This American Life

It shuts off if your screen goes dark for power saving. You can't fast forward in the program, it just keeps playing. It hasn't been updated since August 2014. I think they have abandoned it after we paid for it

Whether it is appreciating how to stock vending machines on an aircraft carrier, how to babysit your brothers, sell a mango, educate our children, catch a fraud, live like a beaver or survive summer camp, the stories stick to you. The team at TAL have changed the way I see the world. The app is a great way to keep up with the latest and favorites. My daughter and I share stories so a way to join a group and keep up with a listened to list would be great.

Kudos to the app for making these great podcasts so readily available. The app itself has some issues: the app doesn't update to show the new podcasts, and a more updated list is shown on their mobile site vs the app. If the podcast is interrupted by a call or exited, the app will not save your position. Th app sometimes has issues playing a podcast, as well. Good job on fixing which podcasts have been heard; keep the improvements going and it will be a great app with amazing content powering it.

I live This American Life, but their App needs a little work. I have a real hard time saving shows to listen to offline... They only work 1/3 of the time. The rewind and pause button often restarts the whole act or show instead. I'd love to have a feature to check off all the shows I've watched online instead of just on the app.

I love This American Life. That's why I was more than happy to pay for the app, despite reviews that mentioned it crashing and having bugs. Sure enough, I've encountered plenty of those.. But if I just push play and don't touch the app until the podcast is over, everything usually works out just fine.

The app us much better than previous versions but still has some bugs, such as disabling other apps from using bluetooth audio controls until you reboot after playing an episode. Nonetheless a huge improvement over the last one I had installed. No fundraising interruptions!

I purchased this app hoping to be able to play episodes like any normal podcast app. But it doesn't even get the basics right. I can't control playback with my Bluetooth headphones. When I pause and play it restarts the episode from 0. Also it limits downloads to 5 episodes at a time. The content itself is good but you might as well download the episodes in mp3 format and play them with some other player

TAM is not only fantastic entertainment, but a true cultural touchstone. So glad the app is on Android. It's an easy app to interface with, and the shows are well organized, so it is not hard to find what you are looking for. More than 500 hours of Ira Glass and his merry gang of journalists, comedians, and writers are right here at your fingertips. AND it's all free! What else could anyone ask for?

I have a 2 hour commute every day, and I don't know what I'm going to do once I listen to every show in the archive. But that'll be a while from now since I'm still listening to shows from 1996. As soon as I get in the car I grab my phone and turn on TAL (I have a Bluetooth enabled car radio) and off I ride. It feels like I have good old Ira Glass with me as I drive and that's helpful because he keeps my mind engaged with great stories interesting facts and fascinating people. Love the show.

The main issue with this Application is starting and stopping a story. If you can listen to an entire show then you are fine. However if you pause and take a phone call or use another app then you often have to restart the show and try and fast forward to where you left off. That is if you are lucky. Usually you just see the buffering circle spin and you wait for nothing to happen. So, I love the show but often the app stinks.

I use this app to practice listening English skill, so I need the script feature. Also, it is really hard to navigate the time bar to the time I want. You can see some video apps like MX Player, their navigation feature is really good. Hope the app is updated soon, since it is 1 year already from the last update

I love these stories. Nothing beats TAL for entertainment value and human interest stories. The app has some bugs. The pause/play feature skips forward sometimes but you can move the play head so it's not that much of an issue. I love that you xan download five at a time for offline use and that is automatically updates every week with new content. This is the best $2.99 I've spend in a long time!

As others here have mentioned, this is a wonderful show that deserves your support. However, the app is very buggy. It crashes too frequently, and it frequently loses your place in an episode between listens. Even during listens it sometimes stops allowing you to properly skip around the episode. But it's nice that it lets you store up to five episodes offline. I'd prefer if that number were much higher, though...it should depend on your device's storage capacity IMO.

