# throughline (podcasts) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover throughline. Page: Feed: --- ## [How Korean culture went global](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/20/nx-s1-5937957/how-korean-culture-went-global) _2026-08-20 · Throughline_ This year, K-pop Demon Hunters picked up a couple of Oscars, the pop group BTS made its triumphant return to sold out crowds, and K-pop took center stage at the World Cup final. It’s all part of Korea’s 50-year game plan to achieve global cultural dominance. This week on our Hidden Histories series , we dig into the government policy that leveraged sports, screens, and sex to transform Korea’s… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/15e18f98-f2b9-4671-9df3-c1d5ffa1af68/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=15e18f98-f2b9-4671-9df3-c1d5ffa1af68&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5937957&p=510333&d=2888&size=46223448) ## [The blatant betrayal that erased the Tupperware queen from history](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/13/nx-s1-5928374/the-blatant-betrayal-that-erased-the-tupperware-queen-from-history) _2026-08-13 · Throughline_ Brownie Wise revolutionized how we store our food. She was one of the first female corporate executives in U.S. history. But she’s not a household name. This week on our series Hidden Histories , the rise and fall of the queen of plastics—and one of corporate America's most dramatic betrayals. (This episode originally aired in 2025) Guests: Alison Clarke , author of Tupperware, the Promise of… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/4a87635d-0604-4b71-ab7e-18b882e6ecba/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=4a87635d-0604-4b71-ab7e-18b882e6ecba&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5928374&p=510333&d=2951&size=47226131) ## [Lies, theft, and cover-up: the history of Monopoly you've never heard](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/06/nx-s1-5922414/lies-theft-and-cover-up-the-history-of-monopoly-youve-never-heard) _2026-08-06 · Throughline_ Monopoly is one of the best-selling board games of all time. It heralds free market economics and celebrates the American dream. That's a far cry from the original intent. This week on our series Hidden Histories , we go back in time to reveal the swindling and cover ups that robbed Monopoly's inventor of her fair share and turned her scathing critique of capitalism into her worst nightmare. (This… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/23b82aef-150d-46e6-a845-2300fdb8b72d/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=23b82aef-150d-46e6-a845-2300fdb8b72d&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5922414&p=510333&d=2989&size=47824649) ## [The song that fueled protests and a legacy of hope](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/04/nx-s1-5915829/the-song-that-fueled-protests-and-a-legacy-of-hope) _2026-08-04 · Throughline_ In our final installment of AP250, how We Shall Overcome became the anthem of generations of protestors. Today on the show, we revisit an episode from the NPR archives about the legacy of hope found in the lyrics of this timeless song. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org .… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/6be8346c-3fb2-47af-ab54-4456e61afcf6/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=6be8346c-3fb2-47af-ab54-4456e61afcf6&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5915829&p=510333&d=1166&size=18668234) ## [The lightbulb conspiracy is both real and everywhere](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/30/nx-s1-5912207/the-lightbulb-conspiracy-is-both-real-and-everywhere) _2026-07-30 · Throughline_ Over the next few episodes, we present Hidden Histories : stories that will make you rethink how the world works. First up, the conspiracy behind the lightbulb—and how it came to shape the entire consumer economy. If you ever wondered why your tech outdates so quickly or just plain fails, you can thank the lightbulb. (This episode originally aired in 2019.) Guests: Sally Helm, former NPR Planet… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/21561105-b580-4b42-ad27-2d20876da0a4/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=21561105-b580-4b42-ad27-2d20876da0a4&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5912207&p=510333&d=1909&size=30551232) ## [The license to be funny in America](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/28/nx-s1-5909653/the-license-to-be-funny-in-america) _2026-07-28 · Throughline_ One of the most fundamental aspects of American democracy has been the public’s ability to critique power, whether that’s through protest, legislation, or a really funny joke. Today, we take a romp into the history of American comedy, showing no matter how crude, rude, or distasteful the humor may be, Americans have a constitutional right to stand up. To access bonus episodes and listen to… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/55acc81e-3f78-4794-bb72-30fadcec7d78/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=55acc81e-3f78-4794-bb72-30fadcec7d78&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5909653&p=510333&d=1201&size=19218686) ## [The