Throughline

by NPR
13,746

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 Ramtin Arablouei.

Subscribe to Throughline+. You'll be supporting the history-reframing, perspective-shifting, time-warping stories you can't get enough of - and you'll unlock access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/throughline

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Recent Reviews
  • RandomMidwesterner
    I always read the negative reviews of things I like
    Because I want to know why others don’t like it. 1) This is a 40 minute single topic podcast. It isn’t designed to be comprehensive. I mean how could it be. Books and series of books are written about these topics. These episodes are designed to spur thought and a desire to learn more about the topics. This is a morsel, if you like what you hear go and learn more on your own. 2) Bias? Everyone has biases. Everyone has a slant. Again the point is to get you to look at the issue from a slant that you are probably NOT used to looking. Recognize potential bias and think for yourself as you are presented with information you probably haven’t consider before. 3) Pro-Hezbollah? Seriously? The phrase “some people see Hezbollah as freedom fighters” is not the same as “we see Hezbollah as freedom fighters”. One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s “rebel scum” (Star Wars reference). “Some people” in the US see Timothy McVeigh as a freedom fighter. This does not mean that “most people” agree with that opinion, yet it also does not change the fact that “some people” do hold that opinion.
  • Esteban_PodcastReview
    The Best
    One of my favorite shows! They cover each topic in such a comprehensive and holistic way, it’s really impressive. Thanks and keep them coming!
  • Aridneptune
    Way, way too left-wing
    Certain episodes are great. But many are extremely, absurdly left-wing. Example: “some people see Hizbullah as freedom fighters.” Apparently the show’s writers and/or producers do see them as such. Please focus on history, not Marxist politics.
  • 57OOO
    History from one side
    I was listening to the March episode on the history of hezbollah and less than 10 minutes in realized that they were only giving hezbollah side of the story. They mentioned the Christians attacking the bus of Palestinians but did not mention the heightened fear for security because of the Palestinian and PLO attacks. They spoke about Israel invading but did not mention that Israel invaded after an attack on Israeli soil near Tel Aviv. So biased and one sided history revision. Would not recommend
  • S.Easaw
    In life and history, all is not as it seems
    Thank you for exposing the truth with solid investigative reporting. I was flabbergasted to learn about King Leopold and rubber in the Congo in the past, with a throughline to cobalt mining in the DRC and electric cars in the present. Thank you, thank you for doing this work.
  • cee1188
    Incredible
    Love this show. The most recent episode (The Ghost In Your Phone) is incredible so if you want an episode to dip your toes in, just start there.
  • Ben 10384039;94
    Good
    So fun listen to it and learn l'm ten
  • ATXPodcastAddict
    Great reporting
    So deep and so cognizant of history and how it informs our present and future.
  • Rob-Colorado
    Well written but biased
    Well written and researched but bias is fairly clear.
  • MSucur
    One of the best podcasts out there
    I absolutely love your podcast!! Keep up the good work! Don’t stop .. Milorad, Grapevine, TX
  • 123321123321467
    NPR Used To Be Great
    Felt bad to unfollow as the premise of this show is classically great NPR. However it was not spared from the progressive takeover that has poisoned the intellectual well at NPR. Not to say the journalists are not intelligent, they most certainly are, but rather not courageous enough to be journalists to overcome the institutional capture of NPR.
  • Andrew H Brown
    Informative but unbalanced
    I just listened to "land of the Fee" episode and found the historical perspective. Interesting. However, the peace really only looked at the negative sides of the tipping economy. It did not speak to the meritorious benefits of tipping and how and otherwise unskilled or poorly educated worker can make very good money, much more than they could an hourly rate. for example, I know servers who can make $200 or more in a four hour shift.
  • Eclectic Music Lover 123
    Getting More & More Political
    This is a great show, with the exception of a few recent episodes where it is clear your political opinions are taking over the story telling. Quit, please.
  • lion rock heart
    Thanks for the tip, Radiiolab
    On Radiolab’s suggestion I went to check out this podcast and instantly fell in love with it. Narrative journalism takes a tremendous amount of resources to produce and I wish there were more of it—especially of this caliber. I’m also having fun reading the critical reviews by thick-browed, television addicts who are triggered by public radio. You’re obviously doing something right, Throughline! ❤️
  • RWB.RWB
    Super biased against Israel
    I used to love this show because I thought it was so well researched, but then they started making episodes about a conflict that I know pretty well and realized that it’s very one-sided. I’m really sad to unsubscribe from Throughline because it used to be one of my very favorite podcasts.
