Rephonic
Artwork for Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem

Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem

Pushkin Industries
Alabama
Nazi Germany
Artificial Intelligence
Hollywood
Jesse Owens
Psychology
New York City
Olympic Games
Elvis Presley
George Floyd
Small Talk
Parapraxis
Southwest Airlines
Staten Island
Development Hell
Emergency Medical Services
Public Health
Grief
Revisionist History
Murder

On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Revisionist History investigates the overlooked story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War.

A movement that took place on a small island miles out to sea from New York City. An early example of the politics of resentment that dominates America today. What do you do when a democracy looks like it’s ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes219Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem

Latest Episodes

Election night 1993 meets election night 2016. The fate of the island and the country converge in the figure of one man: Rudy Giuliani.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the height of the secession movement, the Wu-Tang Clan forms on Staten Island. We take a tour of early 1990s hip-hop and reveal the hidden history of the group.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group on Staten Island tries to stop secession, squaring off against the secessionists in a heated set of debates and meetings recorded on never-before-seen archival tapes. A set of debates best understood via a detour into the history of a remote ... more

After the Supreme Court takes a close look at New York City government, Staten Island comes out the loser. A local artist begins organizing for secession. We take a deep dive into the psychology of the island, which has a lot to do with the largest g... more

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Recent Guests

Skiz Fernando
Wu-Tang Clan biographer and longtime journalist
Wu-Tang Clan biographer
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 4: Wu-Tang vs. Shaolin
Daphne McWilliams
Filmmaker from Staten Island
Filmmaker
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 4: Wu-Tang vs. Shaolin
Godfrey Baldacchino
Professor of island studies
University of Malta (island studies expert referenced in the episode)
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 3: The Tuvalu Effect
David Goldfarb
Staten Island attorney and civic activist
Staten Island Unified for New York / Vote No participants mentioned
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 3: The Tuvalu Effect
Robert Scamardella
Attorney and local figure active in debates
Vote Yes Inc.
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 3: The Tuvalu Effect
Bob Federa
Staten Island official who argued for staying in NYC
NYC government
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 3: The Tuvalu Effect
Dan Singletary
Staten Island secession advocate explored through archival tapes and interviews
Independent artist and activist
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 2: A New Map
Bobby Scamardella
Local attorney who debated secession and was involved in civic discussions
Staten Island community and legal circles
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 2: A New Map
David Dinkins
Former mayor of New York City
New York City
Episode: The Staten Island Problem - Part 1: The Mayor vs. the Borough President

Host

Malcolm Gladwell
Host of Revisionist History; frequent cross-poster across related Pushkin projects; recognized author and storyteller.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 83.2k ratings
  • Absolutely Excellent!!

    The things we never thought about that matter a lot. Totally worth your time!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    susan hendrie-marais
    United Statesa month ago
  • Food lab

    Buying the climate hoax. Son of a gun. But I try to cut you people slack that you mean well. Just programming that can’t be broken.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Garyolaf
    United States2 months ago
  • Essential listening

    This would be 5stars if not for the irritating musical bed which reliably distracts from the serious conversations when used.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    gpopgp
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Medically incomplete and misleading

    The discussion is about how we establish trust- an interesting topic and it does provide ‘food for thought’. But there is a dangerous lack of clarity regarding this man’s prostate cancer. We know he had metastatic prostate cancer so advanced that 15 out of 18 specialists said surgery would either not help or be actually harmful. We don’t know where the cancer had metastasized to; bone, lungs, bladder, etc. By using his own life experience he made the decision to proceed with surgery - all fine t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nisinor
    United States2 months ago
  • Good but not doctor approved

    Love the show!! And your books!! But as a physician, I had to take away 1 star for your terrible bias and reporting on the medical sections of the "Alabama murders"

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Joewierz198742689
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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Some listeners feel episodes are overly ad-supported or biased, citing advertising frequency and editorial stances
Audience praise for deep-dive storytelling and engaging narrative structure,
Strong impact on listeners, with episodes driving reflection and discussion

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Revenge of "A Good Walk Spoiled"
Q: So tell me, how did you come across this story and decide to put it before the voters of Los Angeles?
Nazarian explains the proposal as a starting conversation, using a parcel tax to approximate the tax revenue that best-use value would generate, and describes polling that suggested strong public support.
Introducing The News from Scene on Radio
Q: Do you agree with this book that babies are racist and that CRT is being taught in schools?
The host leads with a prompt about CRT and a controversial description, and the guest provides context on how questions about race and education intersect with media framing, highlighting that interpretations of CRT are often politicized rather than reflective of the nuanced scholarship.
The Trust Diagnosis
Q: Tell me about the moment after the surgery when the results came in.
The pathology confirmed what the surgeon said, the cancerous spots were removed, and the initial results were positive, bringing relief though with careful follow-up afterward.
The Trust Diagnosis
Q: When do you say it and how do you communicate that honesty to the client in those first conversations?
You must be absolutely candid from the first conversations, stating both what you understand and what you don't, so they can grasp the seriousness without being overwhelmed, which builds trust.
The Trust Diagnosis
Q: And what is it in that moment, are you, if you had to summarize as simply as possible what you're bringing to them in that moment, what is it?
I'm bringing a depth of experience in handling high-stakes, complex problems, the ability to synthesize information, and a clear, practical plan to help them navigate uncertainty and decide on a course of action.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful, data-driven explorations of overlooked or misunderstood topics from history, business, tech, crime, and culture. Episodes re-examine formative events, missteps, and creative decisions to reveal the human factors—leadership, persuasion, ethics, and narrative framing—that shape outcomes. The show often features deep-dive interviews, archival material, and rigorous storytelling that blends history with contemporary insight, making complex issues accessible and provocative. A standout trait is the willingness to challenge conventional wisdom through narrative experimentation and cross-disciplinary perspectives, which can yield fresh takeaways for listeners and potential guests alike.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Against the Rules with Michael Lewis
2. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
3. Freakonomics Radio
4. This American Life
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 10 years ago and published 219 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Skiz Fernando
2. Daphne McWilliams
3. Godfrey Baldacchino
4. David Goldfarb
5. Robert Scamardella
6. Bob Federa
7. Dan Singletary
8. Bobby Scamardella

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