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On the Media

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

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 weeklyEpisodes1925Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for On the Media

Latest Episodes

With midterm elections around the corner, conspiracy theories have been planted to sow doubt in the results. On this week’s On the Media, a breakdown of what election rumors to expect on and after Election Day. Plus, how polling fraudsters are threat... more

Maria Ressa, journalist, professor at Columbia University, CEO of the press outlet Rappler, and the author of "Fight Back; A Citizen's Guide To Standing Up To Dictators," talks with WNYC host, Brian Lehrer about the role of the press and individuals ... more

With control of Congress at stake, the 2026 midterm campaigns are on track to spend an all-time record sum on this election cycle. On this week’s On the Media, how political ads are resonating, and misfiring. Plus, a look at the changing relationship... more

OTM producer Molly Rosen has been on a mission to find out what technology her two-year-old kid will confront when he’s old enough to go to school. Today, big tech companies permeate schools, from the Google Chromebooks that most students are using, ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
Reveal
RevealThe Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

Recent Guests

Maria Ressa
Journalist, Columbia University professor, Rappler CEO, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Rappler
Episode: Help Is On the Way - A Conversation With Maria Ressa
Marisa Kabas
Journalist and founder of the independent news site The Handbasket
The Handbasket
Episode: Midterm Madness
Lydia Sidhom
Washington Post data reporter who analyzed campaign advertising
The Washington Post
Episode: Midterm Madness
Lucy Schiller
Journalist and assistant professor of nonfiction writing at Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Episode: Midterm Madness
Will Dahlberg
Former general manager of WBHM
WBHM
Episode: Midterm Madness
Jessica Winter
New Yorker staff writer
The New Yorker
Episode: The Classroom/Technology Pipeline
Natasha Singer
New York Times journalist covering technology in schools and author of Coding Kids
The New York Times
Episode: The Classroom/Technology Pipeline
Kerry Howley
Staff writer at New York Magazine who profiled Saul Newman
New York Magazine
Episode: How to Live Forever (or Die Trying)
Saul Newman
Demographer and research fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing
Oxford Institute of Population Ageing
Episode: How to Live Forever (or Die Trying)

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 States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States2 months ago
  • july 24, 2026

    Excellent discussion Gil Duran, thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United States3 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 States4 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
#25
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#79
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#55
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#138
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#173
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#34
Italy/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Midterm Madness
Q: How does a legislature say banning a book from a college class relate to the public radio station affiliate on that campus?
Schiller explained that station employees can also be university or state employees, leaving campus-affiliated newsrooms exposed to political pressure even when they maintain editorial independence.
Midterm Madness
Q: Tell me about what made you suspicious of Tommy, what made you want to investigate who he was?
Kabas said the exchange felt inorganic and reminded her of a report that college Republicans had been offered money to attend El-Sayed events and create negative viral moments. That prompted her to investigate Tepelle's identity and connections.
Help Is On the Way - A Conversation With Maria Ressa
Q: What do you want governments to do? What is that institutional accountability infrastructure?
Ressa argues that governments and international bodies should develop accountability for AI and technology companies, include countries beyond the major powers in decisions, and defend journalists, communities, and institutions.
Help Is On the Way - A Conversation With Maria Ressa
Q: Why pair Mark Zuckerberg, the owner of a tech company concerned presumably with making money, with Duterte, an alleged monster of an authoritarian and authoritarian war criminal?
Ressa says social media platforms helped enable Duterte's rise and attacks on journalists, while technology companies wield broad influence without comparable systems of accountability.
Micah's Conversation With Lilliana Mason LONG VERSION
Q: How do we treat the problem?
Mason says addressing the threat requires naming the anti-democratic faction within the Republican Party rather than prioritizing neutrality over objective analysis. She also argues for compelling narratives defending pluralistic democracy.

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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How many listeners does On the Media get?

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How many subscribers and views does On the Media have?

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. Fresh Air
3. Reveal
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 1925 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 the Media?

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What guests have appeared on On the Media?

Recent guests on On the Media include:

1. Maria Ressa
2. Marisa Kabas
3. Lydia Sidhom
4. Lucy Schiller
5. Will Dahlberg
6. Jessica Winter
7. Natasha Singer
8. Kerry Howley

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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