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New Mexico
Joe Biden
Climate Change
Wildfire Season
Hermit's Peak, Calf Canyon Fire
Haaretz
1968 Democratic National Convention
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Community Resilience
Kamala Harris
Local News
West Bank
FEMA
Journalism
Investigative Journalism
Real Sports
Student Protests
Columbia University
Gaza
News Media

The Kicker is a podcast on the media and the world today. It comes out twice a month, hosted by Josh Hersh and produced by Amanda Darrach for the Columbia Journalism Review. It is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes315Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Kicker

Latest Episodes

In 2007, Valleywag, Gawker’s gossip column devoted to Silicon Valley, published a short piece about a then-little-known venture capitalist and tech founder, under the headline “Peter Thiel is totally gay, people.” Thiel’s sexuality wasn’t a secret, n... more

Annual reports are generally pretty boring documents, bogged down with numbers taken out of context and marketing-speak about “thriving in the face of unprecedented challenges.”

Not Jasper Wang’s. At the end of 2025, the cofounder and vice presiden... more

The Kicker returns with our former host, Josh Hersh, and our new one, Megan Greenwell, in conversation.

Between President Trump’s legal battles against news outlets, the defunding of public media, the rise of creator journalism, wave after wave of l... more

In 2006, Jay Rosen, the media scholar, published his influential article “The People Formerly Known as the Audience.” His medium was as important as his message. Although the essay would later appear in media-studies textbooks, it was first published... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

On the Media
On the MediaWNYC Studios
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The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
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The DailyThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Ben Smith
Founding editor of Semafor
Semafor
Episode: Ben Smith Isn’t Afraid of the Future
Natalia Antelava
Founder of Coda Story and former correspondent for the BBC
Coda Story
Episode: How Silicon Valley Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Oligarchs
Azmat Khan
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Director of the Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism
Columbia Journalism School
Episode: The Future of Journalism After Gaza
Anya Schiffrin
Professor and Co-director of the Technology Policy and Innovation Concentration
Columbia School of International and Public Affairs
Episode: The Future of Journalism After Gaza
Douglas Rushkoff
Cultural critic and media theorist, known for his work on the impact of digital technology on society.
Episode: Douglas Rushkoff on Being the Intellectual Dominatrix of Billionaire Tech Bros
Margaret Sullivan
Previously the public editor of The New York Times and currently running the Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics.
The Guardian, Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics
Episode: Margaret Sullivan Takes a New Look at Journalism Ethics
Stephanie Lulay
Co-executive editor and co-founder of Block Club Chicago
Block Club Chicago
Episode: Chicago’s Block Club Is Ready for ICE
Francia García Hernández
Reporter at Block Club Chicago
Block Club Chicago
Episode: Chicago’s Block Club Is Ready for ICE
Garrett Graff
A journalist and historian with over two decades of experience covering American politics.
Episode: Garrett Graff Thinks the Press Should Be Taking Trump’s Health Much More Seriously

Host

Josh Hersh
Co-host and co-producer, also known for his various roles in journalism.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 103 ratings
  • Economic Voice of Reason

    I’ve never heard of this podcast before but I really enjoyed the most recent episode, “Kai Ryssdal Was America’s Economic Voice of Reason This Week.”

    Straight talk about an important subject from educated, thoughtful people. Who could ask for more.

    I’ll be listening to more episodes in the future.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JTI O1
    United States10 months ago
  • Superb

    This is a Peabody-worthy podcast - a phantasmagorical tale - that’s real - told well with humor and sympathy, to a point. The format suits the listener with a wonderful Q&A format with mind boggling detail. Susie Banikarim is a superstar and Josh Hersh is a fantastic foil. I great listen without the usual tedious podcast repetition.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EmRoo7
    United Statesa year ago
  • Engrossing

    Great listen - very well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    arp83
    United Statesa year ago
  • Ozy Media

    Really enjoying the episodes about the downfall of Ozy Media - thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kbm422
    United Statesa year ago
  • Captivating

    Great interviews + fantastic series that goes deep on the rise and fall of Ozy media. Thoughtful and well-reported.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ……………..y2k
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the podcast for its insightful and thought-provoking content, especially highlighting episodes focused on journalistic ethics and political accountability.
The quality of discussions and guest interviews is frequently commended, showcasing a blend of academic rigor and accessible dialogue.
Audio quality issues have been noted, with some suggesting improvements to enhance the overall listening experience.
Positive feedback also mentions the podcast's relevance to current media issues and its contribution to understanding changes in the journalism landscape.

Top News Podcasts

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The DailyThe New York Times
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Pod Save AmericaCrooked Media
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PivotNew York Magazine
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Ben Shapiro ShowThe Daily Wire
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
Morning Wire
Morning WireThe Daily Wire

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ben Smith Isn’t Afraid of the Future
Q: Do you think if you had taken that deal, or if Jonah had taken that deal, would you now be either A, Nate Silver or B, Barry Weiss?
No, I think it was when BuzzFeed was rising very fast, but ultimately wasn't going to work; I would have wound up as a consultant instead of pursuing journalism.
Ben Smith Isn’t Afraid of the Future
Q: How is the landscape now for journalism, and how is it different to how you maybe thought it would be when you were getting going?
Ben Smith discusses how the current landscape is going great but acknowledges it is not what was initially imagined, highlighting changes in cultural and political dynamics affecting journalism.
Chicago’s Block Club Is Ready for ICE
Q: How has ICE been responding to your journalism?
Sometimes we get answers, but often do not receive responses to our questions, pushing us to file a lawsuit for information.
Chicago’s Block Club Is Ready for ICE
Q: What is the vibe across the city in relation to ICE's presence?
The presence of ICE has created a busy and tense environment, touching every corner of the city including majority Latino neighborhoods.
Hind Hassan Is Sorry We Didn’t Do More to Make Journalism Safe
Q: Can you talk about the specific journalists you've worked with in Gaza?
The journalists in Gaza are remarkable in their professionalism despite limited resources and dangers, having produced powerful footage under extreme conditions.

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 Kicker

What is The Kicker about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the intricate dynamics of journalism in a rapidly evolving media landscape, the content focuses on pressing contemporary issues surrounding the press and its role in society. Episodes highlight the importance of ethics, safety, and accountability in journalism, delving into the influence of technology and political turbulence on the industry. Guests typically include experienced journalists, media theorists, and educators who provide insights into best practices, emerging challenges, and the future of reporting. Notable discussions often tackle key topics such as journalism ethics, the impact of social media, and the intersection of politics and news.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Kicker?

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

How many listeners does The Kicker get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Kicker?

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

To see how many followers or subscribers The Kicker 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 Kicker?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Kicker:

1. On the Media
2. Post Reports
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
5. The Daily

How many episodes of The Kicker are there?

The Kicker launched 9 years ago and published 315 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 Kicker?

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 Kicker?

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

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Kicker?

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

Recent guests on The Kicker include:

1. Ben Smith
2. Natalia Antelava
3. Azmat Khan
4. Anya Schiffrin
5. Douglas Rushkoff
6. Margaret Sullivan
7. Stephanie Lulay
8. Francia García Hernández

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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