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Open to Debate

Open to Debate
Political Speech
Israel
Citizens United
Dark Money
Democracy
Donald Trump
Iran
Color Blindness
Racism
First Amendment
Ukraine
Solar Geoengineering
United States
Civil Rights Movement
Social Policy
Campaign Financing
Cultural Influence
Secure the Border Act
Hamas
Hezbollah

America is more divided than ever—but it doesn’t have to be. Open to Debate offers an antidote to the chaos. We bring multiple perspectives together for real, nonpartisan debates. Debates that are structured, respectful, clever, provocative, and driven by the facts. Open to Debate is on a mission to restore balance to the public square through expert moderation, good-faith arguments, and reasoned ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes452Founded19 years ago
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NewsSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Where do you watch the latest movie everyone’s talking about—on Netflix at home or in a packed theater? Are theaters the irreplaceable heart of cinema, creating cultural moments and spectacle, or is streaming the future with its convenience and globa... more

AI can write code, diagnose diseases, design buildings, and create art. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude and autonomous robots are transforming industries once seen as automation-proof, fueling fears of mass job loss. Some argue that machines will become s... more

Are we in a News Media Golden Age, or a fragmented era? In this “Generational Divides” episode, Reason editor-at-large Nick Gillespie brings together Baby Boomer, Millennial, and Gen Z voices to debate how our media landscape is changing. Are more pl... more

Today we're playing you an episode of Smart Girl Dumb Questions, a show hosted by journalist and frequent Open to Debate guest moderator Nayeema Raza. She speaks to Andrew Ross Sorkin about some highly-debated topics, from a looming market crash to A... more

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Recent Guests

Simon Johnson
Nobel Prize-winning economist; MIT Sloan School of Management professor
MIT Sloan School of Management
Episode: Will AI Make Work Obsolete?
Andrew Yang
Entrepreneur and former presidential candidate
Forward Party; Noble Mobile
Episode: Will AI Make Work Obsolete?
Rumman Chowdhury
Data scientist and social scientist; founder of Humane Intelligence Public Benefit Corporation
Humane Intelligence Public Benefit Corporation
Episode: Will AI Make Work Obsolete?
Chris Hughes
Facebook co-founder; entrepreneur and author
Facebook; Economic Security Project
Episode: Will AI Make Work Obsolete?
Rachel Janfaza
Founder of The Up and Up, journalist contributing to the Bulwark
The Up and Up
Episode: Generational Divides with Nick Gillespie: The Golden Age of News Media
Kurt Andersen
Writer, novelist, and former host on public radio, co-founder of Spy Magazine
Episode: Generational Divides with Nick Gillespie: The Golden Age of News Media
Nellie Bowles
Journalist and co-founder of The Free Press, former New York Times reporter
The Free Press
Episode: Generational Divides with Nick Gillespie: The Golden Age of News Media
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Dealbook Editor at the New York Times and CNBC Squawk Box host
The New York Times
Episode: Smart Girl Dumb Questions: Will the Market Crash in 2026? With Andrew Ross Sorkin
Nicolas Niarchos
Journalist and author focusing on the global supply chain and human rights in mining
Episode: Think Twice About War, Tech, & Dirty Supply Chains: The Elements of Power with Nicolas Niarchos

Host

John Donvan
Host of Open to Debate

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.8k ratings
  • The most valuable podcast in America

    John Donvan is extraordinary as a moderator. The guaranteed thing we will takeaway when well qualified debaters take each other on in a respectful manner is just how nuanced and complex the issues are. Something our political climate would never admit.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dklc
    United States3 months ago
  • You couldn’t find a better boomer than Joe Nocera??

    As a 73 year old, I’ve heard a lot of quibbling, interrupting, know-it-all curmudgeons. Put Nocera in a rocking chair on the porch to yell at passersby, but please, no more debates.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    No props 4 neurotic rich..
    United States4 months ago
  • Open to Debate = Liberals and Leftists vs. Liberal Republicans

    I have listened to this for years and rarely is there a true conservative on here. Most times I see a conservative, it’s one of the “I’m a conservative, BUT obviously I hate Trump and he’s a horrible human being and I vote Democrat now.”

