I migliori I Have Gist For You podcast (2025)

1
Quico Toro: "Charlatans Burrow Into Your Life and Don't Leave." 36:32

11h ago36:32

36:32

Quico Toro joins to discuss Charlatans: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Hucksters Bamboozle the Media, the Markets, and the Masses, distinguishing the "parasitic" nature of the charlatan from the hit-and-run tactics of the scammer. He traces the lineage of the grift from the official alchemists of 16th-century Venice to the upsell tactics of Trump Uni…

1
Rob Reiner: "I Just Viewed My Child in Pain" 35:02

3d ago35:02

35:02

In light of the recent tragedy, Mike unlocks a 2016 interview with the late Rob Reiner. It is a conversation that now plays differently: Reiner discusses his film Being Charlie, which was written by his son Nick Reiner—the man now arrested in connection with his death. Mike reflects on the director's legacy, the eerie prescience of their discussion…

1
Jay Jurden: High Profundities Per Minute 51:47

3d ago51:47

51:47

Comedian Jay Jurden explains why nine years of theater training is his "superpower" on the stand-up stage—and why he treats every punchline like a line of dialogue rather than a personal diary entry. His new special, Yes Ma'am, argues that physical specificity (from "rolling a wheelchair into affordable housing" to Marjorie Taylor Greene's hooves) …

1
Nicholas Wright: When Ancient Brains Meet Modern War 41:30

4d ago41:30

41:30

Neuroscientist Nicholas Wright explains why big powers "lose" wars they dominate on the kill ratio—and why counterinsurgencies (Vietnam, Afghanistan, maybe Iraq) reliably punish the side with less at stake. His new book, Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain, argues that identity, surprise, and revenge are ancient brain feature…

1
James Clyburn: "The World Would Much Rather See a Sermon Than Hear One." 42:29

5d ago42:29

42:29

Clyburn discusses The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation, explaining how Reconstruction-era Black lawmakers navigated power, compromise, and backlash—and why their choices still resonate. He reflects on faith as action, not rhetoric, and on history as a guide rather than a museum piece. Plus: Mar…

1
Mikhail Zygar: From Glasnost Whiplash to Social-Media Smog 41:26

6d ago41:26

41:26

Russian journalist in exile Mikhail Zygar traces an information system so sealed even Gorbachev couldn't get the facts in The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia's Short-Lived Victory Over Totalitarianism. He draws a straight psychological line from late-Soviet overload to our current tech-firehose, arguing humans don't change much; institutions do (and…

1
Chris Dalla Riva: "Billboard's become a Christmas chart." 39:42

7d ago39:42

39:42

Data journalist Chris Dalla Riva brings charts, facts, and plenty of fight to Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us About the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves, a tour through every Billboard Hot 100 #1 and the strange incentives that pick our "popular." They debate whether streaming makes the charts more accurate or just more boring—why Christma…

1
Finding the Next Terry Gross with Daniel Oppenheimer 40:22

10d ago40:22

40:22

In this special Saturday edition, Mike sits down with Daniel Oppenheimer of Eminent Americans to tackle a high-stakes question: Who is worthy of the Fresh Air throne? They dissect the craft of interviewing, critique the "unprepared celebrity" podcast trend, and evaluate potential successors ranging from Colin McEnroe to Jon Ronson. Produced by Core…

1
Shadi Hamid: The Left Should Learn to Love American Power 42:52

10d ago42:52

42:52

Shadi Hamid joins to discuss his new book, The Case for American Power, arguing that progressives' retreat from global engagement is a mistake. He contends that while the Left often views U.S. hegemony as intrinsically immoral—citing the legacy of Iraq and the tragedy in Gaza—the alternative of withdrawal often leads to greater atrocities, such as …

1
Not Even Mad: Anthony Weiner & John Ketcham 1:03:30

11d ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Anthony Weiner and John Ketcham break down a Congress being flayed by its own fringes, where the "crazies" sometimes deliver the sharpest institutional critiques. They then assess Pete Hegseth and the possible release video of a lethal Caribbean boat strike, the challenges reshaping New York politics, and what it really means to govern a city you o…