I listen to TAL exclusively with this app. The sound quality is excellent. I download an episode I want to hear when I want to hear it (usually via WiFi), and it plays flawlessly on my LG3G. Previous android versions were frustratingly buggy, crashing constantly. Not sure if the improvement is due to the improved TAL app or android upgrade, or both, but this iteration is the best so far. That said, I haven't tried searching for past episodes so can't comment on that.

Love, love, LOVE the radio show, and thrilled to have it all at my fingertips, but the app needs some work. It rarely remembers where you left off, and frequently crashes when you try to resume an episode. It would also be helpful if when navigating it would remember the episode you last listened to and go back there, so you didn't have to manually scroll through ten years of old episodes to find where you left off. This is by far my favorite podcast, just wish the app worked better.

I really enjoy This American Life for it's thought provoking stories. I love that you can go back and listen to early shows. The app works well, but wish it would hold your place better. If you pause for more than a few minutes it starts back over.

There is no radio program, or non-fiction show on tv that is as good asThis American Life. If you're not much of a a radio fan, then the only thing you do turn on the radio for, should be this show... or leave the radio off all together and listen to any episode, free online. I know i sound like i work for them... but sadly i don't. I also never review anything. Ever. This show is beyond worthy of my making an excption.

UPDATED REVIEW: Loving the latest version of this app! The audio stopping and remembered episode issues were fixed making a far more enjoyable listening experience. I highly recommend this app. Thanks so much for the improvements. PREVIOUS REVIEW: If these issues were fixed, this app would be awesome. Cons: Screen off = audio stops and you have to restart episode from the beginning. Weekly episode doesn't download or won't play when it does. App doesn't remember which episodes you've already heard.

I love listening to all of the shows but if you want to pause an episode and come back to it later, don't expect it to actually start at the same spot you stopped, nor is it easy to use the small time bar to get to the place you left off at. It takes several seconds to process what you pressed then the app crashes 75% of the time. If you're able to listen to an episode straight through, this is perfect.

Best radio show ever. The app, however, must do a better job representing TAL. When playing a downloaded episode, stops playing when the screen powers off or if you use another app while listening. Only solution is to set the display setting to 10 minutes. Then, after turning the screen back on every 10 minutes, the player starts the episode over. I then have to try to find where I left off. Obviously not good to listen to while driving. Using Samsung Note 4 on 4.4.4.

Galaxy S5 with KitKat. Even after force closing and android saying the app is closed, the app stays in my notification bar. Turning off he phone is the only way to fully close it. I love TAL, and the app has the newest episodes quickly, but with this hassle it seems easier to wait and use a podcatcher later in the week...

This show is absolutely amazing! I listen to it to fall asleep, when driving, when I have free time, and even over the speaker at work! The Android app keeps crashing. I reopen the app a couple times and it works. Unfortunately there's nowhere close to the features I can use on my iPad Mini's app.

The app used to work done with my Galaxy S4 but I just upgraded to a Samsung Note 4. The app apps playing the episode when the screen fades to black... And I unlock the phone and it starts the episode over again. None of my other audio apps do this. For years, this was a great app. Please fix!

Absolutely love it, but every time I listen to a show, my phone's lock screen is replaced with the "This American Life" background instead of my normal one. Even if I don't listen to a show, the display doesn't return to default until I restart the phone. This has been an issue since I downloaded it. Also, the playback does not cooperate with Bluetooth devices. Aside from a few technical flaws, it's a wonderful app, definitely worth it.

I have been listening to This American Life for years and love the show. When they first came out with their first app, it did not work very well but I persevered and kept telling them so. They have listened to their audience and improved their app. There are a few more tweaks to go, but it is so much better and is well worth some of the glitches to hear the show.

I really enjoy this radio program, and this seemed like a great way to listen to older episodes that couldn't be found on my normal podcast app. Unfortunately this application malfunctions frequently and doesn't have an easy way to jump to a spot in the program if you miss something or have to start over when the app spontaneously shuts down.

