Rephonic
Artwork for Shane Smith Has Questions

Shane Smith Has Questions

VICE News & Studio71
Misinformation
Covid-19
Artificial Intelligence
Iran
Deep State
Donald Trump
Immigration Policy
Assassination Attempt
Weather Modification
Creativity
Don't Die
U.s.-Mexico Border
Election Integrity
Covid-19 Vaccine Trials
Cloud Seeding
Art
Aging
Vaccine Adverse Reactions
Rick Rubin
Immigration Reform

Shane Smith Has Questions is a dynamic, apolitical podcast hosted by Shane Smith dedicated to getting to the bottom of prominent instances of misinformation and disinformation while revealing the fascinating fundamental truths (if there are any?) of the most interesting and convoluted social and political issues of our time. For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes62Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Shane Smith Has Questions

Latest Episodes

At 23, Adam Mockler has become one of the most prominent young voices in liberal political media, building an audience of millions through rapid-response videos, debates and viral clips.

Adam joins Shane Smith to explain why Republicans dominated th... more

YouTube

Most people know Ben McKenzie from The O.C. Over the past several years, however, he has made an unlikely transformation into a serious crypto investigator—and, as Shane puts it, a hell of a journalist and filmmaker.

McKenzie joins Shane to discuss ... more

YouTube

Can one lawsuit change the future of American elections?

• Why almost everyone misunderstands Citizens United

• The legal mistake Lessig says created Super PACs

• Elon Musk's reported $270 million in political donations—and why it matters to... more

YouTube

When did politics stop being about solving problems and start becoming a team sport?

Former Republican strategist and The Bulwark host Tim Miller joins Shane Smith for a conversation about the forces that reshaped American politics—from the collapse... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Ben McKenzie
Actor, filmmaker, journalist; subject of the interview
Filmmaker/Writer
Episode: Ben McKenzie Exposes Crypto’s Biggest Lies | Shane Smith Has Questions
Tim Miller
Host at the Bulwark; former communications director for Jeb Bush; co-host of the Next Level Podcast and the Bulwark Podcast
Bulwark
Episode: When Politics Became Sports: Tim Miller on Trump, Media & America | Shane Smith Has Questions
Sean Penn
Actor, filmmaker, journalist and activist known for on-the-ground reporting and interviews with global figures
Actor, Documentary filmmaker (e.g., Superpower), associated projects with Zelenskyy, Maduro, Chávez, Chávez
Episode: Sean Penn on Zelenskyy, El Chapo, and Seeing the World Up Close | Shane Smith Has Questions
Gelareh Kiazand
Journalist and filmmaker from Tehran
Episode: Reporting the Region: Inside Iran & Afghanistan | Gelareh Kiazand | SSHQ
Ken Burns
Documentary filmmaker
Florentine Films
Episode: Ken Burns: "There is No Them. There's Only Us." | Shane Smith Has Questions
Dan Farah
Hollywood producer and documentary filmmaker
The Age of Disclosure (documentary)
Episode: The Age of Disclosure: Who Actually Controls the UAP Secrets? | w/ Dan Farah | Shane Smith Has Questions
Aza Raskin
Co-founder, Center for Humane Technology; co-founder, Earth Species Project; co-host of Your Undivided Attention
Center for Humane Technology; Earth Species Project
Episode: The AI Dilemma: War, Jobs, Power & Humanity | w/ Aza Raskin
General Anderson
Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)
United States
Episode: Autonomous Warfare Has Arrived | African Lion 2026 Exclusive with Gen. Anderson & Lt. Gasparri
Lieutenant Gasparri
Lieutenant in an on-site unit observed during African Lion
Italian Army (on-site)
Episode: Autonomous Warfare Has Arrived | African Lion 2026 Exclusive with Gen. Anderson & Lt. Gasparri

Host

Shane Smith
Host of the show; engages guests across politics, media, and culture with direct, probing questions.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 392 ratings
  • The antidote to the noise

    Shane Smith built VICE by going where other journalists wouldn’t, and he brings that same fearless curiosity here — except now the frontier isn’t a war zone, it’s the information war we’re all living in. Each episode takes something you’ve half-believed, half-doubted, or fully argued about at dinner, and dismantles it with rigor, wit, and refreshingly zero partisan agenda. Smith is a world-class interviewer: disarming, wickedly funny, and genuinely curious instead of performatively outraged. In ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Md713
    United States21 days ago
  • It’s so great to have Shane grade Vice content again.

    I don’t know if people realize how many incredible stories Vice has broken over the years. They talk about things no one else was willing to touch, and really got to the bottom of the stories. This is a continuation of the kind of content that Shane always brought to the table. Considered, thoughtful, and well researched. I’m glad to see Shane is back.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crispymoore
    Canada3 months ago
  • Means well, but doesn’t appear to understand the simple mechanics of good interviewing

    Stop talking Shane. Stop interrupting. Shut up. Ask the question and hear the answer, all of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ship of Mike
    Australia6 months ago
  • Interesting Conversations between hours of ads

    This isn’t a podcast. There is a 1-2 minute ad break every 2 minutes. If you’ve ever wondered why vice failed listen to 10 minutes of this slop. If for some reason you need to watch one of these episodes there is genuinely less ads on YouTube, (only about 20-30% of total watch time instead of 30-40%).

