Rephonic
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Donald Trump
Comedy
Supreme Court
Trump Administration
Democracy
New York City
Congress
U.S. Foreign Policy
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Democratic Party
United States
Gaza
Voting Rights Act
Venezuela
Affirmative Action
Social Media
The Shadow Docket
American Power
Artificial Intelligence
Shadi Hamid

For thirty minutes each day, Pesca challenges himself and his audience, in a responsibly provocative style, and gets beyond the rigidity and dogma. The Gist is surprising, reasonable, and willing to critique the left, the right, either party, or any idea.

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Artwork for The Gist

Latest Episodes

This Saturday edition features an unaired segment from the interview with UC Berkeley law professor David Oppenheimer regarding standardized testing in higher education. The discussion centers on a debate over the statistical legitimacy of the LSAT a... more

Today on The Gist, the upcoming Enhanced Games are analyzed not as an ethical crisis, but as a weak, corporate-sponsored satire of athletic boundaries. Then, Nobel Prize-winning economist Alvin Roth joins the show to discuss his book Moral Economics:... more

Today is Not Even Mad. Tangle founder Isaac Saul and journalist Jamie Kirchick discuss the creation of the Department of Justice's $1.776 billion anti-weaponization settlement fund, the legislative fallout from the Trump primary revenge tour, and the... more

Today on The Gist, the profound failure of empathy within our immigration bureaucracy is put under the microscope following the tragic freezing death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind Rohingya refugee abandoned in a Buffalo parking lot by Border Patro... 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.

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Recent Guests

Negin Farsad
Host of Fake the Nation
Episode: Mike Pesca on Fake the Nation
Katie Hannigan
Comedienne and performer
Episode: Mike Pesca on Fake the Nation
Matt Sterling
Author of Mighty, Finding the Strength to Survive
Author; former ad sales executive at Slate
Episode: Matt Sterling: Finding the Strength to Survive
Franklin Foer
Writer for The Atlantic, on The Gist to discuss The Purge
The Atlantic
Episode: Franklin Foer: Chronicling The Purged
David Epstein
Author of Inside The Box, How Constraints Make Us Better
David Epstein (author)
Episode: David Epstein: Thinking Inside the Box
Kevin Williamson
National Correspondent for The Dispatch
The Dispatch
Episode: Kevin Williamson: The Psychotic State of Texas Politics
Benjamin A. Saltzman
Professor of English and Poetics at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: Benjamin Saltzman: The Art of Turning Away
Russ Muirhead
Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College; member of New Hampshire House of Representatives
Dartmouth College; New Hampshire House of Representatives
Episode: Not Even Mad: Russ Muirhead & Ben Dreyfuss
Ben Dreyfuss
Author of Calm Down; writer and commentator
Calm Down (Substack)
Episode: Not Even Mad: Russ Muirhead & Ben Dreyfuss

Host

Mike Pesca
Host and engaging commentator known for a provocative style that challenges conventional thinking. He brings humor and sharp analysis to discussions across a wide range of topics.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 4.5k ratings
  • Centrist

    He’s white. He’s a man. He thinks everything is going great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United States22 days ago
  • Excellent

    Witty, refreshing sanity. Greet podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RokitanskyAschoff
    United States2 months ago
  • Poor interviewer

    Ricky intro of guest

    Only follow up thoughts to guest was disagreeing on a minor point

    Poorly engaged with the material of the guest.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DrewSauce…
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Iran

    What are talking about with respect to the danger of supersonic missile? Almost all missiles are supersonic. Always have been.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    justnuisance
    United States3 months ago
  • It’s a good show

    I actually love it. Kill me now.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticism exists around the perceived political balance and how it navigates sensitive topics, with varying opinions on guest selection and subject matter.
Listeners appreciate the critical and thoughtful discussions that challenge the status quo and encourage diverse perspectives.
The humor and engaging style of the host make for an entertaining yet informative experience, appealing to a wide audience.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#43
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#241
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#61
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#98
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#92
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#148
Italy/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

David Epstein: Thinking Inside the Box
Q: What is the core idea behind Inside The Box and why are constraints important?
Constraints frame the problem, force prioritization, and steer people toward higher quality outcomes by preventing aimless expansion, thereby boosting coherence and creative impact across disciplines.
Matt Sterling: Finding the Strength to Survive
Q: What role did the ADA play in your professional journey?
The ADA provided legal backing for accessibility, which improved not just my own daily life but also workplace culture and opportunities, particularly in New York where access and accommodations gradually improved.
Matt Sterling: Finding the Strength to Survive
Q: What was the impact of your disability on your sales career, and how did you overcome it?
Initial concerns about possible bias were addressed by mentors like Jack Hare, who emphasized that personality can be a disability and that I could succeed; with persistence, strategic networking, and accommodations, I gained confidence and built a reputation for delivering results.
Matt Sterling: Finding the Strength to Survive
Q: How did you decide to enter ad sales after college?
I shifted from marketing to sales because I wanted to interact directly with clients and saw more potential for impact and earnings, especially after realizing I could use my own experiences to empathize with clients and craft better solutions.
Franklin Foer: Chronicling The Purged
Q: Why did you give yourself this assignment?
To illuminate the human cost of purges and to capture the long-term damage to institutional memory by interviewing a broad spectrum of civil servants and framing their stories within a larger narrative of government reform.

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 The Gist

What is The Gist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content spans a variety of current events, political analysis, and cultural critiques, often highlighting pressing social issues and commentary on diverse topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, political campaigns, and media representation. Guest interviews typically feature experts and commentators who provide insights into the complexities of contemporary American society, from political theorists and analysts to authors and environmental activists. The approach aims to present balanced perspectives, challenging listeners to consider multiple viewpoints while maintaining a focus on critical thinking and informed discourse.

Unique features include the host's ability to engage with guests across a wide range of subjec... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Gist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Gist:

1. Political Gabfest
2. Blocked and Reported
3. Reflector
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Central Air

How many episodes of The Gist are there?

The Gist launched 12 years ago and published 3023 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 The Gist?

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What guests have appeared on The Gist?

Recent guests on The Gist include:

1. Negin Farsad
2. Katie Hannigan
3. Matt Sterling
4. Franklin Foer
5. David Epstein
6. Kevin Williamson
7. Benjamin A. Saltzman
8. Russ Muirhead

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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