Reasonably Optimistic
The Washington PostEnough with the doom and gloom — we’re ready to talk about how America can thrive. Hosted by Washington Post Opinion columnist Megan McArdle, “Reasonably Optimistic” is your weekly conversation about how America can get unstuck and build a better future. Stop feeding your rage and start embracing our possibilities. Episodes drop Wednesdays.
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 186 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | News CommentaryNewsPolitics | |||
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Latest Episodes
The American Dream can feel farther away than ever. Housing is expensive, good jobs seem harder to find and the people getting rich seem to be concentrated in a handful of big cities. But some of America’s biggest fortunes are being built far from th... more
There’s a lot to complain about in the American political system: Congress lurches from deadline to deadline, presidents claim more and more power and each side of the aisle treats the other as an existential threat. So how did our political system g... more
A viral debate over bringing iced coffee to a job interview may seem trivial. But it points to a bigger divide over what employers are looking for when college degrees, cover letters and résumés reveal less than they used to.
Host Megan McArdle expl... more
Artificial intelligence feels different from previous technological innovations because it can write, reason, analyze and generate ideas. In other words, it can do at least some of the things many white-collar workers thought made them irreplaceable.... more
Key Facts
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Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
- Right wing denialism
Megan McArdle has devoted her time at the WP to distracting people from the train wreck that it is the Bush administration. It’s not working, Meg.
Apple Podcasts1JoeMac86
United States10 days ago - Vocal fry
It’s so hard to listen to guests like Tim Lee , whose vocal fry makes it painful to listen.
I generally listen to about half the episodes, because the other half seem irrelevant or click baity.
A listener survey like what some podcasts use, might be helpful
Apple Podcasts3Sarita7981United States24 days ago - Megan is uninformed
I’ve tried to be generous to this host, but she is a consistently disappointing interviewer and then I gave up on her when she completely misrepresented abortion laws in my state. She is woefully uninformed and apparently unwilling to grapple with complex issues and think things through beyond her own religious bias. She may like to think of herself as thoughtful, but when she takes things at surface-level and doesn’t bother to look any deeper, it becomes clear that she would rather congratulat... more
Apple Podcasts1bmgdem789United Statesa month ago - My brain just shrivelled
What in the goop.. Listening to the episode on the arguments for erecting data centres I feel like my brain just atrophied. Main argument seems to be the net positive impact will be economical and money is a well known food group and water alternative isn’t it
Apple Podcasts1Mollymollypop
United Kingdoma month ago - Arday
Truly enjoyed Thais episode. Good questions marched clarification by the guest. He was a fraud and he was found. Sad that this is his way out.
The credibility of scholarship is important and it should be color neutral.
Apple Podcasts5Nldv890
Philippines2 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #48 | United States/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #177 |  Canada/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #69 |  Germany/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #92 |  France/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #250 |  Australia/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #23 |  Israel/News/News Commentary |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Reasonably Optimistic
What is Reasonably Optimistic about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Reasonably optimistic weekly conversations explore practical paths for how America can thrive, balancing analysis with constructive takes. Across episodes, expect thoughtful discussions on policy, economics, culture, and social dynamics, often featuring scholars, journalists, and practitioners who challenge status quo thinking with pragmatic reform ideas. Noteworthy is a consistent emphasis on bipartisan or cross-ideological approaches and accessible, real-world implications for everyday life and long-term prosperity.
Where can I find podcast stats for Reasonably Optimistic?
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How many listeners does Reasonably Optimistic get?
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What are the audience demographics for Reasonably Optimistic?
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How many subscribers and views does Reasonably Optimistic have?
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Which podcasts are similar to Reasonably Optimistic?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Reasonably Optimistic:
1. Central Air
2. The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg
3. The Dispatch Podcast
4. Interesting Times
5. The Ezra Klein Show
How many episodes of Reasonably Optimistic are there?
Reasonably Optimistic launched 3 years ago and published 186 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact Reasonably Optimistic?
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What guests have appeared on Reasonably Optimistic?
Recent guests on Reasonably Optimistic include:
1. Fabien Curto Millet
2. Roland Fryer
3. Stephanie Slade
4. Charles Fain Lehman
5. Tim Lee
6. Dan Jones
7. Megan McArdle
8. Andy Masley
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.