Throughline

Rund Abdelfatah

podcasts@npr.org

For verified host and producer emails, sign up to view.

Booking Overview

A narrative history interview show that connects major events and institutions to the forces that shaped the present, typically featuring academics, authors, and subject-matter experts. Agencies could credibly pitch historians, political and economic scholars, policy experts, and authors with deep research expertise or relevant books; booking is likely high difficulty given the show's NPR profile and preference for authoritative specialists.

Metrics

Episodes: 454

Frequency: Multiple_weekly

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Estimated listeners: >100k

Gender skew: Unknown

Location: USA

Instagram: 8.0M followers

Contact Information

podcasts@npr.org

For verified host and producer emails, sign up to view.

Host

Rund Abdelfatah - Peabody Award-winning journalist and public-radio host.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

high
Typical Credentials:  
University professors, historians, social scientists, policy specialists, and authors with deep subject-matter expertise and a strong connection to the historical topic under discussion.
Required Achievements:  
Published books on the relevant subject, University professorship or research leadership, Recognized expertise in history, politics, economics, or international affairs

Recent Guest Discussions

Dan Wang - Deng Xiaoping's Strategy And China's Rapid Economic And Political Transformation.

Kerry Brown - Deng Xiaoping's Leadership And China's Transformation Into A Global Superpower.

Eileen Otis - Walmart's Business Relationship With China And Its Impact On American Retail And Global Trade.

Recent Topics

History, Politics, Economics, Geopolitics

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Throughline
:

The song that fueled protests and a legacy of hope

August 04, 2026

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.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship a...

The lightbulb conspiracy is both real and everywhere

July 30, 2026

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 Money correspondentMarkus Krajewski, author of The Great Lightbulb ConspiracyGiles Slade, author of M...

The license to be funny in America

July 28, 2026

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 Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline.See...

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