Rephonic
Artwork for The Gist
Gaza
Donald Trump
Gretchen Whitmer
Fiddler On the Roof
Genocide
NBC News
Caitlin Clark
Women's Basketball
Israel
Shoplifting
Crime
Kate Middleton
Tradition
Wegovy
Obesity
Ozempic
Indiana Medicaid
Gerald Ford
Ronald Reagan
John Edwards

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes2954Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsDaily News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Gist

Latest Episodes

Today on The Gist, Actress Gina Gershon joins the show to discuss her candid new memoir, Alpha Pussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs. She shares the hilarious story of how a tequila-fueled comedy roast landed her a memorable r... more

The U.S. is in its third day of war with Iran, prompting inevitable warnings of another Iraq-style quagmire. But is that the right historical analogy? Long-time national security reporter Eli Lake (The Free Press) joins Mike to explain why this air-o... more

It's the Saturday Show and we are airing Mikes appearance The Oath and the Office, hosted by Brown University political science professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang. The trio dives into the broken pipeline of modern journalism, ... more

James Kimmel Jr. joins to argue that revenge is less a moral impulse than a brain chemistry trap. He tells a rural Pennsylvania origin story that starts with bullying, a beagle named Paula, and a mailbox bombing, then ends with the moment his "stop" ... 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.

Political Gabfest
Political GabfestSlate Podcasts
Blocked and Reported
Blocked and ReportedKatie Herzog and Jesse Singal
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
On the Media
On the MediaWNYC Studios
Hacks On Tap
Hacks On TapVox Media

Recent Guests

James Kimmel Jr.
Author and expert on the psychology of revenge
Episode: James Kimmel Jr. : "Revenge Is Dopamine With a Law Degree"
David Glasgow
Executive Director at the Melcher Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU.
NYU
Episode: Kenji Yoshino & David Glasgow: Saving DEI
Kenji Yoshino
Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU and author advocating for equality in DEI initiatives.
NYU
Episode: Kenji Yoshino & David Glasgow: Saving DEI
Alex Roarty
Political analyst covering politics and campaigns
Notice
Episode: Alex Roarty: "The Status Quo Sucks Right Now"
Ruy Teixeira
Co-founder of The Liberal Patriot and a political analyst.
The Liberal Patriot
Episode: The Scalpel And The Chainsaw
Ben Terris
Washington correspondent at New York Magazine
New York Magazine
Episode: Ben Terris: "Visiting A Parallel Universe"
Aaron Magid
Expert on Jordan and author of The Most American King
Episode: Aaron Magid on King Abdullah, "The Most American King"
Geoffrey Asmus
Comedian known for his provocative humor and commentary on culture
Episode: Funny You Should Mention: Geoffrey Asmus
Conor Patrick Heffernan
Author of When Fitness Went Global
Episode: Jonathan Cohen: "Add Friction" to the Super Bowl of Gambling

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
  • NPR humorist

    My dead grandpa chuckles at this show while wearing tweed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United States2 months ago
  • Silverman

    Man. None of that aged well. Cringy apologetic whites trying to be woke. Yuck.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    jdubinMKE
    United States2 months ago
  • Plestia Alaquad

    Focused on definitions. Closer to a Spelling Bee with a 23 year old who speaks English as a second language than an interview. What a disservice to journalism.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    PatientGardener
    United States3 months ago
  • Plestia Alaqad

    Way to punch down Mike. I see this version of you pop up now and again; the one who says he doesn’t mean to be pedantic and then continues with the pedanticism ad nauseam. And always with a female guest, so it feels misogynistic. I don’t know what makes you climb up on that high horse, but I wish you would hang up that particular set of spurs.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    honest abr
    United States5 months ago
  • Pesca has lost the plot

    I had a lingering fondness for Pesca from his earlier days on NPR, but his apparent pursuit of finding a middle ground between both sides has reached a point where he’s (for example) overlooking genocide to talk about ethics in journalism. Don’t give this guy more of your time; there are better “middle ground “ podcasts out there.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    October Rain 25
    United States5 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
#50
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#65
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#183
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#85
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#184
Italy/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#188
Germany/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

John Fugelsang & Corey Brettschneider: "Stochastic Self-Censorship"
Q: How do you view the effects of soft censorship in today's media?
Soft censorship can be more insidious than overt censorship as it creates a chilling effect without formal bans.
John Fugelsang & Corey Brettschneider: "Stochastic Self-Censorship"
Q: What are your thoughts on how journalists can respond to intimidation from the administration?
Journalists must continue to produce quality work, potentially using independent platforms to challenge narratives.
C. Thi Nguyen: "The Appearance of Winning"
Q: So what are your recommendations for when and how people say, I'm going to regard this as phantom pain?
It's about asking yourself, what belief is serving me? What belief is causing me suffering versus what belief is allowing me to live to my potential?
James Kimmel Jr. : "Revenge Is Dopamine With a Law Degree"
Q: How do you measure learning success?
Learning isn't about passive consumption but about doing, as emphasized by Doche Able.
Alex Roarty: "The Status Quo Sucks Right Now"
Q: Why is there a push for younger representation among candidates?
There's a belief that current candidates like Janet Mills represent the status quo, which many Democrats see as ineffective, hence the call for something new and radically different.

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

Where can I find podcast stats for The Gist?

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

How many listeners does The Gist get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Gist, 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 The Gist?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Gist, 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 The Gist have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Gist 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 The Gist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Gist:

1. Political Gabfest
2. Blocked and Reported
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. On the Media
5. Hacks On Tap

How many episodes of The Gist are there?

The Gist launched 12 years ago and published 2954 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?

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 The Gist?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Gist 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 The Gist?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Gist. 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 The Gist?

Recent guests on The Gist include:

1. James Kimmel Jr.
2. David Glasgow
3. Kenji Yoshino
4. Alex Roarty
5. Ruy Teixeira
6. Ben Terris
7. Aaron Magid
8. Geoffrey Asmus

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