  • Peepsy Plum
    Carefully researched
    This history show brings forward perspectives I’ve been unaware of when the topics are ones I’ve read a lot about, which means I am more interested to hear the various perspectives documented in episodes dealing with topics with which I have less familiarity.
  • Hhgfyum
    Masterfully weaving and revealing history
    An enthralling podcast that masterfully weaves history into the fabric of our present. With captivating storytelling and meticulous research, it sheds light on pivotal moments, leaving listeners both informed and inspired. A must-listen for curious minds!
  • L,.L,.
    Always one sided
    Team is clearly biased on so many issues and only presents partial stories most of the times. Can’t wait till the cover the American Civil War and blame it on Lincoln’s aggression without even noting that maybe slavery had something to do with it.
  • Vote2018
    Great show
    Excellent!
  • labugreen
    Thorough and nuanced
    Consistently thorough and nuanced research. Truly unmatched in the arena of NPR podcasts. Also one of the few podcasts at NPR not casually spouting pro-Zionist messaging parading as facts. I love your work and thank you for continuing!
  • Katie the Pest
    Poor Research and Vetting
    Throughline’s decision to feature professor Sara Yael Hirschhorn on your recent episode “A Look into the Rise of Right-Wing Israel” is seriously egregious and makes me question the integrity of your research. Have the producers of the show actually read her book City on a Hilltop (Harvard UP)? Just because something is published by a prestigious university press does not mean its ideas are sound or its ideologies are not violent and illiberal. Hirschhorn ahistorically launders the American Jewish settler movement as a “liberal” project and casts anyone to the left of Baruch Goldstein as misunderstood and “not that bad.” The book is decidedly pro-settlements while finger wagging at a few bad apples to save face. Hirschhorn is an obvious supporter of the settler movement (she can claim the opposite all she wants, “Wah, I do not self-report as racist”) and very recently railed against the Biden administration’s decision to sanction a handful of extremist settlers, because, you know… the political ramifications, certainly not her personal sympathies. Spend five minutes scrolling through her Twitter feed. Her views are barely distinguishable from any right wing Israeli minister championing endless slaughter in Gaza. Perhaps you should have interviewed her as an example of the rise of the right wing in Israel rather than as an objective expert on it? Really shoddy work and poor judgment, not that I expect more from an NPR outfit!
  • Blorp The Alien
    I love this show but …
    …I’m pretty sure Ramtin has Rund locked in the basement. She hasn’t made an actual appearance in a year at least. We only ever hear her voice from old snippets taped together like a ransom note.
  • Asheville23
    Great!
    Such a great show!
  • MahliNickles
    Shout out to Radiolab
    Found this from the Radiolab share. Bow a thankful. Binging is happening🥴
  • FNOMINL
    Truth be told…
    …I don’t know how I forgot about Throughline when I had shifted from my radio listening of NPR, to podcasting my favorite shows! Throughline is actually one of the NPR shows that makes you a more informed and intelligent human being! Now I can binge all the shows that I missed!! Thanks Radio Lab for the reminder!
  • buddhafrog
    Important / beautiful / unique
    Certainly one of the best podcasts. Important voices on important stories that stand a little outside the mainstream The opening of A Symphony of Resistance episode is everything this podcast is about
  • Genie
    Disappointing
    Your coverage of the rise of the right wing Israeli government is very screwed. Not once you mention the hundreds of rockets fired into Israel by hamas, Islamic jihad, and hezbollah. Not a word about Munich hostages, not a word about expulsion of Jews from Arab countries, nothing on the extend of suicide bombing. Tragic events are happening today. Loud voices are demanding ceasefire, but I’m not hearing any mention of the hostages. Also the anti Jewish sentiment, violence, and vandalism in Europe and the US seem very telling…
  • SHAUMT
    Sits squarely to the left of left
    Update: News flash. Palestine doesn’t want a two state solution. I used to enjoy this podcast but now every topic is an agenda. Exhausting. Sadly it has hit rock bottom with the racist attack on Capitalism. Would these unbiased journalists prefer socialism/communism, perhaps a dictatorship, a completely irreligious nation with laws provided by the whims of those in power?
