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.
Ethan Strauss: "Great Writers, Bad Thinkers"
Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam Levin-Areddy discusses the shutdown of the news website Salon after 31 years. To honor the pioneering online publication, we replay Mike Pesca's interview with sports writer Ethan Sherwood Strauss (House of Strauss). They explore Ethanâs 4:00 AM writing routine, the intellectual honesty of modern media, the cultural dynamics driving WNBA coverage, and the fading art of traditional sports reporting.Â
Produced by Corey Wara
Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at â â â â [email protected]
For full Pesca content and updates, check out o...
Rosebud Baker: "I've always processed tragedy through jokes"
On this special edition of The Gist, fill-in host Bryan Green revisits an episode of Funny You Should Mention, where host Mike Pesca sits down with comedian and Saturday Night Live writer Rosebud Baker. Baker discusses her Netflix special Motherload, sharing how her comedy point of view has evolved over her twelve-plus years in stand-up. She reflects on the artistic shift from writing sharp, punchy stand-alone jokes to crafting a deeply personal, cohesive narrative about motherhood, pregnancy, and family. The two also delve into the mechanics of writing for SNL's Weekend Update, balancing political comedy, and how her real-life...
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...
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/live
Produced by Corey Wara
<...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...
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 heâs 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 be...
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...
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 freestyle
Produced by Corey Wara
Do you have questions or comments, or...
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 Wara
Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at â â â â [email protected]
For full Pesca content...
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.Â
Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to s...
Michelle Buteau: "Words Have Power"
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.Â
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 C...
Michele Tafoya: "I'm a Big Freedom of Speech Person"
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.Â
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 C...
John Fetterman: "It's Been a Long, Strange Trip"
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.Â
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.
P...
Alex Edelman: "There's not a lot of comedy in being right."
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...
Yaakov Katz: "An idea cannot be defeated."
Guest host Isabella introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with Yaakov Katz, author of While Israel Slept. Katz explains the intelligence failures and false assumptions behind October 7, the international fallout, and why he believes ending the conflict means dismantling Hamas through lasting cultural and educational change.
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 â â â â [email protected]
For fu...
David Pakman: "The stage was really set."
Today on The Gist, guest host Isabella introduces an interview with progressive commentator and author David Pakman about his book, The Echo Machine: How Right-Wing Extremism Created a Post-Truth America. Pakman outlines the historical trajectory from the civil rights backlash to modern right-wing media tactics, arguing that systematic opposition to critical thinking curricula has fostered an environment fertile for political disinformation. Mike Pesca challenges Pakman on partisan asymmetry, probing whether media bubbles, deficit narratives, and mischaracterizations also distort left-leaning political discourse.
Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free...
Roy Wood Jr.: "People just want to feel good."
Today on The Gist, guest host Bryan Green introduces an installment of Funny You Should Mention featuring comedian Roy Wood Jr. Mike Pesca sits down with Wood, the host of CNN's Have I Got News for You and former Daily Show correspondent, to explore his journalism-steeped upbringing, the mechanics of building a stand-up special, and the delicate line between humor and audience expectations. Wood unpacks the modern demand for "clap-ter" over punchlines, the cultural resonance of his material on race and society, and the responsibility comedians carry when addressing polarizing political topics.
Stop online threats before they...
Axes and Sodium with Rachel McCarthy James and Maria Konnikova
Today on The Gist, guest host Bryan Green introduces two conversations on lethal implements and nutritional science. First, Mike Pesca speaks with Rachel McCarthy James about her book Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder, tracing the axe's history from prehistoric tool and Shang Dynasty symbol of power to battlefield weapon and instrument of execution. Then, Maria Konnikova joins Mike to separate fact from fiction regarding dietary sodium, breaking down blood pressure risks and revealing the surprising processed foods driving most of our daily salt intake.Â
Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/G...
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed on Viral Misinformation and Public Health Failures
Today on The Gist, guest host Bryan Green introduces Mike Pesca's two-part conversation with physician, epidemiologist, and former Detroit health director Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. In part one, El-Sayed discusses the collision between digital misinformation and biological virality, the systemic communication failures of the public health establishment, and how political polarization undermined basic scientific realities. In part two, they examine the pharmaceutical industry, weighing public gratitude for rapid vaccine rollouts against the reality of taxpayer-funded research and corporate profit motives, before breaking down how deep-seated structural racism and historical economic policy drive stark racial health disparities.
