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On the Media

WNYC Studios
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Elon Musk
Artificial Intelligence
Democratic Party
Harvard University
Social Media
World War II
Climate Change
Shortwave Radio
Democracy
Public Broadcasting
Conspiracy Theories
Silicon Valley
Bob Menendez
Iran
Doge
Voice Of America
United States
Media Coverage

On the Media is a weekly show that uses the media as a lens to understand our world. On the Media listeners say the show is an essential companion, helping them survive the firehose of media coming at them 24/7. Hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, the show does not do ‘hot takes’, instead offering listeners context, historical parallels, media analysis and often a much appreciated deep... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1913Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for On the Media

Latest Episodes

AI researchers are warning that the technology they’re creating could kill us all. On this week’s On the Media, unpacking the feverish debate over the dangers of artificial intelligence. Plus, why people find AI chatbots more convincing than their fe... more

The hit HBO series, How To With John Wilson was huge when it came out during the pandemic, 2020. Wilson begins each episode with a sort of mundane premise like how to split a check with your friends or how to properly throw out batteries, and then cl... more

I.C.E. agents have targeted Springfield, Ohio since Haitians lost Temporary Protected Status. On this week’s On the Media, a reporter from The Haitian Times describes the culture of fear that has ensued. Plus, how did AI chatbots end up in public sch... more

On last week's show we devoted a segment to the plague of online influencers making endorsement videos for politicians in exchange for money, but we wanted to hear from a creator's perspective. Host Micah Loewinger sat down with Dave Jorgenson, who, ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
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Recent Guests

Wedly Cazy
reporter at the Haitian Times
Haitian Times
Episode: Haitians Live in a Dual State in Ohio Right Now
Nadia Jean-Vrac
social service director at the Haitian Community Network
Haitian Times/Haitian Community Network
Episode: Haitians Live in a Dual State in Ohio Right Now
Pierre d'Amers-Belle
neuroscience student and college freshman
Unspecified
Episode: Haitians Live in a Dual State in Ohio Right Now
Viles Dorsenville
Executive Director of Springfield's Haitian Support Center
Haitian Support Center
Episode: Haitians Live in a Dual State in Ohio Right Now
Wilkins Regus
owner of El Paso Caribbean Market in Springfield
El Paso Caribbean Market
Episode: Haitians Live in a Dual State in Ohio Right Now
Jessica Winter
staff writer at The New Yorker
The New Yorker
Episode: Haitians Live in a Dual State in Ohio Right Now
Dave Jorgenson
journalist, video creator, host of Local News International
Local News International
Episode: The Pentagon is Waging War on Its Own Paper
Dylan Avery
Documentary filmmaker of Loose Change
Loose Change
Episode: A Look Back at *The* 9/11 Truther Movie
Natalia Fodich
Attorney specializing in telecom issues
Law/Telecommunications
Episode: Finance Bros Are Coming for the Public Airwaves

Hosts

Brooke Gladstone
Host of On the Media; long-standing journalist with extensive experience in media criticism and analysis.
Micah Loewinger
Co-host with a focus on investigative reporting, media systems, and storytelling.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 11.1k ratings
  • Even the hosts sound bored

    Listened to parts of a few shows after at least a dozen years away, my god they’re tedious. They’d probably save money if they’d just replay audio on how evil, dumb, corrupt Trump is each week and lose nothing in freshness. I don’t like him either but surely this horse has been beaten to death.

    But I suppose if the only audience you have left is people who are fixated on Trump, it’s a living; a sad one though.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Samson38$
    United States17 days ago
  • Well Running Dry

    I’ve listened to OTM for decades at this point, and while they have always rerun segments when timely it felt like each week was fresh and topical. Over the last year it seems they’ve either lost a lot of funding or staff, or both. I have listened to this shortwave radio segment so many times now…makes me wonder if they spent all their budget on it. Having this podcast in my feed seems unnecessary at this point when every week I hear the host once again say ahead of the majority of segments “We ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Pioneersky
    United States24 days ago
  • Only one complaint

    I’ve been listening to and enjoying this program for many years. My one complaint is that when they repeat an old segment, they don’t disclose that fact until the very end. Especially when listening in the app, it would be kind for them to tell us that at the beginning, and in the printed summary!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    jmt dc
    United Statesa month ago
  • july 24, 2026

    Excellent discussion Gil Duran, thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United States2 months ago
  • Brooke spoke to the devil this week

    On the media is hard to listen to. Not the hosts, but this week Brooke spoke to Daniel Suhr and I’m pretty sure based on what he said that he is the actual devil.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Not into fish I guess
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Often praised for investigative framing and credible sourcing.
Occasional criticism about pacing or guest balance depending on episode.
Insightful, rigorous media analysis with deep context.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#34
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#113
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#61
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#122
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#217
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#108
Australia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Finance Bros Are Coming for the Public Airwaves
Q: What is the conflict over shortwave frequencies about today?
It's a clash between groups who want to preserve shortwave as a public resource for global communication and those (primarily Wall Street-backed entities) who want to privatize or monetize unused segments of the spectrum, especially for high-speed trading. They seek regulatory changes to allow private use.
The Pentagon is Waging War on Its Own Paper
Q: What's the impact of paid influencer endorsements on political content and disclosure rules?
Campaigns pay influencers across platforms, often without clear disclosure; laws vary by state and federal oversight is uneven, creating ethical and regulatory gaps in political messaging.
The Pentagon is Waging War on Its Own Paper
Q: How does the White House associate Natalie Harp affect presidential messaging and decision-making?
Harsh scrutiny and admiration around her role suggest she serves as a truth-check and filter for the president's information, which could shape the administration's public narrative and risk misalignment with reality.
The Pentagon is Waging War on Its Own Paper
Q: What happened to Stars and Stripes and why does it matter for editorial independence?
Editors and reporters describe termination for insubordination tied to quotes from CBS, raising concerns that the Defense Department is trying to dictate coverage and erode the paper's editorial independence.
How AI Chatbots are Infiltrating Classrooms
Q: Tell me a bit about what your son learned from the Code.org partnership and the AI game with Amazon.
Winter discusses how the game was marketed as AI-related but served more as a marketing stunt for future customers, while teachers emphasized the need for meaningful, embodied learning over slick, AI-assisted tasks.

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 the Media

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

A thoughtful, context-driven newsletter for media consumers and professionals, with deep dives into how news is produced, distributed, and consumed. Episodes frequently explore journalism ethics, media ownership, policy implications, and the intersection of technology, government, and society. Noteworthy traits include long-form interviews, cross-domain guests, and a habit of placing current events in historical or systemic context, rather than delivering hot takes. The show often features investigative reporters, policy experts, and seasoned editors, offering listeners analytical takes on how narratives are shaped and how to navigate the information landscape. Potential listeners include media professionals, PR/communications teams, policy... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers On the Media 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 the Media?

These podcasts share a similar audience with On the Media:

1. The New Yorker Radio Hour
2. Reveal
3. Fresh Air
4. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
5. Throughline

How many episodes of On the Media are there?

On the Media launched 21 years ago and published 1913 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on On the Media?

Recent guests on On the Media include:

1. Wedly Cazy
2. Nadia Jean-Vrac
3. Pierre d'Amers-Belle
4. Viles Dorsenville
5. Wilkins Regus
6. Jessica Winter
7. Dave Jorgenson
8. Dylan Avery

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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