  • SaraMichelleB
    Fantastic podcast
    Timely episodes providing historical context for current events
  • Eitansays
    Full blown propaganda
    3/7/24 episode The Rise of the Right Wing in Israel — I’ve been listening to Throughline since it came out and would NEVER have expected what I’m hearing right now. The doom music looming in the background of the entire episode, the transparent demonization of Zionism as a concept, the singular, depraved narrative of Israeli defensive / preemptive action without consideration of the precedent events that led to it… This is THE MOST biased, offensive story I’ve listened to in the last 5 months. YOU ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED
  • Nope6p
    Latest episode is trash
    It’s not war there is no army on one side. Unfollow journalism is dead
  • d00dles4science
    Awesome
    Loved the Things Fall Apart episode
  • TheMollster89
    great show
    really loved the public defenders episode
  • Mamabear1953
    Always good
    Throughline covers wide ranging subjects and always unique and thoughtful. It’s one of my favorites and I’m grateful to the talented people who make it.
  • Shaycr16
    Dating
    Try dating in your 50s!! I have gotten off all dating sites. I say meet people in person through Meetup.com or some group. What is your hobby? Find a group of people who love what you love. That is what I plan to do as soon as my 17 year old son goes off to college. Right now I want to spend as much time as possible with him and going to his Waterpolo tournaments. FYI, I started a Meetup group 10 years ago to become comfortable swimming in the ocean, I met my goal and met some amazing people. I didn’t meet my LTR match, but I believe it was not and is not the right time yet. Be adventurous, go do what you love and hopefully we will all find someone we connect with and can say, ya he/she is my people, my special person that gets me! Much LOVE to you all!! and to the hosts of this amazing podcast, I always look forward to hearing another episode! Thank you!
  • B C V
    Still the best
    Still the best at tying history to present
  • braggmama2
    I absolutely adore this podcast
    The deep dives into timely topics and their histories are necessary for good citizenship.
  • Chilistructure
    The man who cured aging
    So poorly presented. Basically a conspiracy theory which never once mentions the gut biome actual modern science about some of these issues.
  • angrylf
    Wallowing on wokeness
    This show will appeal to people who use terms like ‘Latinx’ (which none of my Latin friends use) - a bunch of bourgeois nonsense for wealthy people who have the time and energy to contemplate their navels. This is exactly why I stopped donating to NPR.
  • jgr314
    Recent 2nd amendment episode was very strong
    This was a very good episode, with a very effective thread tracing the history of the issues related to this amendment. If anything could have made it stronger, I would have loved to include some additional voices, for example Carol Anderson, the author of The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America.
  • banned in new england
    Audio quality/mixing HORRIBLE
    I like this show's concepts and content a lot! Unfortunately, the audio mixing is so inconsistent in a single episode, I can only hear 2/3rds of it...
  • D Real JD
    Love the perspective
    Love the perspective this show captures. Love the neutral position the show attempts to tell us history from. Only complaint is we need more history episodes!!!! LOL But seriously great show. Look forward to learning more about history from Throughline.
  • MSZListener
    Apology: the way back
    Appropriate name for this show: MAMA - Make Apologies Matter Again
  • USWListner
    So good!
    Fantastic, thought provoking podcast! I recommend it to all my friends.
  • Flyingvirtuoso
    Unlistenable Anti-American Drivel
    Features literal communist sympathizers. If you hate America, this is the podcast for you.
  • Sonny eyes
    Dare to Dissent
    Inspiring and knowledgeable
  • RockyZ124
    Wonderful podcast
    The partition episode was an all-timer for me.
  • RaeOn1999
    Over the top sound design, I love Throughline
    The best sound design is the one most people don’t notice. Oh my God did I notice. Thank you for all you do.
  • Kacy Faulconer
    Sound engineer is first rate
    The sound engineer doesn’t have to go so hard but they always do—especially on The Lord of Misrule 👏👏👏
  • cydwel
    What’s with the Audio Drops?
    Usually, the audio quality of “Throughline” is impeccable. But the latest ADA episode - in Througline+ no less! - had periodic audio drops that took out so many words that it made it unlistenable. Obviously, this isn’t what I’m paying extra for.
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