Stop online...
Django Gold: "Don't Be Funny"
Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam James Levin-Aredi introduces an installment of Funny You Should Mention featuring comedian and writer Django Gold. Mike Pesca sits down with Gold, a former writer for The Onion and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, to dissect the craft of stand-up and his comedy special Bag of Tricks. Gold breaks down his deliberate, deadpan stage persona, the comedic value of defying audience expectations, and the difference between genuine laughter and mere partisan applause, while reflecting on modern crowd sensibilities, hecklers, and the art of subverting sacred cows.
Stop online threats...
KJ Steinberg: "The echoes of trauma are loud and they are long."
Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam Levin introduces two conversations exploring truth, perspective, and personal endurance. First, Mike Pesca speaks with KJ Steinberg, creator and showrunner of the Hulu limited series The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, to examine the ethics of dramatizing real-life tragedy, moving beyond tabloid caricatures, and the difficult process of reclaiming an identity after public defamation and wrongful imprisonment. Then, advertising veteran Matt Sterling joins Mike to discuss his memoir Mighty: Finding the Strength to Survive, reflecting on his career as a media executive navigating New York in a wheelchair, the shifting landscape of...
Ken Bensinger: "To catch the devil, sometimes you have to go to hell."
Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam James Levin introduces the first installment of Mike Pesca's two-part conversation with investigative reporter Ken Bensinger, co-host of The Michigan Plot. Bensinger breaks down the 2020 investigation into the conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, detailing how an amateur militia group collided with an aggressive FBI undercover operation. Drawing on hundreds of hours of secret recordings, Bensinger and Pesca examine the murky boundary between stopping a legitimate domestic terror threat and orchestrating one, the psychological vulnerabilities exploited by federal informants, and how trial evidentiary rules shaped the contrasting narratives inside the courtroom<...
Sam Jay - Funny You Should Mention
Today on The Gist, guest host Rachel Win introduces the third installment of Funny You Should Mention which welcomes Sam Jay, former SNL writer, Tom Brady Roaster, host of HBO's Pause with Sam Jay, and stand-up comic behind such specials as Netflix's 3 In The Morning and HBO's Salute Me or Shoot Me. Sam and Mike talk cops, racism, white vs black people money management, and a joke she'll discuss but won't be telling again.
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 ex...
Gilbert Gottfried: "My feeling is, can I get the hell out of here?"
Today on The Gist, guest host Rachel Win introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with Wall Street Journal reporter Keach Hagey about her book The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future, exploring Altman's Silicon Valley rise, the tensions between AI safety and commercial speed, and his brief ouster from the company. The show wraps with a classic 2014 sit-down with the late Gilbert Gottfried, who talks old Hollywood lore, dirty jokes, and hosting Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast.
Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk...
Jennifer Esposito: "Finding a voice in a world that tells you not to have one."
Today on The Gist, guest host Rachel Wynn introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with veteran actor, writer, and director Jennifer Esposito about her debut feature film, Fresh Kills. Esposito breaks down her inspiration for the Staten Island drama, which re-examines the mob genre through the rarely explored perspectives of the wives and daughters caught inside patriarchal crime families. She also discusses mortgaging her home to finance true independent cinema, the harsh realities of modern streaming distribution, and the lifelong drive required to bring her personal artistic vision to the screen, preceded by an archival spiel from Mike critiquing the craft...
Philip Mudd: "Take out the stops, make sure it doesn't happen again."
Today on The Gist, guest host Jason Mojica marks the 25th anniversary of September 11th with former CIA counterterrorism official Philip Mudd, author of Black Site: The CIA in the Post-9/11 World. Mudd revisits the post-9/11 panic over a second wave of attacks, the overhaul of US intelligence, and the contentious debates surrounding enhanced interrogation techniques. The episode closes with Mike Pesca's archival reflection on military families, community sacrifice, and high school football at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Stop online threats before they become real-world attacks. Visit ironwall.com/GIST and request a free Risk Assessment to see...
