Throughline
{{Short description|NPR historical podcast and radio program}}
{{About|the NPR podcast|the literary term|through line}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox podcast
|title = Throughline
|image = Throughline_Logo.png
|genre = history, news commentary
|hosting = Rund Abdelfatah
Ramtin Arablouei
|language = English
|updates = Weekly
|length = 30–60 minutes
|production =
|began = February 2019
|ended = present
|ratings =
|provider = National Public Radio
|url = {{official website|https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline}}
}}
Throughline is a historical podcast and radio program from American public radio network NPR. The podcast aims to contextualize current events by exploring the historical events that contributed to them. Its episodes have outlined the history of modern political debates, civil rights issues, and domestic and international policy. The show is NPR's first history podcast.
Hosts and program
Throughline is hosted by Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah, radio producers who previously worked on NPR programs such as TED Radio Hour and How I Built This. Arablouei is Iranian-American and Abdelfatah is Palestinian-American; both have spoken about the importance of Middle Eastern representation in American media.
The podcast focuses on the relationship between the latest news and historical events - "go[ing] back in time to understand the present." Its sound design incorporates discussion between the two hosts, as well as interviews with historians and audio clips from historical newscasts and recordings.{{cite news |last1=Sturges |first1=Fiona |title=Throughline — a smart history podcast that tells us about the world today |url=https://www.ft.com/content/53ee8306-418f-11e9-9499-290979c9807a |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=10 March 2019 |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810074016/https://www.ft.com/content/53ee8306-418f-11e9-9499-290979c9807a |url-status=live }} The show also aims to tell the histories of underrepresented and forgotten people in the United States, often airing stories about racial and religious minorities.{{cite news |last1=Farzaneh |first1=Sam |title=The immigrants telling stories history missed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51183311 |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=BBC News |date=10 February 2020 |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615174254/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51183311 |url-status=live }}
History
Throughline launched on February 7, 2019.{{cite news |title=Introducing 'Throughline,' NPR's New History Podcast |url=https://www.npr.org/about-npr/689725238/introducing-throughline-npr-s-first-history-podcast |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=NPR |date=31 January 2019 |language=en |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121011402/https://www.npr.org/about-npr/689725238/introducing-throughline-npr-s-first-history-podcast |url-status=live }} It gained notability in 2020 and 2021 with episodes that addressed the history of policing in America, the development of the N-95 mask, the establishment of the electoral college, and the rise of the modern white power movement.
Starting on January 15, 2021, NPR has made Throughline episodes available to local public radio stations as a radio show.{{cite news |last1=Falk |first1=Tyler |title='Code Switch,' 'Throughline' podcasts will join NPR's radio portfolio |url=https://current.org/2020/11/code-switch-throughline-podcasts-will-join-nprs-radio-portfolio/?wallit_nosession=1 |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Current |date=3 November 2020 |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130080427/https://current.org/2020/11/code-switch-throughline-podcasts-will-join-nprs-radio-portfolio/?wallit_nosession=1 |url-status=live }}
Awards and reception
In 2019, Throughline was included in both TIME and The Atlantic lists of the 50 Best Podcasts of the year.{{cite magazine |last1=Dockterman |first1=Eliana |title=The 50 Best Podcasts to Listen to Right Now |url=https://time.com/5524332/best-podcasts-to-listen-to/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |magazine=Time |date=20 December 2019 |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503200640/https://time.com/5524332/best-podcasts-to-listen-to/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=McQuade |first1=Eric |last2=Standley |first2=Laura Jane |title=The 50 Best Podcasts of 2019 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/12/50-best-podcasts-2019/604165/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=The Atlantic |date=27 December 2019 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324052959/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/12/50-best-podcasts-2019/604165/ |url-status=live }} It was also included in lists of the best political or historical podcasts by Oprah Magazine, Town & Country, and GQ in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Vincenty |first1=Samantha |title=16 of the Best Political Podcasts |url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/g28497733/best-political-podcasts/?slide=4 |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Oprah Magazine |date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503200641/https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/g28497733/best-political-podcasts/?slide=4 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Foussianes |first1=Chloe |title=11 History Podcasts That You Should Subscribe to Right Now |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g31485695/best-history-podcasts/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Town & Country |date=18 March 2020 |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004191002/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g31485695/best-history-podcasts/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Nash |first1=Brad |title=The Best Podcasts We're Listening To This October 2020 |url=https://www.gq.com.au/lifestyle/art-design/the-best-podcasts-were-listening-to-this-october-2020/image-gallery/3bb40ed04d9fdf1210def14c4fc5b594?pos=3 |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=GQ |date=8 October 2020 |language=en |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503200703/https://www.gq.com.au/lifestyle/art-design/the-best-podcasts-were-listening-to-this-october-2020/image-gallery/3bb40ed04d9fdf1210def14c4fc5b594?pos=3 |url-status=live }}
Throughline was nominated for Best History Podcast in the 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards,{{cite news |last1=Fields |first1=Taylor |title=2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-01-21-2021-iheartradio-podcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=iHeartRadio |date=21 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405224723/https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-01-21-2021-iheartradio-podcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/ |url-status=live }} and won the award in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Fields |first1=Taylor |title=2022 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: See The Full List of Winners |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-02-03-2022-iheartradio-podcast-awards-see-the-full-list-of-winners/ |website=iHeart |access-date=27 October 2023 |language=en |date=3 February 2022}}
Throughline won a Peabody Award for a 2021 episode about the history and culture of Afghanistan.{{cite web|url=https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/throughline/ |title=Throughline: Afghanistan: The Center of the World |access-date=6 June 2022| work=PeabodyAwards.com |date=6 June 2022 |language=en}}
Throughline won the Ambie Award for Best Production and Sound Design in 2024.{{Cite web |title=2024 Ambie Award Winner: Best Production & Sound Design |url=https://www.ambies.com/2024-nominees-and-winners#BestProductionandSoundDesign |access-date=March 28, 2024 |website=The Ambie Awards}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline Official website]
- [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/throughline/id1451109634 Throughline] on iTunes
- [https://twitter.com/throughlineNPR Throughline] on Twitter
{{NPR}}
{{Podcasting}}