1
Holiday Suicides: Is That BS? with Sadie Dingfelder 27:42

12d ago27:42

27:42

Holiday dread is real enough—fraught family gatherings, forced merriment, and the persistent myth that December is the peak month for suicide. In truth, it's the lowest month for suicides, even as the season brings elevated risks of car crashes, cardiac emergencies, and alcohol-related ER visits. Sadie Dingfelder joins for an Is That Bulls**t? to e…

1
Mark Rowlands on Memory and the Stories We Tell Ourselves 26:16

13d ago26:16

26:16

The philosopher discusses The Book of Memory: How We Become Who We Are, exploring how recollection constructs identity, coherence, and the personas we inhabit. He explains why memory is less an archive than an act of ongoing authorship, shaped by emotion, imagination, and the stories we rehearse. The conversation traces the boundary between what we…

1
Daniel Zoughbie: The Mightiest Turns an Enemy into a Friend 34:27

14d ago34:27

34:27

Daniel Zoughbie discusses Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump, arguing that Truman's one-sided recognition of Israel and decades of U.S. overreliance on defense distorted the region's trajectory. He traces missed off-ramps from Oslo to the Olmert–Abbas talks, explaining why partition remains the on…

1
Mike Pesca on the Vig, the Fix, and the John Goodman Thumb 33:43

17d ago33:43

33:43

On this Saturday edition, Mike Pesca joins the cast of Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone to explain the dopamine minefield of modern sports betting. He walks Paula and Adam Felber through the mechanics of the "vig," the absurdity of Cleveland pitchers throwing balls into the dirt to cover prop bets, and the time NBA legend Chauncey Billups unwitti…

1
Funny You Should Mention: Mohanad Elshieky 1:03:08

17d ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Mohanad Elshieky joins Funny You Should Mention with stories that make Benghazi feel less like a political Rorschach test and more like the small town where he learned comedy by roasting his siblings and dodging unlicensed militias. He walks us through the dictatorship-era silence around politics, the sudden rise of ISIS-adjacent checkpoints, and t…

1
TJ Raphael on the Liberty Godparent Trap and the Cost of Coercion 37:17

18d ago37:17

37:17

TJ Raphael, host of the series Liberty Lost, joins Mike to investigate the "Liberty Godparent Home"—a facility on Liberty University's campus where pregnant teens were allegedly pressured into adoption under the guise of spiritual redemption—and discuss why the financial incentives of the "adoption industrial complex" often cause the promise of ope…

1
Rachel McCarthy James on Axe Murder, Salad Spinners, and the Hat-Brim Line 37:25

19d ago37:25

37:25

True crime historian Rachel McCarthy James joins to talk about Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder, tracing humanity's relationship between axe and skull, where questions about Axe-related word play are axed and answered. Then the show pivots to how algorithms elevate the most loathed spokespeople on every hot-button issue, from Riley Gaines to Jasm…

1
Daniel Brook & Brandy Schillace: The Sex Expert Who Scared Hitler 32:11

20d ago32:11

32:11

Daniel Brook and Brandy Schillace trace the life and legacy of Magnus Hirschfeld, the so-called "Einstein of Sex," from his pioneering Institute for Sexual Science to the Nazis parading his severed likeness at the 1933 book burning. They dig into the longer prehistory of Weimar queer politics and antisemitism, discussing how obsessions with masculi…

1
Murdaugh Showrunner Michael D. Fuller: Power Metastasizes 42:01

21d ago42:01

42:01

Michael D. Fuller joins to talk about Hulu's Murdaugh: Death in the Family. The conversation digs into what scripted drama can do that true-crime podcasts and prosecutors can't, especially around messy motives and family dynamics that don't fit a neat trial narrative. Plus, an opening segment on Trump's "don't give up the ship" blowup, congressiona…

1
Jesse Eisenberg: "Marv Albert Is My Therapist" 24:41

24d ago24:41

24:41

On this Saturday edition, Mike Pesca reaches into the archives for a 2016 classic with actor and author Jesse Eisenberg. They discuss Eisenberg's short story collection Bream Gives Me Hiccups and the "creek vs. crick" linguistic controversy it sparked, while analyzing why a nine-year-old restaurant critic is the perfect vessel for exposing adult hy…

