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Embedded Embedded - an NPR Original longform podcast - journeys alongside the world's biggest headlines, exploring how and why things happen the way they do. From the stories behind police shootings caught on video, to visiting a town ravaged by the opioid epidemic; from the class-and-race dialogues buried inside the World Cup to living alongside NRA evangelists, we take a topic and inhabit it to explore what's been sealed off, undisclosed, or never brought to life - and return with a deeply-reported portrait of why these stories matter.

In The Last Cup, our latest season, we face Lionel Messi - one of the world's most prominent soccer stars. The 2022 World Cup marks his last chance secure the coveted trophy – and a last chance for glory in his home country of Argentina. Hosted by Argentine journalist Jasmine Garsd, The Last Cup is much more than a sports story. It's a tale of immigration and race, of capitalism and class, of belonging and identity. A story for anyone who's ever felt like an outsider in their own home.
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Embedded - an NPR Original longform podcast - journeys alongside the world's biggest headlines, exploring how and why things happen the way they do. From the stories behind police shootings caught on video, to visiting a town ravaged by the opioid epidemic; from the class-and-race dialogues buried inside the World Cup to living alongside NRA evangelists, we take a topic and inhabit it to explore what's been sealed off, undisclosed, or never brought to life - and return with a deeply-reported portrait of why these stories matter.

In The Last Cup, our latest season, we face Lionel Messi - one of the world's most prominent soccer stars. The 2022 World Cup marks his last chance secure the coveted trophy – and a last chance for glory in his home country of Argentina. Hosted by Argentine journalist Jasmine Garsd, The Last Cup is much more than a sports story. It's a tale of immigration and race, of capitalism and class, of belonging and identity. A story for anyone who's ever felt like an outsider in their own home.

Most Recent Episodes

The Last Cup: Postscript

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with teammates after the victory in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by David Ramos - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) David Ramos - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images hide caption

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David Ramos - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

The Last Cup: Postscript

The 2022 World Cup has ended. With his left foot, Messi wrote a more spectacular finale than we could have imagined. In the final installment of The Last Cup, Jasmine Garsd reveals the magic of Argentina's first World Cup victory since 1986.

The Last Cup: Postscript

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The Last Cup: Bonus Episode

Lionel Messi of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Australia at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Dec. 3 in Doha, Qatar. Alex Pantling/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Pantling/Getty Images

The Last Cup: Bonus Episode

Argentina has made it to the quarter finals of the 2022 World Cup, but the road has been a winding one. In our bonus episode, we take a moment to reflect on the scores and stumbles of the qualifying rounds, and speculate on what's to come for our hero, Lionel Messi. Host Jasmine Garsd discusses Argentina's anxiety with producer Julieta Martinelli and sports reporter Fidel Martinez.

The Last Cup: Bonus Episode

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The Last Cup: Part 5

Messi and the Argentine team at the World Cup María Jesús Contreras for NPR hide caption

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María Jesús Contreras for NPR

The Last Cup: Part 5

After a falling-out with the Argentine national team and a shaky reconciliation, Messi eventually finds his way back to play at the 2021 Copa America for yet another chance at redemption. And then it's on to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, his last shot at the most coveted trophy. In the final chapter of Lionel Messi's journey, we catch up to the present. Our host Jasmine Garsd reflects on what a win would mean for Messi and for Argentina - and what it really takes to come home.

The Last Cup: Part 5

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The Last Cup: Part 4
María Jesús Contreras for NPR

The Last Cup: Part 4

With the disappointment of the 2010 World Cup behind them, Argentines are hopeful that Lionel Messi might break their losing streak at the 2011 Copa America, the largest tournament in South America. Messi is prepared to give his all, looking for a way to deliver a victory for his home country. Meanwhile, host Jasmine Garsd makes the long journey back to Argentina after many years away and faces an unexpected tragedy.

The Last Cup: Part 4

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The Last Cup: Part 3
María Jesús Contreras for NPR

The Last Cup: Part 3

Lionel Messi finally gets a chance to put on Argentina's national jersey, but something is off. His time abroad has fundamentally changed the way he plays. Things get even more complicated when the Argentine soccer legend, Diego Maradona, becomes coach of Messi's 2010 World Cup team. With Messi under increasing scrutiny, the hometown crowd begins to question if he can ever get out from under Maradona's shadow.

The Last Cup: Part 3

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The Last Cup: Part 2

Teen Lionel Messi plays soccer in front of a younger version of himself getting on a plane to leave Argentina. María Jesús Contreras for NPR hide caption

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María Jesús Contreras for NPR

The Last Cup: Part 2

From his earliest goals on the soccer fields of his hometown in Argentina to his arrival in Spain's Barça Football Club, host Jasmine Garsd follows the journey of a gifted kid who would go on to become one of the best. In Argentina, where the national sport is a fierce obsession, Lionel Messi was the one that got away.

The Last Cup: Part 2

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The Last Cup: Part 1
María Jesús Contreras for NPR

The Last Cup: Part 1

NPR and Futuro Studios present The Last Cup, a podcast series about soccer and the immigrant experience.

The Last Cup: Part 1

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Changing the Police: The Walk-Out

Former Police Commissioner of the Yonkers Police Department John Mueller and former head of the Yonkers' NAACP Karen Edmonson. José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR hide caption

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José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR

Changing the Police: The Walk-Out

The series concludes: we check back in with John Mueller after his resignation as head of the Yonkers Police Department. And we consider what his departure means for police reform efforts in the city at a time when tensions between police and some members of the community remain high.

Changing the Police: The Walk-Out

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Changing the Police: To Police or Not To Police

Social worker with the FDNY, Morgan Nevins, goes out on a mental health call. Cities across the country are trying alternatives to the police to respond to mental health crises. José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR hide caption

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José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR

Changing the Police: To Police or Not To Police

In Yonkers, as in the rest of the country, a substantial number of police calls involve situations where someone is having a mental health crisis. But are cops the right people to answer those calls? A growing number of cities across the country think the answer might be "No." Some have launched crisis response programs that offer alternatives to the police for non-violent mental health emergencies. But in Yonkers, for now, the police still handle these calls. In this episode, Embedded, along with its series partner, The Marshall Project, looks at what happens when the police are the only option people have. And we ask: when it comes to how much the police "police," is less more?

Changing the Police: To Police or Not To Police

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Changing the Police: Charlie Walker's Plan

Lieutenant Charles Walker has worked for years to recruit more black officers into the Yonkers Police Department José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR hide caption

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José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR

Changing the Police: Charlie Walker's Plan

Every four years, the Yonkers Police Department starts the process of hiring new officers. This time, the department is specifically recruiting people of color through a program known as "Be The Change." Of course in Yonkers, there are plenty of Black people who don't feel it's up to them to "change" a department that has a long history of misconduct. But there's also a strong community of Black officers who question whether reform is possible until the Yonkers Police more accurately reflect the community they serves. In this episode, Embedded, in partnership with the Marshall Project, explores why there are so few officers of color on the Yonkers police force and why even those who've made it onto the force often feel the odds are stacked against them.

Changing the Police: Charlie Walker's Plan

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