I greatly enjoy listening to This American Life and the general layout and navigation of the app is great. However, once I start the app and load a podcast, I can't ever close it unless I turn off my phone completely. Even a restart leaves the app running. On the Galaxy S4 the last podcast I was listening to shows up on my lock screen. Also, once a podcast has been loaded, it's almost impossible to load a different one. A hard restart is needed to clear the app out of the cache. I have tried using the Android task manager and a third party app cleaner to get the app to close and clear the podcast from memory but that doesn't work either. Would love to know a tip to get the app to close properly.

TAL has been a fixture in my life for years--practically as long as they've been airing episodes (I remember first hearing shows in 1996, I think, maybe 97, in North Carolina). And now the app is functional on a Samsung Note 3! Playback is working, the timer bar actually works, and I'm again using the app! One tweak: at the end of episodes, the app will freeze, forcing restart. However, having at least made it through the episode, I'm much happier than before. Thanks!

I love TAL - their programming is excellent. However, I have a Galaxy Note 3, and the app has never worked on it. I can't play podcasts in my car because they stop whenever the phone screen turns off. It also doesn't update to the latest episode - I'm still stuck with episodes that aired in April. I've tried updating my phone, removing and reinstalling the app, standing on one foot while meditating, and nothing seems to fix the app. I'll be happy to update my rating when the app improves!

Love having every episode available for streaming. The new feature of saving 5 episodes for offline listening is great. I'd give it 5 stars except it can't remember where I am in a show. If I pause a show for more than a few seconds, when I press play it starts over from the beginning.

If your headphones come out, if you pause the app, etc. the show starts over at the beginning. It's then hard to find where you were in the episode as the seeking function is quite unwieldy. That said, it's worth it to make it easier to listen to past TAL episodes.

Just needs to confirm better to let the OS know it's done playing a podcast! The notification for the outcast will stay for days and the little x won't work. Z But! The Vincent and usability within the app is fantastic, love tal. Almost feel bad taking a star, just want developers to know there's more to do :)

Great radio show however app is very buggy. Often you cannot close it. Often when you pause or take a call it starts show over again losing your place. Sometimes will not start and circle just spins. Occasionally it works well. Nice to be able to store 5 shows in memory for use with no coverage. Galaxy Note 4 now but same w Note 2.

The app is good to explore the TAL universe- episodes are easy to find, good selection by staff. App crashes often and there are a some bugs that can be annoying like the back button doesn't work or the 30 sec reply will take you to the beginning of the episode. Overall the app is good for any regular TAL listener that likes to favorite the best episodes and file them neatly.

The new app is much better! I really appreciate the increased number of downloads: one can have, and that is much less trashy. Its all crashes a lot, but it does not interfere with the listening experience as often. This American life is amazing, this application is not. It will regularly stop playing episodes midway through, at which point I need to reset my phone to get the app working again ( until it stops, again).

It offers an in depth look into current situations. It also covers matters of the the heart and the reality of how people live, as well as fascinating history from a different lens. I listened to ira, commuting back and forth from university each way 1.5 hours every day, on npr. I also streamed this show every day that I lived overseas and just needed this exact thing to listen to. I still listen. I love that it makes everyone, regardless of everything, human and then asks what we should feel or do.

All their shows are included and well organized, which is lovely but frustratingly I can't mark ones I've already heard as read. The app quits itself reliably about every 20 minutes. Selecting a specfic playback point isn't even worth attempting. Whoever designed this app should be fired... if that hasn't happened already.

The show its so good, I had to get the app but can't even play old episodes. The new ones start right away but old ones just keep loading and never start....

It does not work super well wuth the Samsung galaxy but the show is so outstanding, it's worth putting up with the kinks. I would probably use the app more if it worked better.

The application is full of bugs and doesn't run smoothly with my Galaxy S6 but the show is so good that I put up with it. There's definitely room for improvement but I'm happy to pay the $4 to support the show. Totally worth it.