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Artwork for Lost Debate

Lost Debate

The Branch
Donald Trump
Kamala Harris
Artificial Intelligence
Democratic Party
Trump Administration
Immigration
Education Reform
Supreme Court
Trump
Education
K-12 Education
Iran
Higher Education
Biden Administration
2024 Presidential Election
New York City
Tariffs
Joe Biden
Republican Party
Private Equity

Lost Debate is a weekly podcast from The Branch that brings you news, ideas, and arguments from around the political spectrum. We engage in the good-faith discussions that too much of our society and media miss. It's hosted by Ravi Gupta, a former Obama staffer turned school principal.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes431Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Lost Debate

Latest Episodes

Everything we think we know about dating, sex, love, and marriage may only be half true. In this episode, Dr. Justin Garcia, director of the Kinsey Institute and author of The Intimate Animal, joins Ravi to unpack the hidden forces shaping modern rel... more

How did Mississippi — long seen as one of the worst states in America for education — become one of the fastest-improving in the country? In this episode, education reformer Rachel Canter joins Ravi Gupta to unpack the “Mississippi Miracle” — the con... more

What if the Iran war never really ends—but instead settles into a dangerous, permanent limbo? In this episode, Ravi Gupta sits down with former Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer to unpack the confusing reality behind Trump’s Iran strategy, t... more

Ravi Gupta sits down with Bradley Tusk to break down New York City’s mounting budget crisis, a $6B deficit, and the tough choices facing Mayor Mamdani. They dig into the city’s $40B education system—why it spends more than anywhere else yet delivers ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rachel Canter
Founder of Mississippi First; education policy advocate
Mississippi First
Episode: The Mississippi Miracle
Jon Finer
Former Deputy National Security Advisor to Joe Biden; former Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State; veteran journalist and policy expert
Obama and Biden administrations; Washington Post
Episode: What if the Iran War Never Ends?
Tyler Goodspeed
Chief economist at Exxon Mobil Corporation; former White House Council of Economic Advisers chair
Exxon Mobil; Cato Institute
Episode: Can You Predict a Recession?
Jon Lee Anderson
Reporter for The New Yorker who has chronicled Cuba and Che Guevara
The New Yorker
Episode: Cuba Libre?
Alexander Hurst
Author of Generation Desperation; former journalist
Author, Generation Desperation
Episode: How to Make and Lose a Million Dollars
Catherine Bracy
Founder and CEO of Tech Equity
Tech Equity
Episode: Iran Quagmire + AI Politics
Andrew Chow
Journalist at Time
Time Magazine
Episode: The People vs. AI
Michael Simon
Chief Strategy Officer at ZenCity, previously co-founder and CEO of Elucid
ZenCity
Episode: The Openclaw Revolution
Jason Green
Former lawyer at the Obama White House, founder of companies, and author of 'Too Precious to Lose'.
Episode: Wacky Economy, Epstein Fallout, Our Elders

Host

Ravi Gupta
Host of Lost Debate and former Obama staffer, known for engaging discussions on political discourse and current events.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Been Listening

    on and off for awhile and it was refreshing to listen to two old friends talk about their families, histories, choices, and moving forward tonight. And not just two old friends, but two gentlemen with everything awful going on around us right now. Thanks, guys. 👏🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    alw61299
    United States3 months ago
  • Parroting Trump's line

    Apparently the release of the Epstein files will be damaging.. To who'm I wonder. What a hack.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    El Phantsmo
    United States4 months ago
  • What Happened?

    Long-time listener who’s disappointed to see this show lose its way. What used to be a reliably thoughtful and engaging hour is now dominated by the host talking about himself. Asking for listener reviews because there are no ads while delivering inconsistent episodes misses the mark.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    sr83mel
    United States5 months ago
  • What happened?

