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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes3006Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsDaily News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Gist

Latest Episodes

Mike and Ethan Strauss joined to talk on Substack and they talked about Ethan's 4:00 a.m. "rise and grind" writing routine, the frustrating trend of "great writers, bad thinkers" across the media landscape, and the unique cultural heat that drives th... more

Today on the Gist, digging into the rhetoric around California's Proposition 36 and examining how advocacy groups frame low-level arrest statistics to push the narrative of mass incarceration. Then, Semafor's Business and Finance editor and Compound ... more

Today on the Gist, assessing the political fallout from the Supreme Court's Callais decision striking down majority minority congressional districts. Then, Semafor's Business and Finance editor and Compound Interest podcast co-host Liz Hoffman joins ... more

Today on the Gist, a look at the recent security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and why Donald Trump's demand for a new White House ballroom draws striking parallels to his infamous border wall. Then, American journalist Suzy Hans... 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
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Blocked and Reported
Blocked and ReportedKatie Herzog and Jesse Singal
Central Air
Central AirJosh Barro, Megan McArdle & Ben Dreyfuss
On the Media
On the MediaWNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Richard Lapper
Author and journalist, Financial Times veteran and Latin American editor
Financial Times
Episode: Richard Lapper: Why Lula Didn't Become a Chavista
Maya Kornberg
Professor who teaches at NYU's Brennan Center, author
New York University Brennan Center
Episode: Maya Kornberg on How Congress Got Stuck
Sarada Peri
Special assistant to the president and senior speechwriter (Obama administration)
Former Obama White House staff
Episode: Not Even Mad: Sarada Peri & Sarah Isgur
Jennifer Shahade
Chess Champion, poker player, author
Author of Thinking Sideways
Episode: Jennifer Shahade on the Grandmaster of Intermezzos: Donald Trump
Jonathan Cheng
Author of Korean Messiah, Wall Street Journal China Bureau Chief
Wall Street Journal
Episode: Jonathan Cheng on the Realities of Uncovering North Korea
Jacob Mchangama
Professor at Vanderbilt University; author of The Future of Free Speech
Vanderbilt University
Episode: Jacob Mchangama On "Elite Panic"
Richard Kreitner
Author of Break It Up, Secession, Division and the Secret History of America's Imperfect Union
Simon & Schuster (publisher)
Episode: Matt Yglesias & Richard Kreitner: A Billion Americans vs. Breaking It Up
Matt Yglesias
Author of One Billion Americans, The Case for Thinking Bigger
Vox (formerly) / author
Episode: Matt Yglesias & Richard Kreitner: A Billion Americans vs. Breaking It Up
John Ganz
Author of When the Clock Broke, Conmen Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s
The Unpopular Front (Substack)
Episode: Not Even Mad: John Ganz & Nick Gillespie

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
  • Excellent

    Witty, refreshing sanity. Greet podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RokitanskyAschoff
    United Statesa month 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 States2 months ago
  • It’s a good show

    I actually love it. Kill me now.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United States2 months ago
  • I keep coming back

    I like the whole concept

    Very informative and often funny

    Sometimes too crude for me, but I just turn those off

    Most episodes are great

    Keep the podcast a coming

    Very much prefer podcasts over any video as I’m often in listen mode and not watching mode

    And you have quite a way of holding attention

    Keep going!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    RomanNat
    United States2 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
#40
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#242
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#72
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#161
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#59
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#76
Germany/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Maya Kornberg on How Congress Got Stuck
Q: What is the core thesis of your book about why Congress becomes stuck?
The core argument is that major wave elections change not just who is in office but also how Congress operates internally, reshaping power dynamics, committee control, and the balance between institutional expertise and partisan leadership, which then produces long-term effects even after the wave recedes.
Mike Pesca Might Be Wrong & The Art of Korean Rock Throwing
Q: Could you just run us through the article about Orban and what it says?
Pesca explains the central idea: not every loss makes someone an autocrat, and the piece argues for a nuanced view of Orban's defeat, contrasting it with how politicians are labeled as autocrats and how that framing affects public perception.
Richard Lapper: Why Lula Didn't Become a Chavista
Q: So let's just start there, because Lula's career is framed by a move to stabilize the economy and shift leftward only gradually. How did that play out in everyday life for the average Brazilian?
Lula's policy shift was gradual and pragmatic, focused on stability and investment, which lifted many Brazilians out of poverty and created a period of consumer prosperity, while keeping leftist rhetoric in check.
Chuck Todd: Why Politicians Are "The Weirdos"
Q: How has media coverage shaped political credibility and candidate viability?
Public communication skills and media savvy have become critical for success, with charisma often translating into political power, while genuine policy expertise may take a backseat to debate performance and narrative control.
Chuck Todd: Why Politicians Are "The Weirdos"
Q: What habits of mind could voters adopt to make better choices beyond soundbites?
Develop civic hygiene by avoiding responders to every story and focusing on substance, looking for consistency, and testing claims over time rather than chasing every headline.

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. The Ezra Klein Show
3. Blocked and Reported
4. Central Air
5. On the Media

How many episodes of The Gist are there?

The Gist launched 12 years ago and published 3006 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. Richard Lapper
2. Maya Kornberg
3. Sarada Peri
4. Jennifer Shahade
5. Jonathan Cheng
6. Jacob Mchangama
7. Richard Kreitner
8. Matt Yglesias

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