architect of modern China](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/23/nx-s1-5903219/the-architect-of-modern-china) _2026-07-23 · Throughline_ From impoverishment to global superpower, China’s supremacy happened at a breakneck speed thanks to the visionary strategy of the man who took power in 1978. Over the next decade, under leader Deng Xiaoping’s firm leadership, China flirted with capitalism and transformed its socio-economic and political systems, effectively becoming the world’s factory. Guests: Kerry Brown , professor of Chinese… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/f0ed506a-077a-42ce-8db8-9c9cda6fe6c8/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=f0ed506a-077a-42ce-8db8-9c9cda6fe6c8&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5903219&p=510333&d=2261&size=36181977) ## [The Chinafication of Walmart](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/21/nx-s1-5888726/the-chinafication-of-walmart) _2026-07-21 · Throughline_ We think of Walmart as ultra-American, but its business relationship with China has fundamentally changed how American retail operates. In this episode, how one retailer helped turn China into the world’s factory, eventually becoming the single largest U.S. importer of Chinese consumer goods. Guest: Eileen Otis , Associate Professor of Sociology at Northeastern University and author of Walmart:… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/e68a3cd4-c353-4f8d-bf87-2e2b990c894d/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=e68a3cd4-c353-4f8d-bf87-2e2b990c894d&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5888726&p=510333&d=1039&size=16637370) ## [The Simple Formula for Writing a Common App Activities List](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/the-simple-formula-for-writing-a) _2026-07-20 · Alex Ellison · The Throughline_ This article first appeared in The Grad Fit! ## Listen to "We Keep Us Safe" on NPR's Embedded podcast _2026-07-19 · Throughline_ In the summer of 2020, teenager Antonio Mays Jr. traveled a thousand miles to join a racial justice movement after the killing of George Floyd. Less than a week after he arrived in Seattle, he was shot and killed there. The case remains unsolved. In this eight-part series, hosts Sydney Brownstone of The Seattle Times and Will James of KUOW team up with NPR's Embedded to investigate Antonio's… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/throughline/2026/07/20260719_throughline_listen_to_we_keep_us_safe_on_npr_s_embedded_podcast_trailer.mp3?t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5896484&p=510333&d=182&size=2916606) ## [Never miss a game (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/3zsV33mz2YAB) _2026-07-19 · **Sponsored**_ Follow any team; get an hour and one-minute web and email reminders. ## [Route 66 and the quest to connect America](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/16/nx-s1-5895140/route-66-and-the-quest-to-connect-america) _2026-07-16 · Throughline_ Route 66 turns 100 this year. It's considered America’s most nostalgic road trip. With wide open road, sunsets that fill the whole sky, dirt-kissed Chevy trucks, and revving motorcycles. But Route 66 started out as a muddy road to nowhere. Today on the show, we’ll meet a league of gilded-age bicyclists, a ragtag gang of cross-country runners, and the very stubborn highway commissioner who turned… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/2d107c89-1d5a-4fa8-a2e9-d3810de1b187/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=2d107c89-1d5a-4fa8-a2e9-d3810de1b187&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5895140&p=510333&d=3015&size=48250549) ## [Don’t Take Our Word for It — Take Theirs](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/dont-take-our-word-for-it-take-theirs) _2026-07-14 · Nikki Roderman · The Throughline_ No one knows the college experience better than the enrolled students. ## [How wheelchairs, a river, and a spaceship challenged the status quo](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/14/nx-s1-5892497/how-wheelchairs-a-river-and-a-spaceship-challenged-the-status-quo) _2026-07-14 · Throughline_ Stories of resistance from three places: Denver, Colorado where the Gang of 19 put their bodies on the line for the right to use public transportation. Montgomery, Alabama, where a song quietly galvanized generations. And finally, on broadcast TV, where a 1966 prime-time show inspired Americans to dream bigger. