Reviews
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“Always thought-provoking and interesting. I am as far from a MAGA Republican as you could possibly be, but at the same time, I don’t feel like I have a real home on the progressive left, and I think that’s where a lot of people (including Mike) find themselves. More power to people who look for...”Read full review »
markbakerprague via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/21/24
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“I enjoy learning about this. I’m also a disappointed fan of npr. Old enough to remember the wonder of the early years. And the CBC As It Happens.”
News curious via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/21/24
“The Gist was here before Trump was a candidate, and there’s a reason it has worked for so long. It’s that Mike Pesca’s curiosity and playful energy happens to be far stronger than a pure desire to get high ratings. This leads him to pursue genuinely interesting and diverse topics while resisting...”Read full review »
Jeffwu78_2 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/19/24
“When The Gist launched, I heard one episode and called it quits. Who has time to keep up with a 30-minute daily show of news that I'm already reading on the same six news outlets that the host seems to follow? A year or so later I gave it another try and now it's the only podcast I never...”Read full review »
andersem via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/19/24
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“Other podcasts may be heavier, cohosts can certainly tip the scales, but Pesca’s in a different class. That’s why you have to use the “pound for pound” measurement. The point is THIS particular podcast us much better than your current favorite podcast.”
tampa sunshine via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/18/24
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“Great show. Re: more on the NPR topic, I say speak your truth lol.
It can only help reform an institution that I value in spite of its recent insistence on speaking to me like im a kindergartener.”
Supabroad via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/18/24
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“Awesome job, Mike! You’re a better man than me, with the patience you show with these Progressive Bozos. They’re straight up delusional. I thought the MAGA Heads were bad, but these losers are sooooooooooooooooo bad that they make Trump look decent! Keep up the good work Champ!”
frankwhitenyking via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/18/24
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“It’s a good podcast”
Jeffwinstead via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/18/24
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“I’ve always appreciated Mike’s dedication to objectivity. “Articulate” is an understatement as it pertains to his command of the English language.”
Aaron211004883 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/18/24
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“This may end up being my favorite podcast ( and I listen to a lot if podcasts). Love the humor and the culture references. Move over lexicon valley and on the media. Pesca rules! Thanks.
Updating in 2024:
Absolutely my favorite podcast and 1 of only 2 that I support monetarily. Sometimes I don’t...”Read full review »
grumpy_sleepy_doc via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/18/24
“Do better”
RemyOnIce via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/05/24
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“Another amateur podcaster who doesn’t understand that it’s more important to introduce himself to the audience, then it is to start by running consecutive ads then eventually get into the introduction, followed by a bunch more ads. We didn’t join your podcast to hear ads - we joined to hear...”Read full review »
Pass by this podcast via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
03/06/24
“I have been a faithful listener of The Gist for about six years now. I don’t want all my information to come from an echo chamber, and I liked that Mike Pesca would sometimes present a viewpoint that challenged my own. Having said that, it feels more and more to me that he is often just playing...”Read full review »
Rollercoastercub via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
02/15/24
“Consistently excellent and thought-provoking even when you disagree with the host or the guests. Give it a listen or three (or 3,000) before you believe the naysayers.”
brainslikepickles via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
01/26/24
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“Mike Pesca is great, but I lost a lot of admiration for him when he started advertising gold. Gold, seriously?”
Mamie Ellercal via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
12/16/23
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“Got recommended this podcast. Where’s the substance? The discussion was so superficial and simplistic lacking any depth or nuance. Nothing of value was gained here. I feel like the host posits an idea(s) but simply never dives deeper than the surface. He seems more interested in establishing...”Read full review »
doug_e_fresh via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
12/14/23
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“Mike has always welcomed and thoughtfully engaged differing perspectives. In recent episodes he seems a little less dispassionate and has drop a little bit of the journalistic remove and, frankly, I love it!
I’ve been a devoted listener for the last four years and have benefited no small amount...”Read full review »
Travelnuts via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
12/08/23
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“Are things getting worse and worse? Is humanity doomed to extinct ourselves within a generation or two? Host Mike Pesca disagrees, and his tempered optimism and playful attitude help me preserve my mental health while also staying somewhat abreast of the news.”
Redlefgnid via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/03/23
“Smart analysis, crisply rendered — skeptical, probing, and therefore essential. (That should be enough positive adjectives for you.) Devoted listener over here.”
jamesogrady via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/25/23
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“If you challenge your beliefs, this is the podcast for you. It's smart, funny, and incredibly insightful ti the issues of our times. He challenges your beliefs, and very often challenges his own. Admitting that he is wrong sometimes is his greatest strength.
The diversity of the topics will...”Read full review »
feet from the end of the west via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/17/23
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“I enjoy Mike’s podcasts—they are the 2nd podcast I listen to almost every day (Up First being the first). He’s smart, well read, and I love his play on words. More important, I find his views as a good counterbalance to my lefty viewpoints. I appreciate his thoughtful analysis and opinions, and...”Read full review »
joelajackson via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/14/23
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“Mike Pesca carries on the tradition of balanced journalism. He challenges his interview subjects but he allows them to make their points. If you’re trying to find a podcast that educates you, challenges the consensus, without political bias—I’d recommend The Gist.”
Evilbanker via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/14/23
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“I have been listening to the Gist almost since day one. I find Mike to be a reasonable middle l-of-the-road liberal leaning person, one that is open to the opinions and feedback of others.
