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Gaza
Donald Trump
Gretchen Whitmer
Fiddler On the Roof
Genocide
NBC News
Women's Basketball
Caitlin Clark
Israel
Shoplifting
Crime
Kate Middleton
Tradition
Ozempic
Wegovy
Obesity
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.

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Latest Episodes

Donald Trump has accused the Pope of being weak on crime, despite the Vatican's famously nonexistent murder rate. Then, Vanderbilt professor Jacob Mchangama joins to discuss his new book, The Future of Free Speech. They discuss the global free speech... more

Today on The Gist. Mike drops in on Across the Movie Aisle with Sonny Bunch and Peter Suderman to dissect the hit medical drama, The Pitt. They dive into the structural triumphs of the Noah Wyle prestige series, the realities of Hollywood’s persisten... more

Today on The Gist examining the rare pundit who advocates for the right policy even when it’s a proven election-loser, taking a cue from Matt Yglesias' Slow Boring newsletter to decode what politicians really mean when they talk about "spending polit... more

Today on a Not Even Mad, Mike is joined by political writer John Ganz and Reason’s Nick Gillespie to debate whether the ceasefire with Iran is a strategic victory for the regime or a result of Donald Trump’s bellicose rhetoric. The trio analyzes the ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
Devon Price
Social psychologist and professor at Loyola University of Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Episode: Freddie DeBoer and Devon Price on the "Identity Trap" of Neurodiversity
Freddie DeBoer
Author and commentator known for The Cult of Smart and writings on education and neurodiversity
Independent author / Substack
Episode: Freddie DeBoer and Devon Price on the "Identity Trap" of Neurodiversity
Noam Scheiber
Author of Mutiny, The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class
The New York Times
Episode: Noam Scheiber and the "Vinyl Record" Phase of American Unions
Nome Scheiber
Labor correspondent for The New York Times, author featured in the episode
The New York Times
Episode: Uncertain Things: "Joy as an Act of Resistance is the Dumbest Slogan of the Woke Era"
Raanan Hershberg
Comedian, star of Morbidly Jewish
Morbidly Jewish (special)
Episode: Funny You Should Mention: Raanan Hershberg
Mark Oppenheimer
Author of Judy Blume, A Life; Professor at Wash U St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: Are You There God? It’s Me, Mark Oppenheimer
Tyler Goodspeed
Author of Recession, The Real Reasons Economies Shrink and What to Do About It; former chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers; ExxonMobil chief economist
ExxonMobil
Episode: Tyler Goodspeed: Why "Pattern-Seeking Mammals" Blame Bankers Instead of Locusts

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
  • 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 Statesa month ago
  • It’s a good show

    I actually love it. Kill me now.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United Statesa month 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
  • Dude has become a lazy hack since his split with Slate

    Just one Free Press adjacent grifter after another and in between some the most smugly, despicable genocide denial going in media.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Tragic Mulatto
    United States2 months ago
  • NPR humorist

    My dead grandpa chuckles at this show while wearing tweed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brudd3788
    United States3 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
#234
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#77
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#141
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#109
Australia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#155
Germany/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Julia Minson: You're Probably 50% Wrong
Q: What should be the goal of these conversations if persuasion fails?
Preserve the relationship, reduce escalation, and find productive paths forward rather than trying to convert the other person on the spot.
Julia Minson: You're Probably 50% Wrong
Q: How do you handle conversations with people who hold conspiracy beliefs or vaccine skepticism?
Focus on understanding where they're coming from, acknowledge concerns, and use communication tools that avoid alienation, such as hedging, emphasizing agreement, and reframing positively.
Julia Minson: You're Probably 50% Wrong
Q: COVID denial: what do you do? what's a way to respond?
Recognize that persuasion is often not realistic; instead, ask questions to understand the other person's perspective and consider approaches that make them feel heard rather than attacked.
Julia Minson: You're Probably 50% Wrong
Q: What is boomer asking?
A question asked not to learn about the other person, but to prompt a return question, effectively boomeranging the conversation back to yourself.
Why Brazil Stopped Its Bolsonaro and We Didn't Stop Ours
Q: What happened in 2022 with Lula and Bolsonaro?
The discussion notes that Lula defeated Bolsonaro in 2022, Bolsonaro then attempted to orchestrate a coup with military involvement, which was blocked by the Supreme Court and Congress, underlining a key difference from the U.S. system and showing Brazilian institutions resisting presidential overreach.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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

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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. On the Media
4. Reflector
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of The Gist are there?

The Gist launched 12 years ago and published 2989 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?

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Gist from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Gist?

Recent guests on The Gist include:

1. Richard Kreitner
2. Matt Yglesias
3. Devon Price
4. Freddie DeBoer
5. Noam Scheiber
6. Nome Scheiber
7. Raanan Hershberg
8. Mark Oppenheimer

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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