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/8371d719-7598-4af5-b6e2-16c0d76485c7/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=8371d719-7598-4af5-b6e2-16c0d76485c7&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5892497&p=510333&d=1199&size=19194026) ## [The ongoing battle over asylum in America](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/09/nx-s1-5886313/the-ongoing-battle-over-asylum-in-america) _2026-07-09 · Throughline_ The U.S. has long professed to be a country where people can seek refuge. That's the promise etched into the base of the Statue of Liberty. But it's never been that clear-cut. And in June, the Supreme Court passed two rulings that could make seeking safe haven in the U.S. even more difficult. Today on the show, the story of how the U.S. asylum system was forged in response to moments of crisis,… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/0ea605a1-3da2-411a-8e52-3c9d587ad7c5/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=0ea605a1-3da2-411a-8e52-3c9d587ad7c5&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5886313&p=510333&d=3220&size=51524423) ## [American history through song](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/07/nx-s1-5884079/american-history-through-song) _2026-07-07 · Throughline_ There are many ways to look at and understand American history. In this series, we’ve shared stories about how this country was founded and how it continues to evolve over time. Today, a journey through American history, with the sounds of music. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline . See… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/7083de21-a712-49e3-855a-b962fe34cfb8/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=7083de21-a712-49e3-855a-b962fe34cfb8&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5884079&p=510333&d=1338&size=21412554) ## [The story of July 4th is messier than you remember](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/02/nx-s1-5877813/the-story-of-july-4th-is-messier-than-you-remember) _2026-07-02 · Throughline_ Devastating compromises. Midnight rides. A nailbiter vote. Statue toppling riots… and the very real possibility of death. This July 4th, we're taking you inside the making of the Declaration of Independence and how, against all odds, a single document introduced the world to a new kind of nation. Guests: Walter Isaacson, professor at Tulane University and author of The Greatest Sentence Ever… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/7bebe136-1977-46a1-a02b-9781341c7f3d/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=7bebe136-1977-46a1-a02b-9781341c7f3d&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5877813&p=510333&d=2059&size=32945302) ## [The genius and murkiness of the Constitution](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/30/nx-s1-5875451/the-genius-and-murkiness-of-the-constitution) _2026-06-30 · Throughline_ What does the Constitution mean to me? That’s a question writer and actor Heidi Schreck asked herself years ago, when she started working on her one-woman play about the Constitution — a document that she loved deeply. Today on the show, we ask the same question as we explore what the historical document means, and how it’s impacted generations of Americans. To access bonus episodes and listen to… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/d5ac0aa7-93ba-41b2-8b38-d2c4785b0eb0/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=d5ac0aa7-93ba-41b2-8b38-d2c4785b0eb0&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5875451&p=510333&d=1279&size=20475072) ## [While You Were Away: How We Spend June](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/while-you-were-away-how-we-spend) _2026-06-27 · Alex Ellison · The Throughline_ 60 Hours Nobody Sees ## [From Hormuz to Suez: the chokepoints of global power](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/25/nx-s1-5869752/from-hormuz-to-suez-the-chokepoints-of-global-power) _2026-06-25 · Throughline_ Oil may dominate the headlines about the Middle East, but the real power often flows through water. Three narrow passages - the Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz, and Bab el-Mandeb – shape how the world moves. In times of crisis, they've become chokepoints, disrupting global trade, rattling markets, and shifting the balance of power way beyond the region. In this episode, three stories from these… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/826d61c4-38b5-4a99-9831-49dc2931a006/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=826d61c4-38b5-4a99-9831-49dc2931a006&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5869752&p=510333&d=3031&size=48496727) ## [Prosperity gospel and the American dream](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/23/nx-s1-5866803/prosperity-gospel-and-the-american-dream) _2026-06-23 · Throughline_ A lot of our everyday lives are shaped by the idea that if we really believe in something, it will happen. But where does that idea come from? And what does it have to do with the American dream? Today on the show, how the prosperity gospel has blended self-improvement, religion and capitalism into an everyday recipe for success – one that any of us can try. To access bonus episodes and listen to… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/1f448a41-a41d-4c15-b493-bb7f92584114/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=1f448a41-a41d-4c15-b493-bb7f92584114&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5866803&p=510333&d=925&size=14808798) ## [PixelRift — Platforming with Level Editor (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/lrfV5avlOJ7Z) _2026-06-23 · **Sponsored**_ Includes a built-in level editor, campaign with elemental heroes, and boss