The Gist

By Peach Fish Productions

For thirty minutes each day, Pesca challenges himself and his audience, in a responsibly provocative style, and gets beyond the rigidity and dogma. The Gist is surprising, reasonable, and willing to c... more

4.5

35763,576 ratings

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FAQs about The Gist:

How many episodes does The Gist have?

The podcast currently has 2,729 episodes available.

The Gist episodes:

May 14, 2025 David Graham on The Project and the Plan to Remake American Government
David Graham author of The Project: How Project 2025 is Changing America, explains how Project 2025 seeks not smaller government, but a more obedient one—politicizing civil service, gutting regulation, and embedding a Trump-aligned worldview across federal agencies. He discusses how its authors blend sincere constitutional theory with radical institutional overhaul. Plus, does the Pope's MAGA-leaning brother demystify the Papacy?
Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack

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42min
May 13, 2025 Character Under Fire: Gen. Stanley McChrystal on the Costs of Conviction
Retired General Gen. Stanley McChrystal joins to discuss his book On Character: Choices that Define a Life, and how real character transcends grit or discipline to include values that hold under fire. Plus, Trump touches the economic stove, recoils, and suddenly recession odds drop along with tariffs rates. And from The Hague, Rodrigo Duterte wins re-election as mayor of Davao in a landslide.
Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

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37min
May 12, 2025 Altman Almighty
Sam Altman’s outsize ambition and messianic optimism take center stage in a conversation with Keach Hagey, author of The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future. From failed flip-phone apps to billion-dollar AI bets, Altman emerges as one of Silicon Valley’s most effective—and unsettling—dream merchants. Plus: Trump’s flying palace may be more than a bribe; it’s a perfect symbol of soft corruption via cushy luxury. And of all the cease-fires for Trump to broker, he chooses one where U.S. weapons and interests are barely at stake.
Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

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36min
May 10, 2025 BLT: Bacon, Lettuce, and Todd
Today on The Gist we play back a section for our Chuck Todd interview that didn't make it on air and revisit a 2020 interview with Don Bacon.
Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack

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31min
May 09, 2025 Jim Lampley on the Blows That Made Broadcasting History
Jim Lampley joins to discuss It Happened!: A Uniquely Lucky Life in Sports Television, his memoir of sports, broadcasting, the randomness of a lucky break, and crying along with Mike Tyson. Plus: Trump’s Surgeon General pick, Casey Means, pitches metabolic woo—we break down several of her claims from appearances with Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson. And: Teens with water guns are triggering 911 calls nationwide—senior assassination season is underway.
Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack

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44min
May 08, 2025 Not Even Mad: Eric Zorn and Austin Berg
Austin Berg and Eric Zorn are Not Even Mad as we discuss mayoral overcrowding and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, the supposed new MAGA slayer. Plus: a few thoughts on our new American spiritual leader—not the pope, but the Surgeon General.
Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

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1h 5min
May 07, 2025 Max Expression, Merz Confusion
Arkells frontman Max Kerman joins to discuss his book Try Hard: Creative Work in Progress, unpacking the craft behind stage banter, songwriting rule-breaking, and joyful collaboration. He explains why athletes lean on superstition while creatives benefit from breaking routine and planting show tickets around Red Deer with a retired farmer. Plus: Germany elects Merz, but to some of us, Fred Mertz is now Chancellor—and the BBC’s schnitzel puns aren't helping.

Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠
To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

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47min
May 06, 2025 Holy Vehicles and Hollow Coverage
Pope Francis posthumously sends a Popemobile to Gaza — a gesture more symbolic than logistical. Chuck Todd returns to discuss media complicity, Biden’s bubble-wrap presidency, and the audience-capture logic warping modern newsrooms. In the Spiel, Bernie Sanders’ love of the word “oligarchs” versus Elissa Slotkin’s preference for “kings” is perhaps explained by a family history that makes Slotkin a descendant of America’s hot dog royalty.

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33min
May 06, 2025 Chuck Todd Presses On
Former Meet the Press host Chuck Todd joins to talk about his new podcast, The Chuck Toddcast. He discusses why being a non-pushover and being non-partisan are complimentary, and what too many ex-network stars get wrong about "liberation." Also how Priebus, Pence, and Kushner acted as guardrails whereas Trump 2.0 feels more like a solo demolition derby. Plus: Kristen Welker’s Trump interview somehow included dolls, gas prices under $2, and not ruling out war with Canada. And in The Spiel: if California wants just 35% of car sales to be gas-powered by 2026, how exactly do they plan to enforce it?

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45min
May 03, 2025 Mike Stops by House of Strauss and The Dispatch
Today on The Gist. Mike was recently on the podcast House of Strauss and The Dispatch Roundtable. We are going to share a portion, but if you want to listen to the rest of them, use the links below!
⁠⁠HoS: Mike Pesca - by Ethan Strauss - House of Strauss⁠⁠⁠⁠The Dispatch ⁠
⁠Podcast - Breaking News Commentary & Analysis⁠⁠
Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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...more
1h 12min

FAQs about The Gist:

How many episodes does The Gist have?

The podcast currently has 2,729 episodes available.

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