Gina Gershon: "You have to learn how to be tough."
Today on The Gist, guest host Jason Mojica introduces two conversations on personal resilience and healthy living. First, Mike Pesca talks with actress Gina Gershon about her memoir Alpha Pussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs, exploring how she navigated toxicity in early Hollywood, developed an instinctual survival radar, and turned a botched roast performance into a breakout role on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Then, oncologist and bioethicist Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel discusses his book Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long, Healthy Life, pushing back against the exhausting demands of the wellness...
Chuck D: "Art is your signature, it's your pulse."
Today on The Gist, guest host Jason Mojica introduces a conversation between Mike Pesca and hip-hop pioneer Chuck D, co-founder of Public Enemy, about his book Interficial Arttelligence. Chuck D reflects on his lifelong passion for visual art, dating back to childhood comic books and drafting promotional flyers on Long Island, and details his rapid, memory-driven illustration style as a personal counterweight to digital perfection and artificial intelligence. He also shares the origins of Public Enemy's striking imagery, including the Sports Illustrated stopwatches that inspired Flavor Flav's iconic neck clock, while discussing the modern digital landscape, the power of...
Nimesh Patel: "I am always pro joke before I am pro anything."
Today on The Gist, guest host Charlie introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with comedian and writer Nimesh Patel, the first Indian American writer in Saturday Night Live history. Patel charts his transition from NYU finance major to stand-up comic, breaking down his shifting philosophy on joke construction, why he has moved away from didactic, argument-driven bits, and how he uses subtext and contrarian premises to catch audiences off guard. He also revisits his specials Thank You, China and Lucky Lefty, dissects the humor and frustrations of the American healthcare system, and reflects on the infamous 2018 Columbia University set where organizers...
Diane Foley and Elizabeth Tsurkov on Hostages, Wrongful Detentions, and State Terror
Today on The Gist, guest host Charlie introduces two conversations centered on hostage recovery and wrongful detention abroad. First, Mike Pesca speaks with Diane Foley, founder of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, who reflects on her son's murder by ISIS in 2014, the institutional failures that left American families without diplomatic support, and the urgent need to overhaul outdated US hostage policies as state-sponsored wrongful detentions rise. Then, Mike is joined by Princeton PhD researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov to discuss her harrowing ordeal surviving over 900 days of captivity and torture by the Iranian-backed militia Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq, detailing how...
Vic Michaelis: "Improv is not just existing live in front of an audience on stage."
Today on The Gist, guest host Charlie introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with comedian Vic Michaelis, host of Very Important People on Dropout TV. Michaelis discusses the show's chaotic premise, where comedians are transformed by high-end VFX makeup and prosthetics without knowing what they look like until a live mirror reveal, forcing them to build an improvised character from scratch. They also explore the evolution of improv for online video formats, Michaelis's character arc as an ambitious yet deeply frustrated public access news anchor, and the comedic blend of East Coast punchlines and big Canadian character work.
Stop...
Virginia Sole-Smith: "Weight loss is not the solution."
Today on The Gist, guest host Scott introduces a debate between Mike Pesca and Virginia Sole-Smith, author of Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture. Sole-Smith argues that genetics largely dictate body size and that systemic weight stigma and diet culture cause far more damage than high body weight itself. Pesca pushes back, questioning whether downplaying obesity's strong correlations to chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease ignores serious public health risks, while Sole-Smith maintains that true healthcare must abandon the failed mandate of intentional weight loss.
Stop online threats before they become real-world...
Adam Kinzinger on Cults, Country, and Trump
Today on The Gist, guest host Scott introduces a pair of interviews focused on the shifting identity of the Republican Party. First, Mike Pesca sits down with former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger to discuss his memoir Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country, exploring how his fundamentalist Christian upbringing shaped his aversion to political groupthink, his military service, and his decision to vote for impeachment and serve on the January 6th Select Committee. Then, Mike speaks with veteran Republican strategist Stuart Stevens about his satirical novel The Innocent Have Nothing to Fear, examining how the GOP abandoned...
Al Franken: " I had a career in identifying absurdity. And I know it when I see it."