encounters. ## [How the Supreme Court claimed supreme power](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/18/nx-s1-5861801/how-the-supreme-court-claimed-supreme-power) _2026-06-18 · Throughline_ The Supreme Court's 2025-26 term has been punctuated with some high-stakes cases: birthright citizenship, voting rights, presidential powers and consequential civil rights cases. Some of the most anticipated and significant cases have yet to be decided. As the justices make the final sprint to the end of the term in early July, we take stock of how the Supreme Court evolved from the weakest branch… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/de9b4a14-8190-46c4-b0f1-d1290d92223a/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=de9b4a14-8190-46c4-b0f1-d1290d92223a&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5861801&p=510333&d=3238&size=51813651) ## [Without Direction, Even The Most Accomplished Students Get Lost](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/without-direction-even-the-most-accomplished) _2026-06-16 · Nikki Roderman · The Throughline_ Students miss out of the real value of college when they don't use their resources ## [Captain America and the nation's conscience](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/16/nx-s1-5859452/captain-america-and-the-nations-conscience) _2026-06-16 · Throughline_ What does it mean to be American? For one superhero, it means donning yourself in the colors of the American flag, sticking up for the little guy, and making sure you stick to your morals. This week, we dive into the comics of Captain America, and what happened to him – and to the country – post World War II. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/c81c6622-c2ba-4279-93ea-6d1a71cd28ba/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=c81c6622-c2ba-4279-93ea-6d1a71cd28ba&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5859452&p=510333&d=781&size=12502919) ## [The shifting line between free speech and a criminal threat](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/11/nx-s1-5853482/the-shifting-line-between-free-speech-and-a-criminal-threat) _2026-06-11 · Throughline_ Threats against public officials have become much, much more common. This includes everyone from the president of the United States to members of Congress, to state and local officials, and even civil servants like local librarians. Threats have always been a part of United States history, often manifesting in times of political turmoil or cultural tension. The internet age opened a new chapter in… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/68a8a782-50cb-45fb-9074-57c48114adcd/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=68a8a782-50cb-45fb-9074-57c48114adcd&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5853482&p=510333&d=2169&size=34714941) ## [The uncensored war](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/09/nx-s1-5850734/the-uncensored-war) _2026-06-09 · Throughline_ As the U.S. escalated its intervention in Vietnam in the 1960s, the media's coverage ramped up too. Soon, the war permeated the homes of millions of Americans — by television, radio and newspaper. This week, we hear about what happened during the Vietnam War, and how the stories made visible during that time, forever transformed the way America engages with warfare. To access bonus episodes and… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/1ff1a77b-3726-4307-8f88-b8406e077ff9/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=1ff1a77b-3726-4307-8f88-b8406e077ff9&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5850734&p=510333&d=1070&size=17131817) ## [The World Cup was supposed to bring world peace](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/04/nx-s1-5845050/the-world-cup-was-supposed-to-bring-world-peace) _2026-06-04 · Throughline_ World Cup tickets are going for as high as $45,000. Not in most of our budgets. How did things get so out of hand when the tournament's founder intended to bridge class divides? Today on the show, the origins of the World Cup, from World War I to Mussolini’s fascist Italy, and how it grew into the multibillion-dollar spectacle the world is gearing up to watch. Guests: Jonathan Wilson, columnist at… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/cbcd66de-5b2f-457a-960c-ac7dbe5304a7/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=cbcd66de-5b2f-457a-960c-ac7dbe5304a7&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5845050&p=510333&d=3136&size=50180685) ## [Bayard Rustin and the March on Washington](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/02/nx-s1-5843347/bayard-rustin-and-the-march-on-washington) _2026-06-02 · Throughline_ When people remember the March on Washington they often recall the giant crowds or Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. Less known is the person who made the event possible. Today on the show, the story of Bayard Rustin, the man behind the March on Washington. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/a3450be5-6981-431c-92d3-29a738755ef2/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=a3450be5-6981-431c-92d3-29a738755ef2&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5843347&p=510333&d=1353&size=21662494) ## [History's playbook for taming the beast of inflation](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/28/nx-s1-5836471/historys-playbook-for-taming-the-beast-of-inflation) _2026-05-28 · Throughline_ Gas. Meat. Flights. Houses. The cost of living is up. Inflation is rearing its head again. And as it rises higher, inflation risks devastating economies and draining savings accounts. So what can be done about it? This week, we explore the history of inflation in the U.S., how the government has responded, and who pays the price. This episode originally aired in 2022. Guests: John Cochrane ,… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/fda304a9-2eb5-4fdd-ae07-c15f68bc7f92/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=fda304a9-2eb5-4fdd-ae07-c15f68bc7f92&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5836471&p=510333&d=2840&size=45449805) ## [Hot Topics! AI in Admissions, The Future of Work, and Career Preparedness…where is it all going?](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/hot-topics-ai-in-admissions-the-future) _2026-05-26 · Alex Ellison · The Throughline_ Liz's takeaways from a recent college admission professionals conference. ## [Yuri Kochiyamas’s lifetime of activism](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/26/nx-s1-5834334/yuri-kochiyamass-lifetime-of-activism) _2026-05-26 · Throughline_ Civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama lived a life dedicated to social justice for people of all backgrounds. Not only a pillar of the Asian-American movement, she also fought for Black liberation and the rights of political prisoners. Today on the show, how Yuri Kochiyama’s 50 years of activism was informed and practiced. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/be358281-74e7-489d-80d9-4f9bd25b4096/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=be358281-74e7-489d-80d9-4f9bd25b4096&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5834334&p=510333&d=1252&size=20034961) ## [Chovy's Blog: Agentic Coding (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/coyK7KvybipW) _2026-05-26 · **Sponsored**_ Personal posts on agentic coding, moshcode CLI, and security findings. ## [Prediction markets are making a 150-year comeback](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/21/nx-s1-5828906/prediction-markets-are-making-a-150-year-comeback) _2026-05-21 · Throughline_ Prediction market sites allow users to put money on everything from the war in Iran to the winner of the Super Bowl. But where did these markets come from? And what can that history tell us about where they might be going? Today on the show, how betting on popes and presidents long ago planted a seed for a “terrorism market” in the early 2000s, and how those early prediction markets shaped the… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/bc2370b1-41b9-4d23-ac2c-9b16b568ecc1/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=bc2370b1-41b9-4d23-ac2c-9b16b568ecc1&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5828906&p=510333&d=3094&size=49506935) ## [College Essay-Writing Workshops...In Real Life](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/college-essay-writing-workshopsin) _2026-05-19 · Alex Ellison · The Throughline_ A Countercultural Move in the Age of AI ## [Frances Perkins Goes To Washington](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5826026/frances-perkins-goes-to-washington) _2026-05-19 · Throughline_ This week, we explore the life of the first woman Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, and how in the midst of the Great Depression she helped reshape the nation by fighting for minimum wage, Social Security, and unemployment insurance. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline . See pcm.adswizz.com… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/153139dc-284f-41ab-a090-106b0846cff6/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=153139dc-284f-41ab-a090-106b0846cff6&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5826026&p=510333&d=968&size=15494670) ## [War by remote control, how drones changed modern warfare](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/14/nx-s1-5818570/war-by-remote-control-how-drones-changed-modern-warfare) _2026-05-14 · Throughline_ Drones are swarming battlefields in Ukraine, Iran, and beyond. Drone warfare is cheap, efficient, autonomous — and changing warfare forever. Today on the show, the past, present and future of battle by remote control. This episode originally published in 2021 and has been updated. GUEST: James Rodgers , war historian and author of several books about drones, including Drones: What Everyone Needs… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/fc17939f-6ff3-4877-9001-cd61256ac2bf/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=fc17939f-6ff3-4877-9001-cd61256ac2bf&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5818570&p=510333&d=3041&size=48661821) ## [Could Teaching be the Hot Job of the Future?](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/could-teaching-be-the-hot-job-of) _2026-05-12 · Alex Ellison · The Throughline_ With headlines scaring us about AI eating up jobs, there may be some hope ## [Four voices from the Great Depression](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5818655/four-voices-from-the-great-depression) _2026-05-12 · Throughline_ A glimpse into life during the Great Depression from the people that lived it. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/de3211fa-4584-483b-b8b8-abe205fb9f5c/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=de3211fa-4584-483b-b8b8-abe205fb9f5c&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5818655&p=510333&d=1113&size=17812672) ## [How our memory of war can shape the future](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/07/nx-s1-5813565/how-our-memory-of-war-can-shape-the-future) _2026-05-07 · Throughline_ All wars are fought twice: first on the battlefield, the second time in memory," writes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen. This week on Throughline, we revisit our 2022 conversation with Nguyen about how the way we remember and selectively forget the ravages of war has the power to reshape our future. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/c9b0d4a0-91ad-4455-a96b-ce541dd47651/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=c9b0d4a0-91ad-4455-a96b-ce541dd47651&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5813565&p=510333&d=2935&size=46965325) ## [How To Help Your Teenager Explore Career Interests Without Pressure](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/how-to-help-your-teenager-explore) _2026-05-05 · Alex Ellison · The Throughline_ Stop Asking Kids What They Want to Be When They Grow Up ## [The origins of the Socialist Party of America](https://www.npr.org/2026/05/05/nx-s1-5810923/the-origins-of-the-socialist-party-of-america) _2026-05-05 · Throughline_ Rapid industrialization reshaped American life in the mid-19th century. But as corporations grew larger and more powerful, working conditions for many everyday Americans worsened while wages stalled. Enter Eugene Debs, the labor organizer and founder of the American Socialist Party, who rallied workers nationwide to fight for their rights. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/3a580870-81d1-453a-8ac5-bc88af44579e/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=3a580870-81d1-453a-8ac5-bc88af44579e&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5810923&p=510333&d=1031&size=16509893) ## [Gladiators, real housewives and the pull of reality TV](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/30/nx-s1-5804508/gladiators-real-housewives-and-the-pull-of-reality-tv) _2026-04-30 · Throughline_ People used to say "believe your eyes." But these days that's not so easy to do. What we scroll through every day blurs the line between entertainment and fact. And nowhere is that phenomenon more evident than in reality television. Today on the show, we tackle the genre that takes our most potent feelings – love, hope, anxiety, loneliness – and turns them into profit. This episode originally ran… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/b6e861ee-d575-4b15-919a-79c4944520e5/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=b6e861ee-d575-4b15-919a-79c4944520e5&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5804508&p=510333&d=3115&size=49848825) ## [How Our Class of 2026 Earned over $11 million](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/how-our-class-of-2026-earned-over) _2026-04-28 · Alex Ellison · The Throughline_ And how private scholarships didn't account for a single dollar ## [The fight that shook America](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/28/nx-s1-5801444/the-fight-that-shook-america) _2026-04-28 · Throughline_ Jack Johnson was the first world Black heavyweight champion, but winning the title was only part of the battle. Every time Johnson stepped into a boxing ring, he struck a blow to white supremacy. In this week’s episode, the story of Jack Johnson and the legacy of Black athletes pushing for social change in America. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/366b93e0-bb49-4a32-898d-f3cc7b5586bb/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=366b93e0-bb49-4a32-898d-f3cc7b5586bb&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5801444&p=510333&d=903&size=14454788) ## [The billionaires' utopia blueprint](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/23/nx-s1-5795800/the-billionaires-utopia-blueprint) _2026-04-23 · Throughline_ Starbase. Prospera. California Forever. Mars. From private cities to interstellar colonies, tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel have backed experiments designed to operate beyond the borders — and laws — most of us live by. So we wondered: has this happened before? In this episode, we visit an Arctic archipelago, homesteads floating in the ocean, and a startup city in Honduras to… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/b250f500-a925-4bcd-aa3a-2f5fb24b443d/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=b250f500-a925-4bcd-aa3a-2f5fb24b443d&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5795800&p=510333&d=2914&size=46624688) ## [The College Planning Window You Don't Want to Miss](https://alexellison.substack.com/p/the-college-planning-window-you-dont) _2026-04-21 · Alex Ellison · The Throughline_ Why Spring of Junior Year Is Your College Planning Sweet Spot ## [Why the wall was built](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/21/nx-s1-5792899/why-the-wall-was-built) _2026-04-21 · Throughline_ As the United States expanded into a global superpower, it simultaneously strengthened its national borders and began to limit who could come in and out of the country. In this week’s episode, the story of how one of the very first walls meant to divide people was built on the US Southern border. