Rephonic
Artwork for Lost Debate

Lost Debate

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes453Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Lost Debate

Latest Episodes

As AI becomes capable of doing more of the work once reserved for highly educated people, could it push society toward socialism? Labor lawyer and policy thinker Matt Bruenig joins Ravi to imagine a future in which human intelligence no longer carrie... more

YouTube

Who was Osama bin Laden—and what did he believe attacking America would accomplish?

Journalist Graeme Wood explores how the son of a wealthy Saudi construction magnate became the world’s most notorious terrorist, the fatal miscalculations behind 9/1... more

YouTube

Ravi examines the economic consequences of Trump’s immigration crackdown as net migration turns negative and labor shortages ripple across the country. He also unpacks Trump’s full-throated support for data centers—even as opposition grows among Repu... more

YouTube

Who can best help children learn—AI or humans? In this special episode shared on behalf of Bellwether, a nonprofit transforming education for young people, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings argues that AI could move education beyond the one-size-fits... more

YouTube

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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Majority 54
Majority 54Majority 54
Hacks On Tap
Hacks On TapVox Media
Central Air
Central AirJosh Barro, Megan McArdle & Ben Dreyfuss
The Fifth Column
The Fifth ColumnKmele Foster, Michael Moynihan, and Matt Welch

Recent Guests

Graeme Wood
Writer for The Atlantic and Yale lecturer who authored a piece on Al-Qaeda's legacy
The Atlantic; Yale University
Episode: Did Al-Qaeda lose?
Dan Meyer
Educator and Amplify employee, discussing Alpha School and data
Amplify
Episode: Negative Immigration, Trump on Data Centers, Alpha Schools
Reed Hastings
Former CEO/Founder of Netflix
Netflix
Episode: The Future of AI and Education (with Reed Hastings)
Mike Goldstein
Founder of Match charter school network
Match/Center for Teen Flourishing
Episode: The Future of AI and Education (with Reed Hastings)
Andy Rotherham
Education policy analyst; hosted the Bellwether LinkedIn Live discussion
Bellwether
Episode: The Future of AI and Education (with Reed Hastings)
Dinaw Mengestu
Past president of PEN America; author and freelance journalist
PEN America
Episode: Primary Takeaways + Free Speech & Boycotts
Imogen Willetts
Author of Up All Night, historian of nightlife
Self-described author
Episode: What We Did in the Shadows
Kobe Yank-Jacobs
Writer for The Argument, researcher on AI and politics
The Argument
Episode: Musk’s Legacy + The Politics of AI
Abdul Al-Sayed
Progressive Democrat, Michigan open Senate candidate discussed in the episode
Michigan political scene
Episode: Slopulists

Host

Ravi Gupta
Host of the show and principal figure shaping the discussion and interview approach.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Well done

    I am a long time listener. I don’t write reviews for things, but I am genuinely impressed with your integrity. I am not a democrat. That being said, I’m proud of you and the way you carry yourself. Well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Will T Gunner
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States7 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 States8 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 States9 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
    Canadaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Shows real-world research and credible guests, not just talking points.
Some listeners feel the format has shifted from back-and-forth debate to host-led narrative.
Consistently provides timely, evidence-based discussions on politics and policy.
Thoughtful, nuanced debate that avoids lazy partisan takes.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Negative Immigration, Trump on Data Centers, Alpha Schools
Q: Dan, this is the first time our audience is likely meeting you. Just tell us a little bit about your background.
Dan Meyer describes his background as a former K-12 educator and high school math teacher who now works for Amplify, focusing on how kids learn math in online spaces and applying technology to education in novel ways.
Humanoid Robots Are Coming
Q: So what exactly is a humanoid robot, and how does it differ from something like a Waymo vehicle?
A humanoid robot is designed to resemble a human with a body that mimics human motion, capable of tasks in the real world, whereas a Waymo is primarily a car with an integrated AI system, not built to walk or manipulate objects like limbs.
Musk’s Legacy + The Politics of AI
Q: How does the discussion conceptualize the financial impact of USAID cuts?
The discussion outlines a three-bucket framework (what happened, impact, accountability) and notes the difficulty of precise projections, using examples like clinic closures during outbreaks and the broader health infrastructure losses.
Musk’s Legacy + The Politics of AI
Q: What was Khanna saying about Musk's accountability and the Doge project?
Khanna argued that there is solid evidence suggesting USAID funding cuts could have negative global health consequences and that Elon Musk shouldn't dodge congressional accountability after entering politics, supported by citing a Lancet study.
The Democrats Are Risking It All
Q: What is the establishment, and how do you see it influencing who gets endorsed and who has leverage in the party?
She discusses how a network of media outlets, donors, and pundits operate behind the scenes, shaping endorsements and public perception, sometimes overriding grassroots or local perspectives, and she cautions against conflating insurgent rhetoric with effective, broadly palatable leadership.

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?

A thoughtful, host-driven politics show that pairs deep dives on current events with interviews across the political spectrum. Episodes frequently tackle party dynamics, policy debates, and the role of media and tech influencers in shaping public opinion, alongside timely analysis of elections, governance, and social issues. Unique strengths include clear critical thinking, a willingness to challenge establishment narratives, and a focus on actionable insights for listeners who want to understand complex issues without loud partisan posturing. This program is likely to appeal to listeners who value nuanced discourse, evidence-based discussion, and debates that strive for balance while acknowledging the host's center-left perspective. In add... more

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Lost Debate, 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 Lost Debate?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Lost Debate, 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 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. Hacks On Tap
3. The Dispatch Podcast
4. Central Air
5. The Fifth Column

How many episodes of Lost Debate are there?

Lost Debate launched 5 years ago and published 453 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.

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 Lost Debate?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Lost Debate. 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 Lost Debate?

Recent guests on Lost Debate include:

1. Graeme Wood
2. Dan Meyer
3. Reed Hastings
4. Mike Goldstein
5. Andy Rotherham
6. Dinaw Mengestu
7. Imogen Willetts
8. Kobe Yank-Jacobs

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