The Gist

Guest host Scott Pierce introduces a special Halloween-themed episode from the archives. First, Oxford-educated mortician and Ask a Mortician host Caitlin Doughty joins Mike Pesca to discuss her memoir, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, demystifying funeral rituals, and transforming how we talk about death. Then, in a classic installment of "Is That Bullshit?", Maria Konnikova unpacks whether a person can actually be "scared to death" or if terror can turn your hair white overnight.

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Produced by Corey Wara

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Mike Pesca is back to introduce Great Question with Tony Dokoupil, a new show he’s spent the past few months working on with CBS.

In this debut, host Tony Dokoupil sits down with author Malcolm Gladwell to tackle a controversial question: Does America actually have too few police officers? Drawing on data from his book The American Way of Killing, Gladwell contrasts U.S. and European public safety spending, breaks down the misallocation of resources toward incarceration over active policing, and explores how precision community intervention can curb violence.

Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see exactly how exposed your executives are.

Produced by Corey Wara

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Guest host Scott Pierce introduces an interview with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Benson discusses her book, The Purposeful Warrior, and reflects on defending election integrity following the 2020 election. She shares insights on confronting threats against public officials, fostering interstate coordination among election administrators, and navigating complex ballot access decisions. Additionally, she reflects on her tenure as dean of Wayne State University Law School and discusses strategies for restoring public confidence in state government.

Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see exactly how exposed your executives are.

Produced by Corey Wara

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Guest host Adaam introduces Funny You Should Mention featuring Mike Pesca's conversation with Oxford educated comedian and freestyle rap powerhouse Chris Turner. Chris details his evolution from teenage deadpan one-liners to headlining top comedy clubs with real-time, crowd-assisted improvisational hip-hop. They discuss strategies for defusing hecklers, why freestyling feels more like tennis than chess, and how to build a flow state on stage. Plus, Chris takes on an impromptu five-word challenge, weaving Goyim, Jerry Springer, Cabinet Nominees, LegalZoom, and Hispaniola into an off-the-cuff freestyle

Produced by Corey Wara

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Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam discusses Maryland Governor Wes Moore's refusal during a recent debate to commit to serving a full second term if re-elected, fueling speculation around his potential 2028 presidential ambitions. To explore where his political ambitions might lie, we replay Mike Pesca's 2024 interview with Governor Moore covering Maryland's economic strategies, housing reforms, gun violence reduction, and insights from his academic research on international terrorism.

Produced by Corey Wara

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Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam introduces a look back at America's complex relationship with the death penalty, featuring two segments from the archives. First, Mike Pesca examines the ethics and realities of state executions following Alabama's controversial use of nitrogen hypoxia. Then, in a 2018 interview, Vice reporter Gianna Toboni discusses Nevada's plan to use fentanyl in the execution of death-row inmate Scott Dozier, exploring the pharmaceutical pushback, legal loopholes, and the moral debate surrounding state-assisted suicide. 

Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see exactly how exposed your executives are.

Produced by Corey Wara

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Today on The Gist, guest host Charlie introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with comedian Michelle Buteau on Funny You Should Mention. Buteau discusses making history with her special, A Buteau-ful Mind, at Radio City Music Hall, balancing self-deprecation with sharp observational humor, and her transition from television news editor to stand-up comedy. She also addresses audience expectations, motherhood, and her critique of Dave Chappelle's jokes about transgender people. 

Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see exactly how exposed your executives are.

Produced by Corey Wara

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Today on The Gist, guest host Charlie revisits Mike Pesca's 2022 conversation with veteran sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya. Tafoya discusses stepping away from Sunday Night Football to speak openly on politics, her podcast Sideline Sanity, and the challenges conservative voices face in media. She also reflects on the cultural fallout from Colin Kaepernick's anthem protests and her frustration with reflexively using the 2020 election as a political litmus test. 

Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see exactly how exposed your executives are.

Produced by Corey Wara

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For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠

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Today on The Gist, guest host Charlie looks back at Mike Pesca's 2021 conversation with Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, recorded when he was lieutenant governor, to discuss criminal justice reform, gun laws, and immigration. Then, journalist Mark Raimondi joins the show to discuss his book, Say Hello to the Bad Guys, breaking down the 1990s steroid trials, Hulk Hogan's famous villain turn, and how pro wrestling reshaped American pop culture. 

Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see exactly how exposed your executives are.

Produced by Corey Wara

Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠

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Today on The Gist, guest host Isabella introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with comedian Alex Edelman on Funny You Should Mention, discussing his acclaimed solo Broadway show, Just for Us. Edelman breaks down the craft of joke mechanics and set construction, the role of audience feedback, and the influence of mentors like Mike Birbiglia and Ira Glass. He also reflects on finding humor within sensitive topics, including Jewish identity, antisemitism, and the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see exactly how exposed your executives are.

Produced by Corey Wara

Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠

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