All Episodes

Hello.

If you've just found us, we recommend
starting at the beginning. But it's up to you.


  • 1

    Louis, Can of Cola


    Music

    “Sheets Two” by Mountains, off the album Choral
    "Doghouse" and "Holo" by Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    24:13
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 2

    Maeve, Lamppost


    Music

    Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    21:25
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 3

    Dennis, Pillow


    Music

    Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    22:14
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 4

    Tara, Bar of Soap


    Music

    "L'elisir d'amore, Una furtiva lagrima," Gaetano Donizetti. Performed by the MIT Symphony Orchestra, Adam Kerry Boyles, director, and Brendan Buckley, vocalist.

    Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    21:40
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 5

    Ana, Elevator


    Music

    Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    17:49
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 6

    Paul, Tooth


    Music

    Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    23:26
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 7

    Chioke, Grain of Sand


    Music

    Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    26:47
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 8

    Annie, Jack o' Lantern


    Music

    Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    23:42
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 9

    Ayo, Balloon


    Music

    Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    24:00
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 10

    Sean, Subway Seat


    Music

    Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    24:00
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • Bonus Episode: Deleted Scenes


    Music

    Music by Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    10:36
    Download
    MP3
  • 11

    Shannon, Bath Towel


    Music

    Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    27:45
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 12

    Alligator, Alligator


    Music

    "Winter Theme," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Fifth Partita for Solo Violin," Johann Sebastian Bach, Performed by Ben Goldstein
    "Angle of Light" by David Hilowitz
    "Curiously & Curiously," Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    22:33
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 13

    Emmy, Pregnancy Test


    Music

    "Spring Cleaning," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Bridgewalker," Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    22:45
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 14

    Petey, Baseball Cap


    Music

    Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    20:06
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 15

    Connor, Painting


    Play Episode
    25:51
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 16

    Alex, Alex, and Sebastian, Russian Dolls


    Music

    "Are We Loose Yet," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Vik Fenceta," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Nutcracker, Dance de la Fee Dragee," Tchaikovsky, (Creative Commons)
    "So We Go (Strings Only)," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Thannoid," Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    27:24
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 17

    Chioke, Pane of Glass


    Music

    Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    22:08
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 18

    Jennifer, Newspaper


    Music

    Music in this episode from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    17:57
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 19

    Charu, Satellite


    Music

    Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    19:25
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 20

    Scott, Stethoscope


    Music

    Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    21:13
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • Bonus Episode: The Magic 8 Ball


    Music

    Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    08:04
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 21

    Tami & Ed, Sharpie


    Music

    "Intermezzo," Podington Bear
    "Plasticity," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Zipper Problems," Copy

    Play Episode
    27:27
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 22

    Josh, Chainsaw


    Music

    "The Crisper," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Trailrunner," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Organisms," Chad Crouch
    "Winter Theme," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Intercept," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Dance of the Snow Flakes," Rachel Chaiya Blumberg

    Play Episode
    23:47
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 23

    Louise & William, Shirt & Pants


    Music

    "Crumpet," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Rainday," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Our Fingers Cold," Blue Dot Sessions
    "I Didn't Know," Copy

    Play Episode
    24:55
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 24

    Mirror, Mirror


    Music

    "Slimheart," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Spinning Meter," Blue Dot Sessions
    "The Spinnet," Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    18:48
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 25

    Eugene, Tattoo


    Music

    "Even Dreams of Beaches," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Basketliner," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Waterbourne," Blue Dot Sessions
    "One Needle," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Greyleaf Willow," Blue Dot Sessions
    "These Times," Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    23:40
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 26

    Deleted Scenes II


    Play Episode
    16:53
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 27

    Colin, Ten Dollar Bill


    Music

    Music by Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    21:48
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 28

    Lillian, Song


    Play Episode
    12:43
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 29

    Maria and Joel


    Music

    "Algea Tender," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Diatom," Blue Dot Sessions
    "Collecting Samples," Blue Dot Sessions
    Pan Flute by Kerri
    "Gymnopedies," Blue Dot Sessions
    "White Limit," Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    20:11
    Download
    MP3
  • 30

    Martin, Paper Towel Dispenser


    Play Episode
    15:01
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 31

    Adam, Stool


    Play Episode
    21:09
    Download
    MP3
  • 32

    Vinny, Vending Machine


    Music

    Service of Compline, sung 29 May 2016 at Trinity Church Boston

    Les Petits Chanteurs de Passy sing Salve Regina of Hermann Contract

    Les Petits Chanteurs de Passy sing the pavane Belle qui tiens ma vie of Thoinot Arbeau

    Thomas Tallis, Lamentatione Jeremiae Prophetae

    Spem in alium, Janet Cardiff

    Trenton Channel, Blue Dot Sessions

    Dowdy, Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    27:02
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 33

    Dina, Pacifier


    Music

    Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    22:33
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 34

    Atsuko, Bagpipes


    Music

    Blue Dot Sessions.

