Plain English with Derek Thompson
The RingerLongtime 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
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 326 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | News CommentaryNews | |||
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Latest Episodes
In the second episode of our two-part miniseries on the future of entertainment, Derek goes from Hollywood to NYC to understand why Broadway musicals are in trouble. "With the cost of staging song-and-dance spectacles skyrocketing and audiences drawn... more
The film and TV business has quietly—or, if you work in the industry, not so quietly—been in a depression for the past few years. Original TV work has plummeted. In 2024, Americans bought about 40 percent fewer movie tickets than they did in 2019, th... more
America is rich—richer than ever. Yet Americans are more anxious, lonelier, and less satisfied than people in many poorer nations. The 2025 World Happiness Report ranked the U.S. 24th in life satisfaction, its lowest on record. Maybe, as social scien... more
I’ve had the privilege of talking to many brilliant people about artificial intelligence. And when you ask them to imagine the most beneficial consequences of this technology, they almost always give the same answer: medicine. The dream is dazzling. ... more
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Reviews
- what about the elephant in the room?
Derek is one of my favorite communicators - I admire his authentic curiosity and drive to understand rather than push an agenda. it seems clear to me this moment in history calls for his curiosity and his voice to more directly confront the topics of the US relationship with Israel and the genocide in Gaza. If not for moral reasons, this should be done for intellectual consistency - too many of the issues he focuses on are hard to fully cover without understanding the backdrop of the way America... more
Apple Podcasts4developernamedchris
United States13 days ago - Risks of an AI Bubble
Great interview with Paul Kedrosky that really opened my eyes to some of the risks of the AI boom.
Apple Podcasts5Appreciative_ListenerUnited States21 days ago - First amendment
Probably time to stop “both siding” this one. Maybe time for some of our media to use strong language, to tell the American people how close we are to fully losing our freedom, instead of coalescing with the radical right like Ezra Klein has.
The right doesn’t say “this just goes to show” they say “white men fight back” and “democratic terrorists” and then they send masked agents to your door and disappear you and your family.
Apple Podcasts1zyx987789United States25 days ago - Propaganda
Another example of the Left wing rot pervasive throughout the ringer.
Apple Podcasts1LobePDXUnited Statesa month ago - Trumponomics?
To some extent I take away my angry skepticism expressed in an earlier review. I came back to finish listening to part one and now will listen to part two. My apologies to Derek Thompson for my earlier gut reaction review and thanks to him for bringing such important discussions to our ears. It’s just that I am so shell shocked at the destruction of world alliances, and important domestic and other social programs that I consider contracts to Americans especially those of us who have attained se... more
Apple Podcasts5BuhnanieUnited Statesa month ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #168 | United States/Top Podcasts |
Spotify | #28 | United States/News |
Apple Podcasts | #18 | United States/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #82 | United States/News |
Apple Podcasts | #2 |  United Kingdom/News/News Commentary |
Apple Podcasts | #11 |  Canada/News/News Commentary |
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Audience Metrics
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Frequently Asked Questions About Plain English
What is Plain English about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Engaging discussions focus on the intersection of politics, culture, technology, and economics, providing listeners with insights into current events through the lens of thoughtful analysis. Guest contributions from experts across diverse fields add depth and various perspectives to the topics explored, such as economic policies, societal changes, and significant historical contexts. Listeners can expect a blend of topical relevance and accessible conversations that aim to clarify complex issues, encouraging critical thinking and informed discourse.
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?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Plain English, 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 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 Ryen Russillo Podcast
4. The Zach Lowe Show
5. The Rewatchables
How many episodes of Plain English are there?
Plain English launched 4 years ago and published 326 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. Morgan Housel
2. Lloyd Minor
3. Greg Lukianoff
4. Julia Belluz
5. Kevin Hall
6. Paul Kedrosky
7. David D'Alessio
8. Randy Seeley
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.