Embedded
4.9/5
Critic Rating
NPR's home for audio documentaries brings untold stories to light through deeply reported narrative series. We go to hidden corners of the headlines to explore what's been sealed off, undisclosed, or overlooked – and the people at the heart of those stories. Support in-depth storytelling that matters by subscribing to Embedded+ and unlock early access to new episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/embedded
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Giacomo Bagni • Orecchiabile Newsletter • Mar 28, 2025
"Nella sua semplicità, Alternate Realities è lo straziante racconto di una famiglia in difficoltà e un invito a riflettere su come si possa provare a convivere con chi percepisce il mondo in maniera completamente diversa dalla nostra, temi universali su cui mi sembra particolarmente importante soffermarsi in questo momento storico pregno di oscurità e divisioni. /////////////// (Season: Alternate Reality) In its simplicity, Alternate Realities is the heartbreaking story of a family in difficulty and an invitation to reflect on how we can try to live with those who perceive the world in a completely different way from ours, universal themes on which it seems particularly important to dwell in this historical moment full of darkness and divisions."
Score: 5
Alice Florence Orr • PodcastReview.org • Mar 10, 2025
"(Season: Alternate Realities) Sharp, poignant, and brave, “Alternate Realities” is a Turgenevian tragedy for our complicated times. If you devoured Things Fell Apart, you’ll find something compelling in this mini-series."
Score: 5
Lauren Passell • Podcast The Newsletter • Feb 24, 2025
"(Series: Alternate Realities) I was struck by what a beautiful and dark family story this is, about coming to grips with our own mortality. The stakes are high, like so high, everything is painfully vulnerable, and you really cannot miss the ending."
Score: 4.5
Jay Shifman • Jay Shifman Blog • Aug 5, 2022
"I actually found the first couple of episodes in this series interesting yet maddening. Anyway, then came their latest episode, To Police or Not To Police. Which, and I don’t use this world lightly, was damn near perfect...hearing people question what to me seems obvious but, sadly, for too many seems radical, it means a lot, akin to finding out that maybe that weird kink you’re into isn’t actually so weird at all but everyone else is just to ashamed to talk about it. And I appreciate Kelly and her team so much for that freedom."
Score: 5
Andy Meek • Forbes • Feb 24, 2021
"Some of the best news-focused podcasts trade breadth for depth...it’s tailor-made for listeners who prefer to go deep on a topic, rather than get a surface-level overview of what’s happening from one day to the next."
Score: 5
Forrest Hodges • Discover Pods • Sep 17, 2018
"Embedded is an extremely polished show that tells many stories pressing in today’s political climate but they also tell non-political stories about hidden worlds."
