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Lost Debate

The Branch
Donald Trump
Evangelical Church
Chronic Absenteeism
The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory
Cultural Polarization
Jerry Falwell Sr.
Joe Biden
Public Education
American Carnage
Politics and Religion
14th Amendment
January 6 Insurrection
Supreme Court
Gaza
Bitcoin
The New York Times
2024 Elections
Southern Baptist Convention
Israeli Government
Section 3

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes412Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CulturePoliticsNews

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Artwork for Lost Debate

Latest Episodes

Are We Getting Stupider?

Andrew Rice joins The Lost Debate to ask an uncomfortable question: why are America’s schools getting worse—even in places that claim to care most about equity? Drawing on sobering national data and reporting from affluent l... more

This episode takes a visit to the goonverse — a strange online world where hundreds of thousands of people spend hours chasing a “goon state,” a trance-like high reached through marathon adult video consumption. Ravi talks with reporter Daniel Kolitz... more

In this episode of The Lost Debate, Ravi steps back from the noise to map the forces that will shape 2026—from AI disruption and China’s industrial surge to U.S. political fractures, economic stress points, and the new wave of weight-loss drugs. Inst... more

Ravi sits down with Lawrence McDonald to reveal why the classic “just buy the index” advice may now be one of the biggest risks in the market. They break down how passive investing, AI-driven mega-caps, and relentless stock buybacks have concentrated... more

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Recent Guests

Andrew Rice
Writer at New York Magazine discussing education policies
New York Magazine
Episode: Are We Getting Stupider?
Daniel Kolitz
Author of 'The Goon Squad' in Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Episode: The Worst Story of the Year
Lawrence McDonald
Investment thinker and author of *How To Listen When Markets Speak*
The Bear Traps Report
Episode: The Market Is Speaking — Are You Listening?
Tim Wu
Professor at Columbia University, author, and former Special Assistant for Technology and Competition Policy in the White House from 2021 to 2023
Episode: The Age of Extraction
Idrees Kahloon
Journalist at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: Shrinking US Pop, SC on Tariffs, Low Expectations
Isaac Saul
Founder of Tangle News and presents balanced news perspectives.
Tangle News
Episode: Things Are Really Bad
Matteo Wong
Main reporter on the artificial intelligence beat at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: Why AI Kisses Your Ass
Cal Newport
Author of 'Deep Work' and 'Slow Productivity', known for his insights on productivity and cognitive technology.
Episode: Is AI Overhyped? With Cal Newport
Nick Gibb
Former Minister of State for Schools in the UK
Episode: A British Revolution

Host

Ravi Gupta
Host and commentator known for engaging discussions on political and social issues, focusing on education and current events.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • 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
    Canada2 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 States2 months ago
  • Loved the episode on the economic state but one question

    Been listening to this show for a year or 2 now and its really my favorite when it comes to politics. I just recently listen to the episode on the economic state of the US and I have one question, what use outside of currency does cryptocurrency have that gold does not?

    Btw when are you getting a new co-host? I do miss Rikki but she been gone long enough. Time to get a new right leaning co-host. Anyways, keep up the good work!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stilik
    United States4 months ago
  • Perhaps a new name

    One wonders if perhaps a different name would serve this podcast better. Perhaps something more in keeping with its left wing bias. There is no debate on this show, just progressive drivel.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    CBK98
    United States5 months ago
  • Lost

    Loved the show when it launched. Now it is just one of many hack shows. Please get back to what you have Lost.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Phamx
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback indicates a desire for a more balanced debate format, with some listeners feeling the content has shifted towards a single viewpoint since a co-host left.
Many viewers find the discussions timely, informative, and thought-provoking, particularly valuing the diverse perspectives brought by guests.
Listeners appreciate the podcast's unique approach to political engagement and its willingness to explore multiple viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#246
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#228
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#159
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#230
Mexico/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#234
New Zealand/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#246
Japan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are We Getting Stupider?
Q: What happened to the bipartisan consensus on education policy?
There was an overreach on the part of the education reformers, leading to pushback and a decline in the quality of education.
Are We Getting Stupider?
Q: What is the trajectory of student achievement in our K-12 system?
They are not doing very well at all, with a dramatic decline in student achievement as measured by national assessments.
Why AI Kisses Your Ass
Q: What are the differences between ChatGPT and other AI models like Claude or Gemini?
Matteo suggests that ChatGPT may be more sycophantic compared to its peers, due to the nature of the reinforcement learning methods used during its training.
Is AI Overhyped? With Cal Newport
Q: What advice do you give to students regarding cognitive strain and the use of AI?
Cal Newport advises students to become comfortable with cognitive strain, as sustaining concentration on challenging tasks is essential for excelling in the knowledge economy.
Education Reform’s Identity Crisis
Q: Who's to blame for all of this?
It's a problem of bad ideas, not bad people, driven by the ideologies introduced in DEI interventions.

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 Lost Debate

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

This podcast offers a unique perspective on the intersection of politics and society, engaging listeners with thought-provoking discussions and diverse viewpoints. It provides a platform for nuanced discussions that often go missing in mainstream media, focusing on current events, educational reform, political dynamics, and societal issues. Notably, it features a variety of guests, including experts from various fields, allowing for a broader understanding of complex topics related to governance, economics, and social policies.

Where can I find podcast stats for Lost Debate?

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

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. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
3. On with Kara Swisher
4. Pivot
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Lost Debate are there?

Lost Debate launched 4 years ago and published 412 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. Andrew Rice
2. Daniel Kolitz
3. Lawrence McDonald
4. Tim Wu
5. Idrees Kahloon
6. Isaac Saul
7. Matteo Wong
8. Cal Newport

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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