    John Donovan is pretty fair but he and his OTD team don’t seem to understand everyday GOP voters—they bring in the limousine, Ivy League elitist GOP-ers to debate. Like or hate Trump, his views are held by a majority of the right half of the country today and ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ConstitutionalConservativeVet
    United States6 months ago
  • The Absolute Best

    The civil discourse and timely topics give me life! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    khooks1
    United States7 months ago
  • Is trump the only debate topic?

    Every single episode is some variation of “is trump good”. We get it, he’s a dumpster of a human. Surely there are other topics of discussion?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jim9864
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the structured and respectful debates that illuminate complex issues.
Overall, the podcast is recognized for its mission to foster civil discourse in a divided political landscape.
There are criticisms regarding perceived biases in guest selections and the overall balance of viewpoints.
Many find the content intellectually stimulating, highlighting the diversity of perspectives presented.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#182
Singapore/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#220
Argentina/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#250
Ukraine/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will AI Make Work Obsolete?
Q: What should students do to prepare for AI-driven changes in the job market?
Be flexible, develop critical thinking, and pursue adaptable skills; coding is less of a guaranteed path and more emphasis should be on versatile problem-solving and learning how to learn.
Smart Girl Dumb Questions: Will the Market Crash in 2026? With Andrew Ross Sorkin
Q: What is the financial innovation that we're seeing now?
One of the things that's happening right now is after the Genius Act, which was passed earlier this year, there's a whole new move to basically make private equity investments and venture capital investments and private credit available to the public.
Think Twice About War, Tech, & Dirty Supply Chains: The Elements of Power with Nicolas Niarchos
Q: What can anybody outside the Communist Party do at this point?
The US government is trying to catch up but lacks the resources and approach to effectively challenge Chinese dominance in the sector.
Think Twice About War, Tech, & Dirty Supply Chains: The Elements of Power with Nicolas Niarchos
Q: Are companies pushing for transparency to their own supply chains or government policy and regulations?
There is some movement towards recycling by companies like Apple, but corporate accountability often falls short, as governance issues still prevail.
Think Twice About War, Tech, & Dirty Supply Chains: The Elements of Power with Nicolas Niarchos
Q: Is there any hope for that historical cycle being broken in this round?
While some communities show unique progress, the larger picture remains grim due to systemic issues of corruption and exploitation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Open to Debate

What is Open to Debate about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast focuses on fostering civil discourse around contentious issues, bringing together diverse perspectives for structured and respectful debates. It covers a wide array of topics including politics, technology, culture, and global affairs, aiming to provide a platform for expert analysis and good-faith arguments. The format encourages listeners to engage critically while appreciating the nuances of varying opinions, striving towards a more balanced public dialogue. Notably, it seeks to counteract the polarization prevalent in contemporary discourse and has evolved from its previous iteration as a debate series into a platform emphasizing understanding and respect in debates.

Where can I find podcast stats for Open to Debate?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Open to Debate. 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 Open to Debate and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Open to Debate get?

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What are the audience demographics for Open to Debate?

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How many subscribers and views does Open to Debate have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Open to Debate has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Open to Debate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Open to Debate:

1. Intelligence Squared
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. Making Sense with Sam Harris
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. The Gray Area with Sean Illing

How many episodes of Open to Debate are there?

Open to Debate launched 19 years ago and published 452 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 Open to Debate?

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 Open to Debate?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Open to Debate from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Open to Debate?

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What guests have appeared on Open to Debate?

Recent guests on Open to Debate include:

1. Simon Johnson
2. Andrew Yang
3. Rumman Chowdhury
4. Chris Hughes
5. Rachel Janfaza
6. Kurt Andersen
7. Nellie Bowles
8. Andrew Ross Sorkin

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.

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