{"generated_at": "2026-04-23T00:07:00.744401Z", "slug": "this_american_life", "source_id": "src_this_american_life", "name": "This American Life", "episode_count": 2, "avg_signal": 79.8, "median_signal": 79.8, "top_signal": 88.0, "latest_episode_at": "2026-04-19T22:00:00Z", "earliest_episode_at": "2026-04-12T22:00:00Z", "category_mode": "culture", "cover_image_url": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/sites/default/files/styles/rss_image/public/images/rss/393-sq.jpg?itok=JygtCEKg", "rank_score": 84.597, "episodes": [{"episode_id": "ep_this_american_life_c80e726c1d6d", "episode_title": "393: Infidelity", "podcast_name": "This American Life", "podcast_slug": "this_american_life", "source_id": "src_this_american_life", "category": "culture", "publish_date": "2026-04-19T22:00:00Z", "overall_score": 71.7, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 57.6, "originality": 57.1, "hype_penalty": 7.8, "actionability": 99.0, "technical_depth": 76.0, "information_density": 88.0}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/sites/default/files/styles/rss_image/public/images/rss/393-sq.jpg?itok=JygtCEKg", "source_link": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/393/infidelity", "audio_url": "https://pfx.vpixl.com/6qj4J/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp/pdst.fm/e/prefix.up.audio/s/npr.simplecastaudio.com/d3081dd9-fcaf-445a-977c-4f56c28f5a6e/episodes/88122e0e-0b8d-421b-ac4f-e3bbb8f6533b/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d3081dd9-fcaf-445a-977c-4f56c28f5a6e&awEpisodeId=88122e0e-0b8d-421b-ac4f-e3bbb8f6533b&nocache", "listen_url": "https://pfx.vpixl.com/6qj4J/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp/pdst.fm/e/prefix.up.audio/s/npr.simplecastaudio.com/d3081dd9-fcaf-445a-977c-4f56c28f5a6e/episodes/88122e0e-0b8d-421b-ac4f-e3bbb8f6533b/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d3081dd9-fcaf-445a-977c-4f56c28f5a6e&awEpisodeId=88122e0e-0b8d-421b-ac4f-e3bbb8f6533b&nocache", "verdict": "worth_your_time", "why_listen": "It goes beyond the title with direct discussion of know, like, think, including: Build a fully custom website in just a few steps using Squarespace's AI enhanced website builder, Blueprint AI.", "summary": "Build a fully custom website in just a few steps using Squarespace's AI enhanced website builder, Blueprint AI."}, {"episode_id": "ep_this_american_life_8b60ec7e796a", "episode_title": "885: Bless This Mess", "podcast_name": "This American Life", "podcast_slug": "this_american_life", "source_id": "src_this_american_life", "category": "culture", "publish_date": "2026-04-12T22:00:00Z", "overall_score": 88.0, "score_breakdown": {"clarity": 90.0, "originality": 94.0, "actionability": 65.0, "technical_depth": 88.0, "recency_relevance": 80.0, "information_density": 92.0}, "podcast_cover_url": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/sites/default/files/styles/rss_image/public/images/rss/tal-885-getty-514697264-sq.jpg?itok=Enb1KShd", "source_link": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/bless-this-mess", "audio_url": "https://pfx.vpixl.com/6qj4J/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp/pdst.fm/e/prefix.up.audio/s/npr.simplecastaudio.com/d3081dd9-fcaf-445a-977c-4f56c28f5a6e/episodes/f2a4a8d9-a9ad-47b4-8f83-5617fa8f2435/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d3081dd9-fcaf-445a-977c-4f56c28f5a6e&awEpisodeId=f2a4a8d9-a9ad-47b4-8f83-5617fa8f2435&nocache", "listen_url": "https://pfx.vpixl.com/6qj4J/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp/pdst.fm/e/prefix.up.audio/s/npr.simplecastaudio.com/d3081dd9-fcaf-445a-977c-4f56c28f5a6e/episodes/f2a4a8d9-a9ad-47b4-8f83-5617fa8f2435/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=d3081dd9-fcaf-445a-977c-4f56c28f5a6e&awEpisodeId=f2a4a8d9-a9ad-47b4-8f83-5617fa8f2435&nocache", "verdict": "must_listen", "why_listen": "It restores humanity and drama to forgotten Black lives through vivid storytelling and archival rediscovery, challenging sanitized versions of American history.", "summary": "The episode explores how Black lives and dramas were erased from mainstream Hollywood narratives by following researcher Nicole Hill\u2019s discovery of rich, overlooked stories in historic Black newspapers. It centers on Paul Robeson and Eslanda Robeson, detailing their rise as global superstars and intellectual forces, then their erasure due to political suppression and racial bias. The narrative reframes American history by insisting on the value of messy, fully human portrayals of Black ancestors."}], "category_breakdown": [{"category": "culture", "count": 2}]}