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 | Weekly | Episodes | 119 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PoliticsNews CommentaryNews | |||
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Latest Episodes
Early on Jan 3, news broke that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured by U.S. troops and was being flown to New York to stand trial. Later that day, President Donald Trump said the United States would take control of Venezuela’s massi... more
Matthew Yglesias has been a disrupter his entire career. He started as an early adapter to the web, running a blog before blogs were a thing. He went on to co-found the media company Vox and has written all over the internet. He joins host Megan McAr... more
Stories about violence, the declining economy and our fractured culture dominated this year. But if you look beyond the headlines and examine the full data, 2025 wasn’t as bad as it seemed. Join host Megan McArdle as she puts the year into perspectiv... more
After Charlie Kirk’s death on her campus, Utah Valley University president Astrid Tuminez found herself in an impossible position. She was at the helm of Utah’s largest public university and had to find a way to lead her campus after the tragedy. Now... more
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At a moment when truth is increasingly hard to find, the time is right for this podcast. It’s also a pleasure to listen to intelligent and well-informed people discussing current events, as opposed to the doubtful actors currently in government.
Apple Podcasts5Maria M-P
United States4 months ago - Love this show!
Very well produced! Love their takes on current events
Apple Podcasts5KyraCwnUnited States6 months ago - Liberal B.S
What you would expect from the arrogant liberal media.
Apple Podcasts1this show used to be goodUnited States7 months ago - 5 stars!
Really enjoying this show, especially with their inclusion of more diverse viewpoints lately and some respectful disagreement on the show.
Apple Podcasts5EhenxidiebrndiUnited States7 months ago - Blinded by left views
Being an independent in this era is hard. listening to these guys act like Bill Maher was too dumb to see past Trumps “act” and not take his assessment at face value that he is actually personable in a private setting. Their hatred is so blinding. And all the popular comedians are right leaning currently and they hardly know who any of them are even though they have the biggest pods in the country. So painful how hard they are trying to stay left.
Apple Podcasts1EBKeverydayUnited States9 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #34 | United States/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #194 | United States/News |
Apple Podcasts | #52 |  Canada/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #118 |  United Kingdom/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #22 |  Germany/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #41 |  Italy/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?
This podcast focuses on fostering a spirit of hope and positivity in discussions surrounding contemporary challenges in America. It emphasizes the potential for progress and constructive conversation, countering the prevalent doom-and-gloom narratives found in much of today's media. Central topics include effective problem-solving, innovation, and community building, while also exploring prospective paths for overcoming obstacles facing the nation. Unique in its optimistic approach and commitment to actionable insights, the podcast engages listeners who are eager to hear about solutions and possibilities rather than only issues and frustrations.
Where can I find podcast stats for Reasonably Optimistic?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Reasonably Optimistic. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Reasonably Optimistic and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
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. Post Reports
2. The 7
3. The Opinions
4. Radio Atlantic
5. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
How many episodes of Reasonably Optimistic are there?
Reasonably Optimistic launched 2 years ago and published 119 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?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for Reasonably Optimistic?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Reasonably Optimistic from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Reasonably Optimistic?
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What guests have appeared on Reasonably Optimistic?
Recent guests on Reasonably Optimistic include:
1. Astrid Tuminez
2. Jared Polis
3. Neal Stephenson
4. Max Boot
5. Kori Schake
6. Charlotte Marian Pearson
7. Bina Venkataraman
8. Theodore Johnson
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.