

Hosts

Rund Abdelfatah
Host known for storytelling and investigative journalism, focusing on historical narratives and their contemporary implications.
Ramtin Arablouei
Co-host with a focus on music and audio storytelling techniques, enhancing the immersive experience of historical narratives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 20.9k ratings
  • Great history

    Makes history both interesting and has a new take on how we are where we are today

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    corina20009
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • The Story of Us - togetherness.

    You and your guest author fail to understand America and its success because you are late to the party. The “Melting Pot” concept has been the key to our success since the beginning. But you assume that each tribe or nationality must hold onto that identity rather than blend with the rest of us. Get beyond the sanctity of “diversity” and identity politics and return to coming together without regard to innate or historical characteristics. Join “Us” selflessly. Past generations of immigrants hav... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    BSG61
    United Statesa month ago
  • Very special podcast

    Very special and educational episode after episode after episode!!! Keep it going …. Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A Lobad
    United States2 months ago
  • Creeping Coup

    No other podcast can compare to Throughline. The conflict in Sudan is a tangled complicated web but ur telling has made me understand a little more of the competing interests that is at the core of the conflict.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    k!k!m@su
    United States2 months ago
  • The closest sound comes to cinema

    This podcast is practically perfect. From the sound design, to the amazing guests, to the fabulous hosts and thoughtful (and often timely) subject matter, it is a fearlessly lucid look back at how we got here.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PeterEamonn
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the podcast for its deep dives into historical contexts, highlighting the unique ability to connect past events with today's realities.
Overall, feedback emphasizes the educational value and the ability to foster a greater understanding of complex subjects.
The storytelling quality, coupled with excellent production values, consistently impresses the audience, enhancing the overall listening experience.
There are mixed reviews regarding perceived biases in some topics, indicating a diverse range of listener opinions on sensitive political issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#10
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#244
United States/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#6
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#35
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#82
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#71
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

James Baldwin's Fire
Q: Did he come out of the civil rights movement feeling hopeful?
Baldwin was disillusioned but continued to bear witness to the struggles for justice and fought against apathy in society, emphasizing the constant potential for change.
James Baldwin's Fire
Q: What do you think Baldwin would have made of that tension today?
Baldwin would likely point to the importance of understanding individual pain within the context of broader social criticism, arguing that personal experiences should drive the quest for social justice.
Iran Protests Explained
Q: How are these protests different from past ones?
These protests are calling for the end of the Islamic Republic rather than just reforms, reflecting deeper frustrations with the regime.
Ken Burns and the American Revolution
Q: What was the American Revolution really about?
It was a civil war characterized by various social dynamics and involved different groups fighting for their interpretation of liberty and rights.
Pride, Prejudice, and Peer Pressure
Q: What do you think makes the characters in Pride and Prejudice resonate so strongly with today's readers?
Many modern readers relate to the themes of first impressions, societal pressures, and economic struggles depicted in the novel.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Throughline

What is Throughline about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring historical events and figures, this podcast aims to bring the past to life through immersive storytelling and sound design. With episodes that connect historical narratives with contemporary issues, it focuses on diverse topics ranging from the impact of colonization and labor exploitation in the chocolate industry to the political dynamics of the Middle East, revealing the underlying threads that influence today's society. The unique blend of in-depth research, expert interviews, and personal stories makes it a captivating resource for listeners seeking to understand the historical context behind current events.

Where can I find podcast stats for Throughline?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Throughline. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Throughline and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Throughline get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Throughline, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Throughline?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Throughline, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Throughline have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Throughline has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Throughline?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Throughline:

1. Radiolab
2. This American Life
3. Fresh Air
4. Up First from NPR
5. Consider This from NPR

How many episodes of Throughline are there?

Throughline launched 7 years ago and published 436 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Throughline?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Throughline?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Throughline from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Throughline?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Throughline. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Throughline?

Recent guests on Throughline include:

1. Eddie Glaude
2. Ali Alfone
3. Holly Dagras
4. Dr. Tim Weingard
5. Ken Burns
6. Nicole Hannah-Jones
7. Yuval Levin
8. Kathleen Duvall

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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