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Donald Trump
Comedy
Democracy
United States
Artificial Intelligence
U.S. Foreign Policy
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Iran
Congress
Trump Administration
Venezuela
American Power
Shadi Hamid
Affirmative Action
Supreme Court
Equality
Middle East
New York City
Gaza
Politics

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes3074Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for The Gist

Latest Episodes

Today on The Gist, guest host Bryan Green shares a classic 2019 interview with comedian, writer, and host Larry Wilmore. Wilmore reflects on his podcast Black on the Air, the reality of the medium, and the freedom of moving beyond narrowly defined ra... more

Today on The Gist, guest host Vanessa Quirk steps in to share Mike Pesca's 2024 interview with Kelsey Snelling, creator of the investigative podcast Camp Shame. Snelling outlines the history of Camp Shane (one of America's longest running youth weigh... more

Today on The Gist, guest host Vanessa Quirk steps in to share a previously unaired interview between Mike Pesca and Irish American comedian Des Bishop. Bishop traces his trajectory from a Queens childhood and teenage modeling gig to moving to Ireland... more

Today on The Gist, guest host Vanessa Quirk steps in to share a classic 2022 interview with Nathan Allebach, the creative force behind Steak-umm's viral Twitter presence. Allebach breaks down the rise of brand personification, explaining how a forgot... 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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The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
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ReflectorLongview

Recent Guests

Nathan Alebach
Creative director of All About Communications, Steak-Umm brand voice pioneer
Alebach Communications / Steak-Umm
Episode: Nathan Alebach: "Don't listen to me, I'm just a frozen piece of meat."
Lara Bazelon
Journalist, author, and guest on the episode
The Atlantic (as discussed)
Episode: Lara Bazelon: "What are the repercussions when you speak outside your tribe?"
David French
Political commentator and guest
The New York Times (as discussed)
Episode: Lara Bazelon: "What are the repercussions when you speak outside your tribe?"
Justin Garson
Author of The Madness Pill, historian of psychiatry
Author of The Madness Pill
Episode: Justin Garson: "If you turn dopamine on and off, you can turn schizophrenia on and off."
Maria Konnikova
Author of The Biggest Bluff, science journalist, psychologist
Author, The Biggest Bluff
Episode: Maria Konnikova: "If you're looking for a healthy food, this ain't it."
Helen Lewis
Journalist, Atlantic contributor
The Atlantic
Episode: Helen Lewis: "Vulnerable guys could use a friend, but they get a charlatan."
Ted Kaye
Secretary of the North American Vexillological Association; author of Good Flag, Bad Flag
North American Vexillological Association
Episode: Ted Kaye: "You can love a flag and have it co-opted."
Vincent Schiraldi
Prison reformer, former NYC Department of Correction and Maryland Department of Juvenile Services executive
Mass Supervision (book)
Episode: Vincent Schiraldi: Mass Supervision and Criminal Justice Reform
Michael Murphy
Architect and author of Our World in 10 Buildings
Mass Design Group (as cited in transcript)
Episode: Michael Murphy: "The Spaces Around Us Are Shaping Us and Changing Us"

Host

Mike Pesca
American journalist and host of The Gist; known for political analysis and interviews; associated with Peach Fish Productions and The Gist.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 4.5k ratings
  • Thank you Mike Pesca

    I first started following the show in 2015. Its been a fantastic run and an achievement. The intellectual honesty, rigor, and silliness will be missed. Your singing will not.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SMAD4
    United Statesa month ago
  • Centrist

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United States3 months ago
  • Excellent

    Witty, refreshing sanity. Greet podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RokitanskyAschoff
    United States4 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 Kingdom5 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 States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Highly informative and entertaining, with a good mix of humor and rigor.
Overall praised for honest journalism in a polarized media landscape.
Balanced, thoughtful questions and insightful guests.
Some listeners feel the host can lean too centrist for certain topics.
A few reviews note inconsistent interview pacing or tonal shifts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#80
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#95
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#138
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#112
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#166
Italy/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#59
Sweden/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Justin Garson: "If you turn dopamine on and off, you can turn schizophrenia on and off."
Q: What sparked Snyder's shift toward a biomedical model of mental illness?
His experiences with drug-induced insights (LSD and amphetamine psychosis) and subsequent research showing biochemical mechanisms, especially dopamine, that could underlie schizophrenia.
Lara Bazelon: "What are the repercussions when you speak outside your tribe?"
Q: How do you balance speaking your mind with the need to protect your credibility and audience?
They emphasize staying true to core principles and facts, while cautiously considering the potential impact on credibility and audience, and being prepared to mitigate blowback without sacrificing truth.
Vincent Schiraldi: Mass Supervision and Criminal Justice Reform
Q: Is the problem with Probation and Parole that it doesn't deliver on the promise of keeping the supervised out of trouble, or that it defines trouble too narrowly?
The problem is both: the system is under-resourced and poorly aligned with community supports, and trouble is defined too narrowly, missing broader risk factors that drive reoffending; a reallocation of funds toward housing, treatment, and employment is proposed.
Michael Murphy: "The Spaces Around Us Are Shaping Us and Changing Us"
Q: How did your experience with Paul Farmer influence your view of architecture as a service to communities?
Farmer helped me see architecture as a delivery of fundamental rights and services, not just monumental forms; I shifted from seeing buildings as standalone statements to viewing them as essential components of healthcare and daily life.
Helen Lewis: "Vulnerable guys could use a friend, but they get a charlatan."
Q: So how do we do this? Help me figure this out.
Lewis explains that understanding masculinism requires looking at its core ideas, its performative aspects, and its appeal to a sense of cultural crisis, rather than merely judging it as vulgar or irrational.

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?

The show blends brisk, panel-style dialogue with sharp political and cultural commentary, balancing rigorous current-events analysis with humor and accessible storytelling. Episodes feature a rotating cast of guests—journalists, authors, academics, and public figures—discussing media, policy, and society through a centrist, sometimes contrarian lens. The format often includes sponsor reads and cross-promotions, creating a dynamic, fast-paced daily briefing that still invites thoughtful critique of both political parties and public narratives. Noteworthy are the host's tireless probing questions, willingness to challenge guests, and a reputation for honest, no-frills discussion that aims to inform as it entertains. Potential listeners who en... 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. Central Air
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Reflector
5. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

How many episodes of The Gist are there?

The Gist launched 12 years ago and published 3074 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 The Gist?

Recent guests on The Gist include:

1. Nathan Alebach
2. Lara Bazelon
3. David French
4. Justin Garson
5. Maria Konnikova
6. Helen Lewis
7. Ted Kaye
8. Vincent Schiraldi

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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