Omnishambles
Virginia Heffernan and Cy CanterelA podcast where two slightly deranged scholars pick one knotty problem in our political, cultural or technological life, and untangle it. omnishamblespod.substack.com
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 46 | Founded | a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsPoliticsSociety & CultureTechnologyPhilosophy | |||
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Latest Episodes
In 2025, Nate Cavanaugh—a 27-year-old college dropout and tech entrepreneur—was handed control of the U.S. Institute of Peace and told to cut it apart. He had no government experience, no expertise in diplomacy or foreign affairs, and by his own acco... more
This is the final episode of What Rough Beast—and the first of something bigger. We’re becoming Omnishambles: same commitment to getting inside what’s huge, opaque, and frightening. Wider aperture. No more holding back. Virginia and Cy are co-hosting... more
Welcome to Omnishambles! Subscribing is free!
On this episode, Virginia and Cy discuss why Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney just gave a eulogy for neoliberal capitalism at Davos, and what comes after the fiction falls apart.
We discuss:
* Why ... more
Welcome to Omnishambles! Please subscribe (it’s free!)
She’s in the Epstein files. It’s fine. She’s fine.
This week, Virginia and Cy are back together to dig into Virginia’s latest piece for The Nerve—Carol Cadwalladr’s new media venture—and it dro... more
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Reviews
- Best Recent Podcast Find!
I really appreciate you both and am thrilled to be able to listen you give these topics the treatment they deserve.
Apple Podcasts5GMurry
United Statesa month ago - My fave
Layered and weird and always interesting.
Apple Podcasts5Susy PD
United Kingdom5 months ago - Fighting fascism while feasting on it
Enjoy the pod, but it’s bonkers that so-called leftists can still be “happy omnivores” in 2025. Animal Ag is a fascistic system of exploitation, domination, and ecological ruin. Are you really going to wait until most people go vegan before you find the courage to be nice to cows and help prevent total environmental collapse?
Or maybe you just haven’t really thought about it. Watch Earthlings to see the grotesque violence you are causing to helpless sentient beings. Watch Dairy Is Scary if yo... more
Apple Podcasts5Corey Lee PhDUnited States8 months ago - Weirdly helpful
Not that you’ll feel better but all the same
Apple Podcasts5OrangeBeanieUnited Statesa year ago - Yes!
Smart, funny, and irreverent, What Rough Beast is exactly the podcast we need right now. Heffernan and Metcalf don’t just dissect the rubble—they find the strange glitter in it, asking the big, imaginative questions most shows don’t dare to touch. A must-listen.
Apple Podcasts5LorettaDraperUnited Statesa year ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #83 | United States/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #38 |  Canada/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #120 | United Kingdom/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #68 |  Australia/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #137 |  New Zealand/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #211 |  Norway/Technology |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
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Frequently Asked Questions About Omnishambles
What is Omnishambles about and what kind of topics does it cover?
The show examines the decay and transformation of American political culture through sharp, imaginative critique and interviews. Conversations blend politics, philosophy, media, and culture to surface unconventional responses to contemporary crises, with a focus on power, accountability, and the social imagination. Noteworthy are the hosts' willingness to cross disciplines, challenge official narratives, and explore future-facing ideas beyond traditional politics. Listeners who enjoy rigorous argument, cultural critique, and speculative solutions to current events are likely to find it for them.
Where can I find podcast stats for Omnishambles?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Omnishambles. 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 Omnishambles and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Omnishambles get?
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What are the audience demographics for Omnishambles?
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How many subscribers and views does Omnishambles have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Omnishambles 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 Omnishambles?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Omnishambles:
1. Culture Gabfest
2. Political Gabfest
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Slate Culture Feed
5. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
How many episodes of Omnishambles are there?
Omnishambles launched a year ago and published 46 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 Omnishambles?
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 Omnishambles?
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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Omnishambles?
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What guests have appeared on Omnishambles?
Recent guests on Omnishambles include:
1. Siva Vaidyanathan
2. Cy Canterel
3. Cy Canterelle
4. Trevor Mitchell
5. Giorgio Angelini
6. Jamie Raskin
7. Hakeem Jeffries
8. Fred Kaplan
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.