    Ave Maria, Anton Bruckner, performed by the USNB Sea Chanters Ensemble.

    Play Episode
    23:13
    Download
    MP3
  • 35

    Anonymous, Mousetrap


    Music

    Blue Dot Sessions, Chad Crouch, and Thomas Tallis.

    Play Episode
    18:17
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • 36

    Michael, Phone Booth


    Play Episode
    18:39
    Download
    MP3
  • 37

    The Wait


    Music

    Chad Crouch
    Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    12:20
    Download
    MP3
  • 38

    Sal, Sock


    Music

    Blue Dot Sessions

    Play Episode
    22:27
    Transcript
    PDF
    Download
    MP3
  • Making Trouble: Deleted Scenes from Sal, Sock


    Play Episode
    11:04
    Download
    MP3
  • 39

    Alzo, Rental Car


    Music

    Blue Dot Sessions "One Dirty Sleeve"
    Blue Dot Sessions "Kvelden Trapp"
    Blue Dot Sessions "Kirkus Interlude"
    Blue Dot Sessions "Kovir Straight"
    Blue Dot Sessions "Shepman"

    Play Episode
    23:06
    Download
    MP3
  • 40

    Ginny, Roomba


    Play Episode
    21:01
    Download
    MP3
  • 41

    Jes, Baguette


    Music

    Music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Play Episode
    18:42
    Download
    MP3
  • 42

    Charles, Party Horn


    Play Episode
    18:35
    Download
    MP3

PRESS

“Poignant, touching and at times laugh-out-loud funny examinations of the human condition...prepare to think deeply about yourself, to laugh and at times, cry.”
--BBC

“It's made with care and understated wit, and it has a surprising frisson of seriousness, quietly provoking thoughts about the objects in our lives, unwittingly laden with our emotions."
--The New Yorker

“Laugh-out-loud funny, surprisingly informative and often moving...a profound pleasure.”
--Time Magazine

"What starts out as a clever send-up, with its ticklishly absurdist dialogue...is also more than that, with surprising moments of poignancy."
--The New York Times

Everything is Alive has its own realness, the enveloping authenticity of good films and theater and novels: Frankenstein’s monster has feelings, so why wouldn’t a can of cola have them too?”
--The Guardian

“The reality-construction is exquisite…Everything Is Alive is a unique, quirky, and smart little package with an unexpectedly moving edge.”
--New York Magazine

"Everything Is Alive is doing more than just making you laugh—it’s putting you under its spell."
--The A.V. Club

"If Terry Gross lived in a Murakami-like novel, her interviews would sound like these."
--Quartz

“Touching and powerful...unlike anything you’ve ever heard before.”
--CBC

“Everything is Alive will change the way you view the world...it’s as bizarre as it sounds and just as wonderful, too.”
--LA Review of Books

ACCOLADES

Winner, Miller Audio Prize 2020
The A.V. Club "The Podcasts That Defined The Decade"
Apple Best Podcasts of 2018
Time Magazine 50 Best Podcasts to Listen to Right Now 2019
Time Magazine Top 10 Podcasts of 2018
New York Magazine Best Podcast Episodes of 2018
Indiewire Best Podcast Episodes of 2018
Indiewire Best Podcast Episodes of 2019
LA Review of Books Best Podcasts of 2018
BBC Culture's 10 Best Culture Podcasts of 2018
Quartz Favorite Podcasts of 2019
CBC's 25 Best Podcasts of 2018
Fast Company's 15 Best New Podcasts of 2018
The Globe and Mail Best Podcasts of 2018
The Economist Best Podcasts of 2019
Webby Best Interview/Talk Show Podcast 2019
Webby People's Voice Award 2019

Everything is Alive is an interview show in which all the subjects are inanimate objects. In each episode, a different thing tells us its life story--and everything it says is true. A proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.

WHO WE ARE

Ian Chillag is the host and creator of Everything is Alive. Previously he was a producer for NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and he co-created and hosted the NPR podcast How To Do Everything. He’s also worked on videos for The New York Times, contributed regularly to the literary magazine A Public Space, and has recorded four episodes of a podcast about a post-apocalyptic public radio pledge drive besieged by pestilence and death that he can’t quite figure out what to do with.

Jennifer Mills produces Everything is Alive by looking all over the world for objects that are willing to speak. She is currently a writer and producer for National Public Radio, previously worked on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and taught at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she received her Masters in Performance Art. Jennifer is also the editor-in-chief of the long-running, non-award winning, weekly publication The Jennifer Mills News.