1
Bob Saget & Chuck Klosterman: "I Really Have Become Liza Minnelli" 33:13

25d ago33:13

33:13

Today on The Gist, the late Bob Saget, who reconciles his Full House image with his "Dirty Daddy" persona while admitting he was a "nerd burglar" in his youth. They dissect the difference between misogyny and locker room talk, deconstruct the logic of his famous "Winnebago" joke. Then, cultural critic Chuck Klosterman joins to analyze The Nineties,…

1
Henry Winkler & Clint Watts: "Three Little Fonzies and a Trail of Dead Russians" 38:04

26d ago38:04

38:04

On this Thanksgiving edition Mike Pesca serves up two revitalized classics, starting with Henry Winkler (The Fonz), who joins to discuss his Hank Zipser books, the unique Dutch font designed for dyslexic readers, and his tenure-granting plan to design the world's first consumer jet pack. Then, we revisit a conversation with counterterrorism expert …

1
Abby Phillip: "The Stones for David's Slingshot" 46:05

27d ago46:05

46:05

Mike Pesca is joined by CNN anchor and author Abby Phillip to discuss her new book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power. They explore Jackson's soaring, sermon-like rhetorical style and the hubris of the "tree shaker, not a jelly maker" philosophy. The conversation traces how Jackson's push to change delegate rul…

1
Not Even Mad: Russ Muirhead & Nick Gillespie 1:03:49

28d ago1:03:49

1:03:49

Mike Pesca welcomes back Nick Gillespie (Reason Magazine) and first-time guest Russ Muirhead (Dartmouth professor and New Hampshire State Rep.) for a spirited debate that is—we swear—not even mad. Today, we look at the half-full autocratic glass: Does the dismissal of the Comey and James indictments prove that institutions are holding, or does the …

1
Mike Vuolo & Bob Garfield: "Life Is a Flat Pizza Bagel" 50:21

28d ago50:21

50:21

Mike Vuolo and Bob Garfield of Lexicon Valley join to talk 23 skidoo, Massapequa, and why life, in fact, is a flat bagel. They trace the 6/7 meme from Skrilla's drill track "Doot Doot" through LaMelo Ball highlights and a middle-schooler named Maverick, and explain how a throwaway number became the meme stock of language. The conversation winds thr…

1
Mike on Matt Lewis Can't Lose 30:28

1M ago30:28

30:28

Mike joins Matt Lewis for a lively crossover conversation that opens with deep dives into Huey Lewis puns before shifting into the Democrats' "affordability" message, why word wars matter more than policy wins, and how political optics collide with economic reality. They unpack everything from tariffs to AI dislocation to the future of the Democrat…

1
Funny You Should Mention: Myq Kaplan 1:19:23

1M ago1:19:23

1:19:23

Comedian Myq Kaplan joins the show for a deep dive into joke logic, philosophy, and the very slippery business of defining who counts as a comedian. Using his new special Rini as a jumping-off point, he and Mike wander through Grecian maxims, the paradox of the heap, why some laughs are closer to enlightenment than punch lines, and how his relation…

1
Fareed Zakaria on Revolutions, Backlashes, and the High Cost of Not Fixing Immigration 41:55

1M ago41:55

41:55

Fareed Zakaria joins the show to discuss The Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present, arguing that the past 30 years of globalization, AI, and cultural upheaval rival the Industrial Revolutions in their political consequences. He makes the case that today's populist surges—from Sweden to the U.S.—are driven less by econom…

1
James Patterson: "My Time Here Is Short. What Can I Do Most Beautifully?" 35:35

1M ago35:35

35:35

James Patterson joins the show to talk about Disrupt Everything—and Win: Take Control of Your Future, his new playbook for turning constant disruption into something useful rather than paralyzing. He explains how he thinks about "positive" versus "negative" disruptors, wrestles with whether the gospel of disruption feeds our narcissism, and defends…

1
John Amaechi: "Excellence Isn't Sorcery" 42:46

1M ago42:46

42:46

The former NBA power forward and unmistakably English John Amaechi talks leadership, psychology, and the everyday skills that make organizations work. His book It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders anchors a conversation about accountability, ambition, and what people misunderstand about excellence. Also: Europe's frozen-assets…

