This Is Life With Lisa Ling: 10 Best Episodes, According To IMDb

Content Warning: This article contains discussions of mature subject matter.

Investigating the most obscure corners of the country, Lisa Ling is one of the most interesting investigative journalists on TV right now. Whether she’s talking to gang members or investigating  Oklahomas’ meth problem or exploring the unique world of furries, Lisa Ling is willing to talk to people that many journalists would shy away from.

Lisa Ling has been all over the country after seven seasons of This Is Life With Lisa Ling, and talked to a ton of interesting people. By willing to go where others won’t, she has opened the eyes of countless viewers to the parts of life they didn’t know about or had previously chosen to ignore.

10 Mississippi Gangland – 7.9

In the season 4 episode of the documentary series, Lisa travels to Mississippi to better understand one of the largest and most dangerous gangs in the state.

Despite showcasing a ruthless gang, Lisa is able to humanize so many of the people involved and focuses mostly on those that are trying their best to walk away from that lifestyle and turn their own lives around. It’s an episode where Lisa’s empathy is able to truly shine.

9 Inside Mongol Nation – 8.0

The Mongols are one of the most violent and notorious motorcycle gangs ever. Although they are nowhere near the power and influence they had during their peak, they are still an extremely dangerous gang that is very much still operating today. Despite the gang’s notoriety, most people don’t quite know what day-to-day life is like inside the gang.

Lisa examines the gang’s signature tattoos, rules, and membership requirements for the biker club. The episode does get a little intense at times, as Lisa is told that getting the wrong tattoo could get you in some serious trouble.

8 Americas First Muslims – 8.0

Another season 4 episode sees Lisa investigating the history of Islam in the United States, a religion that’s been stateside in some capacity for far longer than most people realize.

In the episode, Lisa expels a lot of misconceptions about American Muslims and speaks with those that have family roots that go back to some of the first slaves brought to the U.S. Lisa also talks to those that are using the power of Islam to reshape their communities for the better.

7 The Meth Crossroads – 8.2

A 2018 episode This is Life With Lisa Ling saw Lisa travel to the southern United States to talk to law enforcement officers in Oklahoma and get a better understanding of their job on a day-to-day basis, especially those that work in rural communities.

In recent years, Oklahoma has become the epicenter of a meth epidemic that is sweeping across many parts of rural America. Lisa talks to police officers about what they’re doing to curb the production of meth and why people turn to such a destructive drug in the first place.

6 Transbeauty – 8.2

Yet another episode from the impressive fourth season of the series sees Lisa investigating a beauty pageant for transgender people. In the episode, Lisa is granted behind-the-scenes access to the pageant and learns about it directly from those who are competing.

With emotions running understandably high, Lisa lets the contestants tell their stories, allowing for one of the most eye-opening and inspiring episodes the show has aired. The audience learns about the struggles many of the contestants face in their personal lives and why the pageant means so much to them.

5 Gender Fluidity – 8.2

In season 5, Lisa explores the way people think about gender in the U.S. and clarifies numerous misconceptions about being gender fluid.

In the episode, Lisa speaks with multiple individuals across the gender spectrum, allowing them to tell the stories of their struggles and triumphs as they work on finding themselves and dealing with those in their personal lives with whom they still hope to find validation.

4 The Myth of MS-13 – 8.4

After reporting on the dangerous and notorious Mexican drug cartel, Lisa revisits the gang to see how things have changed in the last decade. Lisa deals with many of the difficult political issues surrounding the gang and how it destroys communities on both sides of the border.

Lisa went so far as to meet with ex-members of the gang, a risky interview that results in some truly fascinating insight into the cartel.

3 Sexual Healing  – 8.7

In an episode that is relatively light-hearted compared to many of the topics she has covered over the years, Lisa talks with several couples and individuals about their intimacy issues and practices that are utilized to rediscover their spark – a topic that few documentaries are eager to discuss.

Many of the issues discussed in the episode are quite common, resulting in a sex-positive discussion that may encourage others to do the same with their own partners. Although every couple is unique, Lisa does well to tear down the stigma of talking about sex that has resulted in many unhappy relationships.

2 Furry Nation – 8.8

Even though many people are familiar with the topic, in this 2018 episode of This is Life, Lisa Ling dives into the world of furries like many have never seen before.

Demystifying and humanizing those that are a part of the fandom, Lisa talks to multiple furries and even attends a furry convention in Seattle. It is a fascinating piece of journalism on a well-known but seldom talked-about group of people.

1 Porn Ed – 9.0

The most popular episode of the CNN series is also one that explores a topic that few people are willing to talk about openly. In the opening episode of the show’s 6th season, Lisa dives into the world of how porn is shaping the next generation.

Discussing things like expectations and the general perception of intimacy, as well as just how early children are being exposed to porn on the internet, the episode is a jolting look into the impact that the porn industry is having on society today.

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