Rephonic
Artwork for The West Wing Weekly
The West Wing
The Diplomat
The American President
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
In the Loop
American Politics
Aaron Sorkin
Patreon
Bulworth
A Face In the Crowd
The Candidate
Robert Redford
California Senate Election
Bob Roberts
Frank Capra
Jimmy Stewart
Jean Arthur
Dr. Strangelove
Political Satire
Joseph Kennedy

From The West Wing to The Diplomat to All the President's Men, we discuss works of political television and film. Co-hosted by Joshua Malina (The West Wing, Scandal) and Hrishikesh Hirway (Song Exploder).

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes207Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
TV & Film

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Artwork for The West Wing Weekly

Latest Episodes

Pivots, lit bits, and a hookup in a pond. Plus plenty of plenipotentiary, as Hrishi and Josh welcome Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones and her husband Don Ruschman to tell us what it’s really like inside the world of high stakes diplomacy. 

For more inf... more

You’ve said you’d listen to us talk about anything, and today we test this thesis. We touch on pigs, contractions, James Bond, and offscreen butts. And we still find time to discuss Russian mercenaries, a sudden death, and onscreen butt.

For more in... more

We’re joined by director Andrew Bernstein to discuss his work on this episode (as well as his work on The West Wing)—and that fight scene between Kate and Hal!

For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplomat-103.

L... more

We’re digging into the dynamics of Kate & Hal, Eidra & Stuart, the breathless pace of the show, and its “no good guys” worldview. Josh has an important PSA about drugs. 

For more info and to discuss the episode, visit thewestwingweekly.com/thediplom... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

A. Elizabeth Jones
Career ambassador who served in Kazakhstan and held senior Foreign Service roles
U.S. Foreign Service
Episode: The Diplomat 1.05: The Dogcatcher (with Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones)
Don Ruschman
USAID contractor who worked on public health and privatization projects overseas
USAID
Episode: The Diplomat 1.05: The Dogcatcher (with Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones)
Andrew Bernstein
Director, former West Wing AD, argued for the show's tonal continuity
The Diplomat (director)
Episode: The Diplomat 1.03: Lambs in the Dark (with Andrew Bernstein)
Debora Cahn
Creator, executive, producer, writer, showrunner of The Diplomat
Episode: The Diplomat 1.01: The Cinderella Thing (with Debora Cahn)
Adam Scott
Actor and guest on the podcast
Episode: Bob Roberts (with Adam Scott)
Mary McCormack
Co-author of 'What's Next'
The West Wing
Episode: 0.21: Celebrating the new West Wing book "What's Next?" (live with Mary McCormack, Melissa Fitzgerald, Aaron Sorkin, and
Melissa Fitzgerald
Co-author of 'What's Next'
The West Wing
Episode: 0.21: Celebrating the new West Wing book "What's Next?" (live with Mary McCormack, Melissa Fitzgerald, Aaron Sorkin, and
Aaron Sorkin
Creator of The West Wing and author
The West Wing
Episode: 0.21: Celebrating the new West Wing book "What's Next?" (live with Mary McCormack, Melissa Fitzgerald, Aaron Sorkin, and

Hosts

Joshua Malina
Actor known for The West Wing and Scandal.
Hrishikesh Hirway
Host of Song Exploder.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 15.3k ratings
  • So great!

    So excited to see my favorite podcasting team talking about The Diplomat— one of my favorite shows! I was afraid of running out of the old West Wing Weekly episodes and so excited to have new episodes coming!!! Please bring live show to Boston!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ME Henshaw
    United Statesa month ago
  • THE BOYS ARE BACK

    Beyond thrilled to have Hrishi and Josh in my earphones again with Diplomat recaps. This podcast is my #1 comfort food. They just cannot be beat.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Momalley10374739
    United Statesa month ago
  • Perfect retrospective