The Gist is part of my daily routine.”
dufflm via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/08/23
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“Airplane! Was a scene-for-scene, line-for-line ripoff of the 1957 film Zero Hour. How Mike Pesca didn’t know this and went on to fawn over the “writers” is a dereliction of (someone’s) duty.
Duty. Heh-heh.”
ipacipat via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/06/23
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“Been listening for many years. Mike’s interviewing skills are excellent. His politics are left of center but he is honest when discussing all subjects.
I would like to hear the whole story of his break with Slate.
I could do without his singing.”
Elihxc via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/05/23
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“Not sure why I didn’t review before. I’ve been listening for many years; and missed this greatly during the hiatus. The Gist is the perfect name for this podcast. I like the intros and the spiels and the interviews which always get to the gist of the interviewee’s reason for being someone who...”Read full review »
davidcharlmers via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/23/23
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“Love the show. Love the word play.”
Word guy 1233456754 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/27/23
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“I like the dude a lot, but the show’s not what it was before the ridiculous cancelling. The topics don’t draw me, mainly. Will still stick with it and see what happens. UPDATE : It’s uneven, but Pesca’s smart and worth listening to.”
Beldar88 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/26/23
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“This show is what On The Media used to be over ten years ago. It does a good job at taking stories currently in the news and give as close to an objective description of what is actually happening with political perspectives removed and replaced with sense and understanding.”
Nodealout via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/16/23
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“Mike is a savvy interviewer who consistently drills down to what his guest knows…or doesn’t! Mike tells it like it is. Five stars.”
Rev BK via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
06/04/23
“I start each morning listening to the Gist . Challenging and analytical
5 stars”
Mr Cool Side via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/28/23
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“Mike is funny but also serious. He has wide ranging interests and expertise and regularly educates me on subjects I am not familiar with. He engages with political and otherwise topical material in a way that is authentic and personal, not catering to the partisan divide that is eroding our...”Read full review »
Lupkyn via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/23/23
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“I can count on Mike to provide different ways of looking at current issues. He seems to have an open mind while being opinionated at the same time. He’s one step ahead and also funny. I appreciate that he acknowledges those that help with the podcast. Jane in Wisconsin”
jag1152 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/21/23
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“Need I say more”
InvisibleLeopard via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
05/19/23
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“There is no podcast like the Gist. Mike Pesca is an original. He’s a unique interviewer, and he often has uncommon insight.”
nickatnite42 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
05/14/23
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“Whether I’m hanging on every word of a discussion on some subject I’m really into, or just enjoying Mike’s back-and-forth with a guest , The Gist is must-hear podcasting.
I don’t always love his policy and political slants. But he’s serious and thoughtful.”
Leyzer eynikl via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/14/23
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“I teach elementary school. I also teach at a university. You’d think somewhere between I’d get my intellectual muscles adequately massaged. You are wrong. I don’t feel intellectually fulfilled until I’ve received my daily dose of The Gist. Mike Pesca is smart, funny, and entertaining. He is a...”Read full review »
David A & W via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/08/23
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“You have producers. Why do we need to suffer smacks and sniffs? If this were a startup job, fine. This makes me feel like you like forcing us to listen to your mouth noises?!”
Clark_bord via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/06/23
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“The Gist is my go-to podcast. Rarely miss an episode. Mike’s hilarious and smart.”
SloanerDC via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/11/23
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“I am listening for 5 minutes and the show did not start yet. Just ads. Not sure if there is something after all this ads”
novus42 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
03/11/23
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“While I’ve been listening to and enjoying The Gist for quite some time, even enduring the post-Slate draught, I was moved to review after listening to the Friday 2/24/23 episode on book bans. I live in TN so, alas, this issue is relevant to me, a mother of two public school children. But it was...”Read full review »
Number1Domo1978 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
02/27/23
“Re. February 4, 2023 episode, interview from August 2020 with Dr. Ray. Mike and Dr. Ray reference the Jacob Blake shooting a few times, and Mike asks if there is any way to see it other than as an unjustified shooting. Dr. Ray says that, “the simple answer is no.”
Dr. Ray is simply wrong, based...”Read full review »
CurtBrass via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
02/05/23
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“The show is so well produced, lean, thoughtful, and fun. Mike is a brilliant interviewer, the guests, from ab array of fields and backgrounds often appreciate and praise the interesting questions and are really engaged in the subject matter. This show also helps me to think about the news of the...”Read full review »
kidglovescocksure via Apple Podcasts ·
Taiwan ·
01/27/23
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“I have been listening to the show for years and his return has been relatively smooth. Only show I listen to on a very regular basis. For being an opinion show it actually covers the news pretty well. Only issue I have with Mike is that he seems to have an issue with blind Corgis. I have know...”Read full review »
NotZed via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
01/18/23
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“Is Bob Garfield an old white man? I can’t tell. Please come back Mike Pesca, please do not interview give Alec Baldwin.”
Brudd3788 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
01/08/23
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“I’ve known Mike Pesca since I was 12 yrs old. He always had the gift of the raconteur and I enjoyed rapping out with him. It’s a pleasure to see him hone his craft and have so many devoted listeners.”
mcpucho via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
12/20/22
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“I typically enjoy the show, but Mike lobbed some soft balls at that douche Chris Hanson. Obviously the guys Hanson deals with are creepy as hell, but to not even raise the question of entrapment or ethics whatsoever? Come on! To not mention the DA that blew his brains out? Sheesh! That interview...”Read full review »
Jdjej sje via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
11/28/22
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“I don’t know if it could be more boring. Probably not.”
Loganfool via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/16/22
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