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The Fall of US

The Fall of US

By: Matt Pierce
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About this listen

 The Fall of Us – A Deep Exploration of Modern American Life What does it mean to feel trapped in a life that isn't your own? Why do so many dream of escape but never take the first step? The Fall of Us is a storytelling podcast that dives deep into the emotional and psychological struggles of everyday Americans, revealing the unspoken truths of our society. Hosted by Matt Pierce, each episode tells real, immersive stories of people wrestling with identity, expectations, and the dream of something more. From small towns to sprawling cities, from wanderers to those left behind, The Fall of Us examines the quiet moments of reckoning that define us all.

🔹 Perfect for fans of The Fall of Civilizations, This American Life, and Radiolab
🔹 Thought-provoking, deeply researched narratives
🔹 Stories of escape, self-discovery, and the weight of societal expectations

Follow The Fall of Us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. New episodes drop weekly.Copyright Matt Pierce Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Junior: The Outlaws We Used To Understand

    Junior: The Outlaws We Used To Understand
    Mar 7 2025
    In this episode of The Fall of US, journalist Matt Pierce takes us back to his childhood to explore the life of a man named Junior—a small-time hustler, thief, and self-proclaimed professional cockfighter. Junior wasn’t well-respected, and he certainly wasn’t well-behaved, but he was part of the world nonetheless. He was the kind of character society used to tolerate, even if begrudgingly, before the world became too structured, too rigid, too unwilling to make space for people like him.

    Through Junior’s story, we explore the concept of palilalia, a speech disorder that made him repeat his words in a whisper, perhaps contributing to his status as an outsider. We reflect on what it means to exist on the fringes of society, how we react to those who don’t fit in, and what we can learn from the ones we’re so quick to dismiss. In an era when America was truly great, we accepted the odd, the flawed, and the misunderstood. So what happens when we no longer do? Join us for a deep dive into the life of an outlaw we used to understand.
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    12 mins
  • The Weight of Staying: Trapped Between Duty and Desire

    The Weight of Staying: Trapped Between Duty and Desire
    Mar 7 2025
    What keeps us from leaving the life we know? Why do so many dream of escape but never take the first step? In this episode of The Fall of Us, we follow the story of Chesrea—a woman born into a life that wasn’t hers, caught between family duty and the deep longing to see the world beyond her small Mississippi town. Through her story, we explore the quiet struggles of those who yearn for something more but feel the invisible chains of expectation holding them back. What does it really mean to leave? And more importantly—what does it cost?

    🎧 Listen now to The Fall of Us—a podcast about modern American life, self-discovery, and the things that keep us tethered in place.
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    11 mins

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