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/81d5ea85-b20b-4573-86b5-d0f46db54f75/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=81d5ea85-b20b-4573-86b5-d0f46db54f75&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5792899&p=510333&d=793&size=12693508) ## [The original clickbait king](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5786610/the-original-clickbait-king) _2026-04-16 · Throughline_ When we call something "clickbait," we don't mean it as a compliment. But let's be real: we also click. It's hard to resist a spicy story, and 19th-century newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst knew it. At a time when most papers merely reported events, his papers created them, sending reporters out to perform daring rescues, solve sensational murders, and even meddle in geopolitics. Today on… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/450e0b3b-d6cb-4ba1-a66e-52d8144209a2/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=450e0b3b-d6cb-4ba1-a66e-52d8144209a2&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5786610&p=510333&d=2891&size=46265661) ## [How the US became America](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/14/nx-s1-5784071/how-the-us-became-america) _2026-04-14 · Throughline_ In the late 1890s, the United States fought wars and backed independence movements around the world. By the time the fighting was over, the US emerged as a new global power —and with it, a new identity. This week: how the U.S. became an empire, and why it started calling itself America. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/ab7583bd-40ae-48bc-9774-73a81f9bcc8d/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=ab7583bd-40ae-48bc-9774-73a81f9bcc8d&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5784071&p=510333&d=939&size=15039095) ## [Will AI destroy us... or save us?](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/09/nx-s1-5777610/will-ai-destroy-us-or-save-us) _2026-04-09 · Throughline_ Like it or not, artificial intelligence is deeply rooted in our lives. Its invisible architecture stretches everywhere from dating apps to medical care. In this new world, what remains uniquely human? On today's episode, we explore the tension between our love of AI and our fear of it — and try to decode the humans behind the machines. This episode originally published in March of 2023. Guests:… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/9181c2a7-a3ec-4776-bc41-ed0a6c291b35/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=9181c2a7-a3ec-4776-bc41-ed0a6c291b35&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5777610&p=510333&d=3078&size=49254905) ## [Who gets to be an American citizen?](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/07/nx-s1-5775918/who-gets-to-be-an-american-citizen) _2026-04-07 · Throughline_ The 14th Amendment guaranteed equal citizenship after the Civil War, but who exactly counted as a citizen? Today on the show, the story of Wong Kim Ark, a man born in San Francisco to Chinese parents, whose Supreme Court case defined birthright citizenship more than a century ago. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/4882ab11-8e3e-4d88-af35-d968048e9aed/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=4882ab11-8e3e-4d88-af35-d968048e9aed&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5775918&p=510333&d=926&size=14830115) ## [Al Capone and the transformation of the IRS](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/02/nx-s1-5770194/al-capone-and-the-transformation-of-the-irs) _2026-04-02 · Throughline_ Gangsters, banksters, and politicians. Today on the show, how the hunt for Al Capone helped turn the IRS into one of the U.S. government's most powerful tools — and most effective weapons. This episode originally published in May of 2025. Guests: Joe Thorndike , historian for Tax Analysts and author of Their Fair Share: Taxing the Rich in the Age of FDR. Paul Camacho , retired special agent for… [Listen](https://tracking.swap.fm/track/XvDEoI11TR00olTUO8US/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510333/npr.simplecastaudio.com/923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3/episodes/6cd48651-87ba-41ea-8002-f6d92c939771/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=923a8c19-6266-45f0-88de-3997479f3ca3&awEpisodeId=6cd48651-87ba-41ea-8002-f6d92c939771&feed=gvAZ3nqF&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5770194&p=510333&d=3097&size=49565449)