    This show used to be great and one of my faves. It even occasionally lived up to the name and was a debate, a lost art that is now so rare. But sadly it has turned into a vanity project for Ravi. All about Ravi. I know more about his cooking school and travels in italy than anything else. I gave 2 stars because there is an occasional good episode, but, “everything i know about health and fitness”, for example, that’s a skip. Never thought id say this but bring back rikki. At least it was a debat... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Maritime lolo
    Canada7 months ago
  • All Self Promotion

    This used to be one of my favorite shows because he brought real depth and nuance to important issues. Now, we go weeks without episodes, and when there is a new one, it’s just a reread of his personal substack. Take those rereads to therapy and bring us back the real Lost Debate.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    AB96Port
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the podcast for its thoughtful and nuanced take on complex issues and current events.
There are concerns that the show has shifted from its original debate format, making it feel more one-sided to some.
The podcast is praised for its engaging host who presents informed insights and encourages open conversation.
Many enjoy the depth of discussion around societal challenges and political discourse, valuing the variety of guests.
Some critics believe it has become more self-promotional, missing its earlier strengths in debate.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#73
India/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#222
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#228
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#237
India/News
Apple Podcasts
#244
Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Mississippi Miracle
Q: What would you tell Democrats who want to learn from Mississippi and possibly apply these reforms elsewhere?
Push past excuses about geography or politics; focus on workable leadership, accountability, parental engagement, and system-wide alignment that puts kids' learning first, while understanding local context and building scalable, sustainable practices.
What if the Iran War Never Ends?
Q: What were the three core elements of the JCPOA, and why did they matter?
The JCPOA had three core elements: meaningful constraints on Iran's nuclear program, sanctions relief in exchange for compliance, and a robust verification regime with on-the-ground inspectors to monitor Iran's activities; together these limited Iran's breakout timeline and provided a framework for diplomacy.
What if the Iran War Never Ends?
Q: What are we talking about here? What are the different terms for this conflict and the diplomatic efforts surrounding it?
The guest defines the current phase of the conflict and the terms used (e.g., military phase vs. diplomacy), emphasizing that while the military phase may be winding down, the diplomatic and strategic questions—like how to constrain Iran's nuclear program and secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz—remain unresolved and complex.
How to Make and Lose a Million Dollars
Q: What ultimately caused the decline and debt, and how did you get out of it?
A sequence of over-leveraged bets across SPACs, Lucid, and other bets, combined with chasing losses and a growing sense of desperation, led to substantial losses and a tax bill; negotiation with the IRS and a sustained pivot to journalism and writing helped move past the debt.
How to Make and Lose a Million Dollars
Q: How did you go from nearly nothing to over a million dollars in such a short time?
I started with a small amount, learned from online communities, and used leveraged options to amplify gains, but the approach was inconsistent and increasingly risky as I chased bigger numbers.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lost Debate

What is Lost Debate about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content is centered around the lively exploration of political discourse and societal issues, often featuring discussions on contemporary events, cultural shifts, and technological impacts on society. Episodes regularly dive into themes such as economic inequality, personal narratives within the political sphere, and the ethical implications of technology. A unique aspect is its commitment to bringing various political perspectives into conversation, aiming for a balanced approach that avoids bothsides-ism. This podcast is likely appealing to listeners interested in nuanced discussions on pressing societal debates and political developments.

Where can I find podcast stats for Lost Debate?

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How many listeners does Lost Debate get?

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What are the audience demographics for Lost Debate?

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How many subscribers and views does Lost Debate have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Lost Debate 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 Lost Debate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lost Debate:

1. Majority 54
2. KCRW's Left, Right & Center
3. Making Sense with Sam Harris
4. The David Frum Show
5. On with Kara Swisher

How many episodes of Lost Debate are there?

Lost Debate launched 5 years ago and published 431 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 Lost Debate?

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 Lost Debate?

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

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What guests have appeared on Lost Debate?

Recent guests on Lost Debate include:

1. Rachel Canter
2. Jon Finer
3. Tyler Goodspeed
4. Jon Lee Anderson
5. Alexander Hurst
6. Catherine Bracy
7. Andrew Chow
8. Michael Simon

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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