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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 critique the left, the right, either party, or any idea.
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- Yesterday31 min
James Clyburn: "The World Would Much Rather See a Sermon Than Hear One"
The day after Election Day, guest host Bryan Green introduces Mikes conversation with South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn to discuss his book, The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation. Clyburn reflects on the stories of the eight Black lawmakers who served in Congress during Reconstruction and shares how their struggles and political choices mirror modern challenges. In the conversation, he touches on lessons from his father about faith and public service, the extraordinary legacy of Robert Smalls, the role of voters in shaping congressional power, and why history serves as a cautionary guide for American democracy today.Produced by Corey WaraDo you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.comFor full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gInstagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/X https://x.com/pescamiTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagistTo advertise on the show, contact sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 3 days ago48 min
How Much Has Changed In Two Years for Gen Z?
On the eve of Election Day, fill-in host Bryan Green takes a trip back to 2024 to revisit a conversation Mike Pesca hosted with four first-time Gen Z voters. These young voters weigh in on what they want from a president, balancing policy priorities against candidate character, January 6th, border security, and foreign aid. They also share how they navigate news consumption across social media and traditional outlets, offering their perspectives on whether their generation can ultimately bridge America's political divide.Watch The Fifth Column Midterm Madness: https://wethefifth.com/liveProduced by Corey WaraDo you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.comFor full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gInstagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/X https://x.com/pescamiTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagistTo advertise on the show, contact sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 6 days ago22 min
Caitlin Doughty: "Death Can Almost Seem Like It's a Hypothetical"
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.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 WaraDo you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.comFor full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gInstagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/X https://x.com/pescamiTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagistTo advertise on the show, contact sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago44 min
Presenting Great Question with Tony Dokoupil: Does America Need More Police?
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 WaraDo you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.comFor full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gInstagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/X https://x.com/pescamiTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagistTo advertise on the show, contact sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago35 min
Jocelyn Benson: "I Chose Courage"
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 WaraDo you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.comFor full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gInstagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/X https://x.com/pescamiTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagistTo advertise on the show, contact sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 1 weeks ago1h 2m
Chris Turner: "I Am a Musical Comedian"
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 freestyleProduced by Corey WaraDo you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.comFor full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gInstagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/X https://x.com/pescamiTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagistTo advertise on the show, contact sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago26 min
Wes Moore: "I Am Data Driven and Heart Led"
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 WaraDo you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.comFor full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gInstagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/X https://x.com/pescamiTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagistTo advertise on the show, contact sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 2 weeks ago18 min
Gianna Toboni on Death Row: "I Don't Hear the Remorse of a Killer"
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 WaraDo you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at thegist@mikepesca.comFor full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_gInstagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/X https://x.com/pescamiTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagistTo advertise on the show, contact sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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About The Gist
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 critique the left, the right, either party, or any idea.
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