
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.
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 3109 | Founded | 13 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Daily NewsNews | |||

On the eve of Election Day, fill-in host Bryan Green takes a trip back to 2024 to revisit a conversation Mike Pesca hosted with four first-time Gen Z voters. These young voters weigh in on what they want from a president, balancing policy priorities ... more
Guest host Scott Pierce introduces a special Halloween-themed episode from the archives. First, Oxford-educated mortician and Ask a Mortician host Caitlin Doughty joins Mike Pesca to discuss her memoir, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, demystifying funeral r... more
Mike Pesca is back to introduce Great Question with Tony Dokoupil, a new show he’s spent the past few months working on with CBS.
In this debut, host Tony Dokoupil sits down with author Malcolm Gladwell to tackle a controversial question: Does Ameri... more
Guest host Scott Pierce introduces an interview with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Benson discusses her book, The Purposeful Warrior, and reflects on defending election integrity following the 2020 election. She shares insights on confr... more
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Omg what a rude, insufferable douche. Interviewing people but can’t ask relevant questions bc he doesn’t know even who the people are.
Pretty unfortunate way for this podcast to go out. I think the slate firing broke his brain, leaving nothing but right wing grievance.
I’m saddened to hear Mike has decided to end the Gist. It has become a daily ritual for me and I don’t think I’ve missed an episode (except for perhaps the Saturday) for years. His intellect, perspective and brilliant interviews will be sorely missed. I have to admit - in all these years I never became a subscriber. I’m kicking myself now, because I clearly valued his voice. It’s a reminder not to take people for granted and to pay for and support the people who’s work you value. Thank you to Mi... more
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.
He’s white. He’s a man. He thinks everything is going great.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #69 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The show delivers concise, daily exploration of current events, culture, politics, and technology with a calm, skeptical, and often humorous lens. Conversations span journalism, satire, public policy, branding, architecture, and social issues, featuring guests who are writers, comedians, researchers, and practitioners at the intersection of media and society. A notable throughline is weighing controversial topics with nuance, inviting diverse viewpoints while prioritizing rigor and accessibility. The format is fast-moving, idea-driven, and brand-friendly for sponsors that want thoughtful but approachable discourse. Listeners likely value intellectual curiosity, clear takes, and a dose of wit in a 20–30 minute daily window.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Gist:
1. Political Gabfest
2. Blocked and Reported
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Slate Money
5. The Unspeakeasy With Meghan Daum
The Gist launched 13 years ago and published 3109 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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Recent guests on The Gist include:
1. Caitlin Doughty
2. Maria Konnikova
3. Malcolm Gladwell
4. Tony Dokoupil
5. Jocelyn Benson
6. Chris Turner
7. Wes Moore
8. Gianna Toboni
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