Today on The Gist, guest host Scott introduces a 2022 conversation between Mike Pesca and former US Senator Al Franken, who discusses his return to stand-up comedy and looks back at his tenure in the Senate. Franken examines how his background as a comedy writer and performer informed his sharp, forensic approach to committee hearings, including his memorable question during Jeff Sessions' confirmation that ultimately led to the Attorney General's recusal, and his viral exchange with Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos over growth versus proficiency. He and Mike also discuss the cynical comedic worldview of Lindsey Graham, the breakdown of...
TJ Miller: "When the air hits your brain, it's never the same."
Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam Levin introduces Mike Pesca's conversation with comedian and actor TJ Miller, who reflects on life, stand-up, and the traumatic brain injury that altered his cognitive wiring. Miller walks through his experience surviving a 2010 brain surgery to remove an arteriovenous malformation in his right frontal lobe, explaining how the resulting neurological shifts fuel his manic work ethic, remove natural fatigue cues, and act as an improvisational cheat code on stage. Along the way, he and Mike riff on oddball city mottos, touring smaller American towns like Fort Wayne, navigating the realities of an...
Chris Smalls: "Worker led means worker led."
Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam Levin introduces a conversation between Mike Pesca and Chris Smalls, co-founder and former president of the Amazon Labor Union and author of When the Revolution Comes: A Fight for the Future of the Working Class. Smalls looks back at his journey from an underground hip-hop artist and warehouse employee to the face of modern labor organizing, detailing the scrappy, grassroots tactics that powered the historic Staten Island union victory. He also tackles the inevitable controversies and internal fractures that followed, pushback over his national profile, and why authentic labor movements must keep...
Bob Saget: "I just, I wanna entertain people."
Today on The Gist, guest host Adaam Levin introduces a classic spiel from the archives analyzing Vivek Ramaswamy's debate strategy and an interview with Andrew Yang on the differing party dynamics facing political outsiders. Then, Mike Pesca revisits his conversation with the late Bob Saget, who reflects on his decades in comedy, writing his first jokes in a law library, and releasing his stand-up special Zero to Sixty. Saget examines the stark contrast between his wholesome family television persona and his bawdy stand-up roots, navigating shifting cultural sensibilities, and why he always prioritized connection and catharsis with his audience...
Andrew Fox: Make something that surprises people because everyone's bored.
Today on The Gist, guest host Bryan Green shares Mike Pesca's interview with writer and composer Andrew Fox, the creator behind the viral satirical musical Slam Frank. Fox breaks down the origins of his controversial parody (which imagines an Anne Frank musical staged through an absurdly over-the-top, intersectional lens) and examines how well-intentioned performative language in modern theater often slips into unintentional comedy. He and Mike discuss the boundaries of comedy, the stifling nature of institutional gatekeeping, and why contemporary art needs to start taking real risks again instead of chasing safe, predictable moral superiority.
Stop online...
Derrick Palmer: "The union was always the solution."
Today on The Gist, guest host Bryan Green shares an interview with Derrick Palmer, co-founder of the Amazon Labor Union and co-author of Handbook for the Revolution: Building a More Perfect Union for the 21st Century. Palmer reflects on his time working inside Amazon's JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island, the dangerous working conditions and lack of sick time during the pandemic, and how he and Chris Smalls built an independent, worker-led organizing effort that successfully unionized the facility. Finally, in the spiel, Mike Pesca dissects Hollywood's obsession with animated movies about anthropomorphic animals and pitches a hyper-specific, meta-cinematic alternative...
Larry Wilmore: "I have pushed for the ability to suck in anything, rather than just racial content."
Today on The Gist, guest host Bryan Green shares a classic 2019 interview with comedian, writer, and host Larry Wilmore. Wilmore reflects on his podcast Black on the Air, the reality of the medium, and the freedom of moving beyond narrowly defined racial content. He and Mike Pesca discuss mentorship, the limits of "woke" cultural criticism, and why using comedy as a tool for political activism misunderstands the point of the craft. Finally, in the spiel, Mike examines why governments struggle to account for pleasure in cost-benefit analyses of vices, from alcohol during pregnancy to e-cigarettes as a form of...