1
Nicole Gelinas on Crime, Bail, and Mamdani's Vibesy Criminology 35:16

1M ago35:16

35:16

The Manhattan Institute's Nicole Gelinas breaks down New York's post-pandemic crime surge and what the data actually say about bail reform versus simple pandemic chaos. She explains why the city's rise in murders and disorder looks different from the national pattern and how weak supervision, dangerous subways, and repeat violent offenders all comp…

1
David Ignatius on Space Wars, Skepticism, and His Father's Legacy 30:31

1M ago30:31

30:31

Mike Pesca revisits his conversation with Washington Post columnist and novelist David Ignatius, recorded before the recent passing of Ignatius's father, former Navy Secretary Paul Ignatius. They discuss the future of warfare in space, why the U.S. Space Force deserves more credit than it gets, and how a century of Pentagon experience shaped a life…

1
Katie Herzog Is the Kind of Person Who Googles Recidivism Rates in an AA Meeting 32:44

1M ago32:44

32:44

Katie Herzog breaks down Drink Your Way Sober: The Science-Based Method to Break Free from Alcohol and how naltrexone—used through the Sinclair Method—let her "drink" her way out of addiction after years of half-hearted AA attempts. She explains why rock bottom kept moving, why abstinence felt impossible, and how targeted medication can disrupt the…

1
Not Even Mad: Charles Lehman & Brad Carson 58:40

1M ago58:40

58:40

The Epstein files and the Michael Wolff ethics mess. Then Brad Carson (Americans for Responsible Innovation) and Charles Lehman (Manhattan Institute / City Journal) dig into the shutdown endgame, Schumer's calculus, 2026 vibes, and why data centers might be a sleeper issue. They argue affordability vs. "afford to dream," culture vs. policy, and whe…

1
John J. Lennon — "I'm Owning My Sh*t on the Page" 45:16

1M ago45:16

45:16

John J. Lennon, currently incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, discusses The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us, arguing that true crime's fixation on innocence obscures the harder stories of guilt, punishment, and change. He describes refusing to be branded "Inside Evil" on Chris Cuomo's show—and how …

1
Jon Levy: "We Don't Really Want Authenticity" 39:35

1M ago39:35

39:35

Behavioral scientist Jon Levy, author of Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius, joins to talk about why he collects astronauts, Olympians, and other outliers for secret salons—and what they've taught him about trust and connection. He explains why status isn't the same as popularity, how our networks quietly determine ou…

1
Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon on Life After Cars 40:42

1M ago40:42

40:42

Mike reflects on the post-election landscape, including Mamdani's win and the hype around Trump's election monitors who reportedly spent their time chatting about cats. Then Mike talks with Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, hosts of The War on Cars and authors of Life After Cars. They discuss traffic fatalities, Dutch street design, the Brightline co…

1
The Good Fight Club, or Good Fight Club? 34:28

1M ago34:28

34:28

Mike joins Yascha Mounk's Good Fight Club to debate the mid-midterm results: Democrats' surprisingly strong showings in Virginia and New Jersey, Zoran Mamdani's charisma-vs-governance problem in New York, and whether moderates like Abigail Spanberger can still carry a national coalition. Also: the Seattle mayoral race tightens, and the "Dems in dis…

1
Funny You Should Mention: Dusty Slay 1:08:57

2M ago1:08:57

1:08:57

Dusty Slay drops by with "Wet Heat" fresh on Netflix to talk Opelika lore (a.k.a. Snopalika), becoming parade Grand Marshal, and how a onetime pesticide salesman turned country-music linguist builds jokes from tiny word quirks. We get into his love of language (Carlin vibes), song-lyric autopsies ("It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Brooks & Dunn's "Har…

1
Sadie Dingfelder on "Hair, Feathers, and the Theater of Disgust." 27:08

2M ago27:08

27:08

We test whether a hair in your hummus is truly hazardous, compare bacterial counts on hair shafts vs. feathers, and trace America's hairnet obsession back to Edward Bernays' spin. We play: Is That BS? Hair/Feather Edition. Also: Seattle mayoral race updates, and in the Spiel: the Philadelphia Art Museum's chunky griffin rebrand, the PHAM backlash, …

