Today on The Gist, bestselling author Nir Eyal joins the show to discuss his new book, Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Extraordinary Results. He explains how the lead singer of Sofi Tukker cured her chronic neuroplastic pain by "throwing ass," why vision boards and manifesting actually ruin your chances of success, and why the placebo effect is getting statistically stronger every year. They also break down the critical difference between facts, faith, and beliefs—and why treating our beliefs as immutable truths is tearing society apart. Plus, Mike gives it to you straight. A geographical rundown of the world's most important, and underrated, straits. Interested in Nir's book?

geni.us/beyondbelief

Free belief change guide is here: nirandfar.com/belief-change Bonus content and the 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal is here:

nirandfar.com/beyond-belief

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Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, Princeton PhD researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov joins the show to share her harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage in Iraq for over 900 days by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah. She details the brutal realities of her captivity, how she used her intellect to outsmart her captors by leaving hidden "breadcrumbs" for intelligence agencies in forced confession videos, and the bizarre reality of being ordered to write geopolitical analysis for the militants. She also provides a rare, firsthand look at how the proxy group reacted in real-time to the October 7th attacks and the subsequent regional fallout. Plus, the differing approaches of the Trump and Biden administrations to hostage recovery.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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For this Saturday Show, Mike takes the guest seat on Lifelong with Ethan Suplee. Actor Ethan Suplee (Remember the Titans, My Name Is Earl) is well-known for his incredible physical transformation, having lost hundreds of pounds. Together, he and Mike get into a deep, candid discussion about the lifelong psychology of weight management, the economic politics of GLP-1 drugs, and why the extremes of the "Healthy at Every Size" movement veer into anti-science cultism. Plus, Mike reveals his biological "bliss molecule" advantage against anxiety.

https://www.americanglutton.net/listen

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, A jet-lagged yet very gracious comedian and writer Jena Friedman joins the show to discuss her new stand-up special, Motherfucker. She talks with Mike about why writing abortion jokes is harder than ever in a post-Roe reality, the challenges of making dark topics funny on her true crime series Indefensible, and the current landscape of risky political comedy. Jena also opens up about the vulnerability of tackling grief on stage after losing her mother while eight months pregnant.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, the line between free speech and harassment, and why the progressive left's blind spot for anti-Semitism turns "anti-Zionism" into a convenient excuse for abuse. Then comedian, actress, and writer Jamie Denbo joins the show to discuss reviving her beloved alt-comedy character, Beverly Ginsberg, for The Beverly Podcast. She opens up about her tenure as a writer and producer on Grey's Anatomy, revealing how the network's progressive double standards and post-October 7th hypocrisy forced her to resign. Plus, a healthy dose of "Jewish joy" and a few biting, in-character critiques of self-help gurus like Mel Robbins and Glennon Doyle.

Produced by Corey Wara

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Novelist and middle school teacher Brian Platzer discusses the real teacher who inspired his book, a stroke that stole the man's ability to communicate, and Platzer's own baffling neurological disorder. In the Spiel: when deeply unserious rhetoric collides with the deadly serious business of war, and whether Donald Trump's approach to conflict ever moves beyond slogans. Plus, the cheap-drone revolution in warfare.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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Today on The Gist, Actress Gina Gershon joins the show to discuss her candid new memoir, Alpha Pussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs. She shares the hilarious story of how a tequila-fueled comedy roast landed her a memorable role on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and drops actionable advice on dodging Hollywood predators, setting ironclad boundaries, and surviving the entertainment industry on her own terms. Bound, Showgirls and more are discussed. Plus, how the concept of 'imminence' is playing too literal a role in discussions of the war in Iran. And in the Spiel, the steelman answer to the question: 'What is the Trump administration's reason for going to war?

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The U.S. is in its third day of war with Iran, prompting inevitable warnings of another Iraq-style quagmire. But is that the right historical analogy? Long-time national security reporter Eli Lake (The Free Press) joins Mike to explain why this air-only regime decapitation strategy is completely unprecedented in modern warfare. They break down the dangerous math of missile defense, the race to secure Iran's nuclear material, and why this is Trump's ultimate foreign policy gamble.

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It's the Saturday Show and we are airing Mikes appearance The Oath and the Office, hosted by Brown University political science professor Corey Brettschneider and comedian John Fugelsang. The trio dives into the broken pipeline of modern journalism, the unique occupational hazards of political comedy, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's "stochastic self-censorship" campaign against late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert. Plus, Mike pushes back on the narrative surrounding CBS News and Bari Weiss, sparking a spirited debate on whether traditional journalistic objectivity still holds up when democratic institutions are under attack.

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Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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James Kimmel Jr. joins to argue that revenge is less a moral impulse than a brain chemistry trap. He tells a rural Pennsylvania origin story that starts with bullying, a beagle named Paula, and a mailbox bombing, then ends with the moment his "stop" circuitry saved him from becoming a murderer. His book is The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction andHow to Overcome It, Plus, Anthropic backs away from its slow down for safety pledge as the Pentagon snarls at Dario Amodei, compelling the sorcerer to conjure smarter weapons.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

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