Rephonic
Artwork for On Point

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

WBUR
Donald Trump
Artificial Intelligence
Iran
United States
Jeffrey Epstein
China
Conservatism
Immigration
Climate Change
Trump Administration
Prageru
Israel
Neuroscience
Education
Human Brain
Slavery
Strait Of Hormuz
Capitalism
WBUR
Near-Death Experiences

Get ready for your aha moment: Every weekday, host Meghna Chakrabarti pierces your news bubble to expose the whole story. Getting answers to the questions that need to be asked, examining our history and the human condition. No topic is too complicated or off the table. It’s all On Point.

PublishesDailyEpisodes505Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for On Point

Latest Episodes

Marine archaeologist Sean Kingsley has explored more than 350 shipwrecks -- from pirate ships in the Bahamas to British India Steam Navigation ships off the coast of Ireland. We ask him what discoveries he’s made so far and what else he hopes to find... more

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty on why Democrats need to embrace the "sticky symbolism" of billionaire private jets.

***

Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

A more diverse distribution of money and power could potentially benefit people of all ages. But to get there, what steps can we take toward intergenerational justice?

***

Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.... more

Since 2017, the number of CEOs in their late 60s has doubled for Fortune 500 companies. What happens when our country’s most powerful business leaders don’t retire?

***

Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

1A
1ANPR
On the Media
On the MediaWNYC Studios
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker

Recent Guests

Chip Connolly
Founder of the Modern Elder Academy; former CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality
Modern Elder Academy / Joie de Vivre Hospitality
Episode: Senior Class: Old dogs, old tricks
Damian Fogden
Executive coach who advises CEOs on transitions out of leadership
Executive coaching practice
Episode: Senior Class: Old dogs, old tricks
Jeremy Ney
Adjunct professor of business at Columbia University and former economic policymaker; author-to-be
Columbia University; American Inequality (newsletter); The Opportunity Map
Episode: Senior Class: Old money
Paul Taylor
Former executive vice president of the Pew Research Center; author of The Next America, Boomers, Millennials, and the Looming Generational Showdown
Pew Research Center; Author
Episode: Senior Class: The silver ballot box
Katherine Clark
Santa Fe County Clerk in New Mexico
Santa Fe County Clerk's Office
Episode: Senior Class: The silver ballot box
Samuel Moyn
Professor at Yale Law School and author of Gerontocracy in America
Yale Law School
Episode: Senior Class: The oldigarchy
Sarah Longwell
Conservative political commentator; publisher of The Bulwark; author
The Bulwark; Focus Group host
Episode: Ex-Republican Sarah Longwell says she knows how to defeat Trumpism
McKay Coppins
Author and staff writer for The Atlantic, wrote Sucker, My Year as a Degenerate Gambler
The Atlantic
Episode: Inside the life of a 'degenerate' sports gambler
Daniel Swain
Climate scientist, UCANR; research partner at NCAR
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources; NSF NCAR
Episode: How the 'super' El Niño could reshape global weather

Host

Meghna Chakrabarti
Host of On Point; lead author and moderator with a focus on deeper, informed conversations across politics, policy, and culture.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 4.7k ratings
  • Episode on ghosts

    Did not appreciate yesterday’s story about the paranormal. When the guest said “trust yourself but also don’t trust yourself” at the end, my heart ached for all of the people out there who have witnessed paranormal phenomena. The kind of language used to ensure an experiencer doesn’t trust their own intuition—taking into consideration all the “what could be an explanation for this”—honestly resembles the rise of anguish that created the #metoo movement. There are SO many people studying this phe... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    iowan89
    United Statesa month ago
  • Awesome!

    I listen literally every day at work. I do tedious manual labor, so intellectually stimulating programming like this is a godsend through my headphones. Sincerely incredible interviews and great array of topics. Hats off to Meghna and the whole team for making this show happen. Best radio show in the game

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JG TY
    United Statesa month ago
  • On point

    Ads spoil it

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ecoej
    United States2 months ago
  • On point “club”

    Please stop badgering us about joining your “club.” I don’t need another subscription just to read producers notes and get the jackpod a little bit early.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    struggling to hear
    United States2 months ago
  • …but the ads!

    UPDATING MY PREVIOUS COMMENT.

    I buy from Quince and use Squarespace because I HEARD ABOUT THEM ON another podcast where the host READS THEM GENTLY. The advertisers have to know that we will NEVER buy stuff from the annoying ads!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Wanda Laugh
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics note perceived biases on certain episodes and guest selection.
Listeners praise the host's preparation and the depth of interviews.
Audience often appreciates accessible, thoughtful exploration of complex issues.
Guest diversity and topic range are cited as strengths.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#75
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#220
Italy/News
Apple Podcasts
#53
China/News
Apple Podcasts
#196
Austria/News
Apple Podcasts
#222
South Africa/News
Apple Podcasts
#240
Hong Kong/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Senior Class: The oldigarchy
Q: What historical examples are used to contextualize gerontocracy beyond the U.S.?
Moyn references France's 19th-century discourse on gerontocracy and contrasts it with American history, where youth and renewal have long been celebrated, showing that age-related power dynamics are a long-standing debate.
Senior Class: The oldigarchy
Q: Why is the federal judiciary discussed as a focal point for gerontocracy, and what are the concerns with lifetime appointments?
The episode notes that lifetime appointments insulate judges from political winds but contribute to an aging bench, potentially reducing adaptability and representation for younger generations.
Senior Class: The oldigarchy
Q: What evidence suggests that aging in Congress is problematic for democracy?
Moyn explains that aging correlates with reduced commitment to long-term issues like climate change, limits on new ideas, and a sense of disengagement among youth, which weakens trust in democracy.
Senior Class: Old dogs, old tricks
Q: How can companies mitigate the risks of aging leadership?
By fostering mutual mentorship, implementing succession planning, ensuring boards are proactive and younger, and creating opportunities for senior leaders to contribute through a portfolio of roles rather than a single, permanent CEO role.
Senior Class: Old dogs, old tricks
Q: What is a modern elder, and why is it relevant to leadership today?
A modern elder is someone who combines curiosity with wisdom, and is valuable for bringing diverse perspectives into leadership, including mentoring younger employees while learning from them to stay innovative.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About On Point

What is On Point about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekday interview show that tackles big, timely issues with depth and nuance. Conversations span politics, policy, economics, media, technology, and culture, often featuring academics, journalists, policymakers, and industry experts who provide historical context, data-driven analysis, and diverse perspectives. The program is notable for rigorous questioning, a calm yet incisive tone, and guests who bridge scholarly insight with real-world implications, making it useful for listeners who want a thorough understanding of complex topics and how they affect everyday life.

Where can I find podcast stats for On Point?

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

How many listeners does On Point get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for On Point, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for On Point?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for On Point, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does On Point have?

To see how many followers or subscribers On Point 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 On Point?

These podcasts share a similar audience with On Point:

1. 1A
2. Fresh Air
3. Here & Now Anytime
4. On the Media
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of On Point are there?

On Point launched 21 years ago and published 505 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 On Point?

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 On Point?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for On Point from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for On Point?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of On Point. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on On Point?

Recent guests on On Point include:

1. Chip Connolly
2. Damian Fogden
3. Jeremy Ney
4. Paul Taylor
5. Katherine Clark
6. Samuel Moyn
7. Sarah Longwell
8. McKay Coppins

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days