    Smart, funny and packed with stories and anecdotes from all the people you want to hear from… and Josh. Hrishi and Josh know the show inside out, but never treat it like something too precious to question. There’s enough behind-the-scenes detail to make you notice things you missed, enough criticism to stop it becoming a love-in, and enough genuine affection for The West Wing to remind you why you’re watching it again in the first place. Add in the cast, writers, directors and others who were ac... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brooksey95
    Australiaa month ago
  • Great Companion to My Favorite Show

    I’ve been watching The West Wing on repeat for the better part of the last 10 years (#JedBartletIsMyPresident) and just discovered this podcast. It’s funny and gives great inside information, even for an OG fan watching for the hundred-and-somethingth time. Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JodyA93
    United States7 months ago
  • Very informative podcast

    I am rewatching West Wing. I have found this podcast and for some of the WW episodes it has been very helpful. I like Josh Malina as an actor & it is fun to hear him talk about the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Penny4books
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners find the hosts' critiques overly sharp or nitpicky, particularly in film discussions.
Fans value the conversations as thoughtful, funny companions to rewatching familiar series and films.
Listeners appreciate interviews with cast and crew for firsthand production stories and details they might have missed.
The hosts' chemistry and informed, accessible analysis are frequent strengths.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#27
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#14
United Kingdom/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#31
Canada/TV & Film
Spotify
#50
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#11
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#75
Germany/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Diplomat 1.05: The Dogcatcher (with Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones)
Q: And I was wondering how much of this was heightened stakes for TV and how much in real life it ever felt like the role of ambassador or DCM really blurred the lines with intelligence gathering or CIA kind of work.
Jones says diplomats and intelligence officers sometimes work together, and explains that diplomats may obtain information through relationships while intelligence officers may need to buy or steal it.
The Diplomat 1.05: The Dogcatcher (with Ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones)
Q: Could you explain what that means, hardship post?
Jones explains that hardship posts are graded by factors such as health, safety, and medical care, with dangerous posts representing an additional category.
The Diplomat 1.01: The Cinderella Thing (with Debora Cahn)
Q: What was the starting point for Kate and Hal's relationship, and how did their different approaches influence casting and writing?
The dynamic was shaped by contrasting personalities—Hal as a maverick risk-taker and Kate as a careful, calculating strategist. Debora explains that this tension informed casting decisions, the woman's role in diplomacy, and the show's tonal balance, with the relationship serving as the engine for both conflict and collaboration.
The Diplomat 1.01: The Cinderella Thing (with Debora Cahn)
Q: Was there any chemistry read or how did you assess the on-screen chemistry between leads before committing to them?
Chemistry was evaluated in the room with the actors rather than through formal chemistry reads; the producers and writers observed how Carrie Russell and Rufus Sewell (the actors) interacted during rehearsals and table reads, and Debora discusses that chemistry often reveals itself once the words are spoken and the dynamics are played out.
Network
Q: Did you have any feelings about me including it in a political film fest?
Given the current political climate and media influence, I feel like there was a lot of connective tissue between the world today and particularly the political world and this film.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The West Wing Weekly

What is The West Wing Weekly about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations about political television and film, combining close readings of stories and craft with behind-the-scenes perspectives from people who made them. Regular hosts Joshua Malina and Hrishikesh Hirway bring different vantage points: Malina draws on his experience as an actor, while Hirway helps guide discussions through production details, character choices and the ideas behind each work. Episodes move between episode-by-episode analysis of series such as The Diplomat and broader film discussions, often connecting political storytelling to journalism, diplomacy, power and personal relationships. Guests include creators, directors and other industry professionals, who share practical accounts of writing, casting, directing and produ... more

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How many episodes of The West Wing Weekly are there?

The West Wing Weekly launched 11 years ago and published 207 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The West Wing Weekly?

Recent guests on The West Wing Weekly include:

1. A. Elizabeth Jones
2. Don Ruschman
3. Andrew Bernstein
4. Debora Cahn
5. Adam Scott
6. Mary McCormack
7. Melissa Fitzgerald
8. Aaron Sorkin

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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