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Artwork for Plain English

Plain English with Derek Thompson

The Ringer
Obesity
U.S. Housing Market
Henry Kissinger
U.S. Foreign Policy
Housing Affordability
Glp-1 Medications
Vietnam War
China Relations
Millennial Homeownership
Mortgage Rates
Glp-1 Drugs
Weight Loss
Healthcare Economics
Behavioral Health
Middle East
Yom Kippur War
Cambodia
Rental Market
Diabetes
Health Behavior Changes

Longtime Atlantic tech, culture and political writer Derek Thompson cuts through all the noise surrounding the big questions and headlines that matter to you in his new podcast Plain English. Hear Derek and guests engage the news with clear viewpoints and memorable takeaways. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Friday, and if you've got a topic you want discussed, shoot us an email at plainenglish... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes348Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Plain English

Latest Episodes

Throughout December and January, we’ve been re-airing some of our favorite episodes of the past year and beyond, and today's episode marks the end of our "best of" series for this year! This list includes interviews that really stuck with me and some... more

Throughout December and January, we’re going to be re-airing some of our favorite episodes of the past year and beyond. This list includes interviews that really stuck with me and some others that you guys had tons of feedback and thoughts on … inclu... more

Throughout December and January, we’re going to be re-airing some of our favorite episodes of the past year and beyond. This list includes interviews that really stuck with me and some others that you guys had tons of feedback and thoughts on … inclu... more

Throughout December and January, we’re going to be re-airing some of our favorite episodes of the past year and beyond. This list includes interviews that really stuck with me and some others that you guys had tons of feedback and thoughts on … inclu... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Paul Kedrosky
Investor and writer, partner at SK Ventures, and fellow at the MIT Center for the Digital Economy
SK Ventures
Episode: Plain English BEST OF: This Is How the AI Bubble Could Burst
Kyla Scanlon
Financial commentator and cultural analyst focused on Gen Z perspectives
Episode: Plain English BEST OF: How Gen Z Sees the World
David Kessler
Former FDA Commissioner and author
Puck
Episode: Plain English BEST OF: A Grand, Unified Theory of Why Americans Are So Unhealthy
Anton Korinek
Economist at the University of Virginia researching advanced AI and its economic implications.
University of Virginia
Episode: How Superintelligent AI Could Upend Work and Politics
Michael Batnick
Economic commentator and co-host of the Animal Spirits podcast
Animal Spirits Podcast
Episode: Are Young People Screwed?
Ben Carlson
Economic commentator and co-host of the Animal Spirits podcast
Animal Spirits Podcast
Episode: Are Young People Screwed?
Ken Burns
Acclaimed filmmaker known for documentaries on American history
PBS; Ken Burns Productions
Episode: How the American Revolution Changed the World, With Ken Burns
Jonathan Cohen
Author of Losing Big, America's Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling
Episode: The Problem With Sports Gambling
Michael Lewis
Best-selling author known for works like Liar's Poker and The Big Short
Episode: Michael Lewis on How the Global Financial Crisis Explains Trump, Crypto, and Everything Else

Host

Derek Thompson
Host of Plain English, known for his clarity in discussing complex topics and engaging commentary on current events.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 7.9k ratings
  • Great show

    Here’s a cliche, folks going on any form of content they don’t side with politically and just automatically giving it one star. Anyone who does this is ridiculous. This is a great show no matter where you sit politically. Even if you like Trump you should be able to listen to someone who doesn’t, because he has a lot of interesting things to say about everything else in the world. Keep up the great work Derek !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Uriah82
    United States3 days ago
  • Has gotten lazy

    Used to really like this podcast but feels like Derek never record anymore. Between the long time off to write his book and now two months of reruns, it’s just not a dependable pod.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    C0M0
    United States5 days ago
  • So Brave!

    Looks like Thompson is joining an ABUNDANCE of right wing boot lickers on Bari Weiss’ CBS! Unmasking himself as the mole for the billionaire thieving class he has always been. Congratulations on coming clean, Derek!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    psullz
    United States12 days ago
  • Great discussion

    Podcast Addict
    4
    JaneR
    19 days ago
  • Don’t make your show T.V.

    Derek, please don’t turn your show into T.V.! Sometimes it’s worth being part of a remnant. You have the best podcast going. It does not need video

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Uriah82
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the clarity and depth of discussions, highlighting the variety of insightful guests they engage with.
Positive reviews mention the podcast's ability to cut through complexity in news stories, fostering informed dialogues.
Some listeners express concerns over perceived political biases, suggesting the content sometimes resonates with one side of political discourse more than the other.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#22
United States/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#139
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#14
Canada/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#29
United Kingdom/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#113
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#237
United Kingdom/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Plain English BEST OF: This Is How the AI Bubble Could Burst
Q: What are the implications of AI-related spending for the economy and existing industries?
AI spending is diverting capital away from traditional industries, leading to potential harm in sectors like manufacturing.
Plain English BEST OF: This Is How the AI Bubble Could Burst
Q: What makes AI spending different from past infrastructure bubbles?
AI infrastructure spending involves a much shorter asset lifespan, particularly with GPUs, which can depreciate rapidly compared to railroads or fiber optics.
Plain English BEST OF: This Is How the AI Bubble Could Burst
Q: How big is the current investment in artificial intelligence?
Companies in the U.S. are projected to spend about 300 to 400 billion dollars this year on AI, which has never been seen before on such a scale.
Plain English BEST OF: The Modern World Is Changing America’s Personality for the Worse
Q: How can we combat the decline in conscientiousness and rising anxiety?
We can use strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy and reducing digital distractions to help improve conscientiousness and mental health outcomes.
Plain English BEST OF: The Modern World Is Changing America’s Personality for the Worse
Q: What does it mean to be less conscientious?
Being less conscientious means individuals may struggle with follow-through, organization, and reliability, impacting their ability to achieve personal and professional goals.

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 Plain English

What is Plain English about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides insightful analyses of contemporary cultural, economic, and political issues, characterized by clear communication and engaging discussions. The host, along with a diverse range of guests, focuses on significant topics such as the implications of artificial intelligence, economic disparities, cultural stagnation, and historical contexts in modern narratives. Unique in its approach, the format combines in-depth expertise with accessible language, making complex subjects comprehensible for a broad audience. It often features thought-provoking dialogues that consider various perspectives on essential matters of public interest, appealing to listeners who seek informed commentary on current events and societal challenges.

Where can I find podcast stats for Plain English?

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

How many listeners does Plain English get?

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What are the audience demographics for Plain English?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Plain English, 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 Plain English have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Plain English 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 Plain English?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Plain English:

1. The Bill Simmons Podcast
2. The Press Box
3. The Zach Lowe Show
4. The Rewatchables
5. The Watch

How many episodes of Plain English are there?

Plain English launched 4 years ago and published 348 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 Plain English?

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 Plain English?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Plain English 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 Plain English?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Plain English. 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 Plain English?

Recent guests on Plain English include:

1. Paul Kedrosky
2. Kyla Scanlon
3. David Kessler
4. Anton Korinek
5. Michael Batnick
6. Ben Carlson
7. Ken Burns
8. Jonathan Cohen

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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