
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 | 3100 | Founded | 12 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Daily NewsNews | |||

Today on The Gist, guest host Charlie looks back at Mike Pesca's 2021 conversation with Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, recorded when he was lieutenant governor, to discuss criminal justice reform, gun laws, and immigration. Then, journalist Mar... more
Today on The Gist, guest host Isabella introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with comedian Alex Edelman on Funny You Should Mention, discussing his acclaimed solo Broadway show, Just for Us. Edelman breaks down the craft of joke mechanics and set cons... more
Guest host Isabella introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with Yaakov Katz, author of While Israel Slept. Katz explains the intelligence failures and false assumptions behind October 7, the international fallout, and why he believes ending the conflic... more
Today on The Gist, guest host Isabella introduces an interview with progressive commentator and author David Pakman about his book, The Echo Machine: How Right-Wing Extremism Created a Post-Truth America. Pakman outlines the historical trajectory fro... more
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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.
Witty, refreshing sanity. Greet podcast.
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 | #49 |
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. Reflector
3. The Unspeakeasy With Meghan Daum
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Interesting Times
The Gist launched 12 years ago and published 3100 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. Philip Mudd
2. Gina Gershon
3. Diane Foley
4. Elizabeth Tsurkov
5. Virginia Sole-Smith
6. Adam Kinzinger
7. Stuart Stevens
8. Al Franken
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