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    <_Jake_>
    Canada9 months ago
  • Shane Smith is the OG of gonzo!

    I have listened to most of the episodes and am a big fan! I’ve loved Vice and really enjoyed the channel and the amazing journalism! Shane is the OG of gonzo journalism! Ali’s the recent episode with Hamliton was so good! I wish he had his own podcast! I will definitely be buying his book! I do wish Shane didn’t cut him off so much as I really wanted to hear a few of those stories more! I love Hamiltons Pharmacopiea and really wish he still had his own show! I have always felt the same way about... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jethro boden
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

A few listeners feel the interview style can be interruptive; follow-ups could be stronger.
A solid mix of critical takes and thoughtful storytelling; compelling for policy buffs.
Celebrates investigative journalism and gonzo-style inquiry; many appreciate candid conversations.
Insightful, well-researched and provocative; fans value tough questions and deep analysis.
Balanced and engaging with strong guests; some ads noted but not overwhelming.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
The Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset
The Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & MindsetDetermined Society Podcast | Overcoming Adversity & Mindset
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ben McKenzie Exposes Crypto’s Biggest Lies | Shane Smith Has Questions
Q: What drew you to make a film about crypto?
McKenzie explains he started with a personal curiosity sparked by friends and then saw red flags and fraud across the space, choosing to document the journey to uncover why people trust and invest in volatile crypto ecosystems.
The Lawsuit That Could Change American Elections | Lawrence Lessig | Shane Smith Has Questions
Q: What would a Maine-style contribution limit mean for the federal system and the future of super PACs?
If Maine's framework were recognized as a legitimate state interest, the federal law limiting independent contributions could be revived, potentially dismantling the current super PAC structure and restoring a system where money is more transparent and less able to influence outcomes.
The Lawsuit That Could Change American Elections | Lawrence Lessig | Shane Smith Has Questions
Q: When does supporting a candidate stop being political participation and start buying influence?
Lessig explains that the distinction hinges on the amount and context of money: direct giving to a candidate is regulated differently from funding a committee that spends independently, and the appearance of corruption grows as contributions rise, even if independent, because donors and candidates can be perceived as exchanging favors.
Ken Burns: "There is No Them. There's Only Us." | Shane Smith Has Questions
Q: What is your view on AI and the future of documentary filmmaking?
Burns expresses cautious optimism about AI's potential to assist research and storytelling but emphasizes the value of human-centered experiences, authentic voices, and direct contact with subjects over fully artificial productions.
Ken Burns: "There is No Them. There's Only Us." | Shane Smith Has Questions
Q: How has PBS shaped your work and the documentary landscape?
He praises PBS as essential for long-form, in-depth storytelling that can take years to complete, contrasting it with some streaming models that demand faster turnaround and higher budgets, and stressing that public broadcasting enables rigorous journalism and archival integrity.

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 Shane Smith Has Questions

What is Shane Smith Has Questions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show brings in high-profile guests from journalism, film, politics, technology, and military to dissect misinformation and powerful narratives surrounding current events. Episodes typically center on deep-dive interviews that challenge mainstream perspectives, reveal behind-the-scenes dynamics, and examine the ethical implications of media, policy, and technology. Notable strengths include a willingness to tackle controversial topics through candid conversations with insiders and thinkers, plus a knack for connecting complex issues to human impact. Listeners can expect provocative questions, cross-disciplinary insights, and a willingness to debate with guests who shape public discourse. The format often blends sharp analysis with person... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Shane Smith Has Questions?

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

How many listeners does Shane Smith Has Questions get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Shane Smith Has Questions, 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 Shane Smith Has Questions?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Shane Smith Has Questions, 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 Shane Smith Has Questions have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Shane Smith Has Questions 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 Shane Smith Has Questions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Shane Smith Has Questions:

1. Club Random with Bill Maher
2. 5CAST w/ Andrew Callaghan
3. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
4. The Tim Dillon Show
5. Making Sense with Sam Harris

How many episodes of Shane Smith Has Questions are there?

Shane Smith Has Questions launched 2 years ago and published 62 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 Shane Smith Has Questions?

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 Shane Smith Has Questions?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Shane Smith Has Questions 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 Shane Smith Has Questions?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Shane Smith Has Questions. 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 Shane Smith Has Questions?

Recent guests on Shane Smith Has Questions include:

1. Ben McKenzie
2. Tim Miller
3. Sean Penn
4. Gelareh Kiazand
5. Ken Burns
6. Dan Farah
7. Aza Raskin
8. General Anderson

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days