1
Colin Woodard: The Federation Is the Fault Line 42:47

2M ago42:47

42:47

Woodard maps America's clashing "nations," from American Nations to Nations Apart, arguing that our deepest divides are regional and newly combustible. He makes the case that post–Cold War policy, social media, and a fraying social contract turned long-standing cultural seams into political fracture zones. We press whether his framework explains wh…

1
The Wars Trump Says He Ended, and the One Cheney Began 30:24

2M ago30:24

30:24

The veteran media strategist reflects on Chuck Schumer's once-golden Sunday pressers and how his "price-of-milk politics" model needs updating for 2025. He discusses New York Democrats' strategic silence in the Mamdani race, Hillary Clinton's 2000 outreach to Hasidic women, and why he can praise Trump's Middle East diplomacy without voting for him.…

1
Matthew Hiltzik on the Craft of Crisis Communications 33:01

2M ago33:01

33:01

Hiltzik, founder of Hiltzik Strategies, explains how his background in law, politics, and media shaped his methodical, fact-based approach to strategic communications. He describes the importance of understanding audiences and using social and digital tools with "precision," rather than relying on broad or emotional appeals. Drawing on experiences …

1
Mike Pesca on "Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em" 48:31

2M ago48:31

48:31

Mike joins Nancy Rommelmann and Sarah Hepola for a rowdy, caffeine-fueled dive into the NBA betting scandal—where marked decks, mobsters, and million-dollar contracts collide. They unpack how legalized sports gambling reopened old mafia doors, what drives athletes to risk it all, and why men chase competition even from the couch. Also: Karine Jean-…

1
Art Cullen on Iowa's Corn Gospel, Cancer, and Capture 32:09

2M ago32:09

32:09

Iowa's rivers run brown, its cancer rates climb, and its politics tilt redder. Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Art Cullen joins to discuss his new book Dear Marty: We Crapped in Our Nest — Notes from the Edge of the World, Iowa, which serves as both lament and call to arms for a farm state choking on its own abundance. Cullen traces how corn and hogs…

1
Beth Macy: "When the Local Paper Dies, the Community Follows" 42:21

2M ago42:21

42:21

Journalist Beth Macy, author of Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America, returns to her Ohio roots to chart what's been lost in the hollowing-out of middle America. Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America follows Macy's hometown of Urbana through addiction, poverty, and political drift, and her …

1
Karine Jean-Pierre: "Independent," Evasion, and the Party She Says Left Her 43:08

2M ago43:08

43:08

Former Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre joins to promote her memoir Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House Outside the Party Lines—and faces pointed questions about contradictions between her praise for Biden, her criticism of Democrats, and her claim of newfound political independence. Asked what makes her truly "independent," she…

1
Steve Hayes & Damon Linker: The Hole Truth 1:04:42

2M ago1:04:42

1:04:42

Steve Hayes and Damon Linker debate whether Trump's demolition of the White House East Wing is another norm-busting outrage or just a gaudy renovation. They argue over visuals versus substance in anti-Trump outrage, Trump's manipulation of public opinion, and whether Congress's abdication of power is the true engine of American authoritarian drift.…

1
Barista Michelle Eisen on Face Tattoos, Short Staffs, and Union Shots Fired 34:24

2M ago34:24

34:24

Michelle Eisen, barista-turned-organizer from Buffalo's first unionized Starbucks, breaks down how Workers United grew from one store to hundreds—and why the real fight now is over pay, scheduling, and the right to keep your piercings. She pushes back on what she calls "the most aggressive union-busting in modern labor history." Plus, examples of g…

1
Jeremy Workman — "Walking Every Block, Hiding in a Mall" 38:11

2M ago38:11

38:11

Two conversations with documentarian Jeremy Workman: first on The World Before Your Feet (a quest to walk every NYC block), then on Secret Mall Apartment (artists who built a hidden flat inside Providence Place Mall). Curiosity, urban change, and the quiet stunts that reveal a city. Produced by Corey Wara Production Coordinator Ashley Khan Email us…

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