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.
2451
Easy Listening Wasn’t Easy in 1975
On The Gist, Mike is joined by Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer for a game we call “One Question, One Question Only.” What are the best, worst, and most likely scenarios for the Greek economy?
Plus, our regular guest Chris Molanphy...
25 min
2452
Fear Your Shower, Not ISIS
On The Gist, NPR’s Frannie Kelley explains why Tuesday has lost its significance for the music industry. That will all change this Friday. She hosts the Microphone Check podcast on NPR and edits Yours Truly. Plus, Stephen Walt from the Harvard...
26 min
2453
Nerds in the Hood
On The Gist, Mimi Valdés explains her work as chief creative officer for Pharrell Williams’ collective I Am Other. She’s a co-producer of the film Dope, the new drama-comedy from writer and director Rick Famuyiwa. For the...
25 min
2454
Telling Stories: Do It Better
On The Gist, Matthew Dicks offers more tricks for helping Gist listeners tell better stories. You’re welcome. This class focuses on how to bring the emotions behind our experiences into how we tell our stories. Dicks is the author of Memoirs of...
29 min
2455
Awkward Silence Is Our Polio
Kristin Gore, Tallulah Bankhead, and Alice Roosevelt Longworth are all known for their comedic writings and the daughters of elected officials. Add to that list the Washington Post columnist Alexandra Petri. She’s the daughter of...
20 min
2456
Poking Holes in Acupuncture
Today on The Gist, Jeff Ross’ harsh comedic roasts have finally landed him in prison. We’ll speak to the roastmaster general about his new special Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live At Brazos County Jail. Then, Mike asks Maria...
25 min
2457
Will Gay Marriage Upend Gay Culture?
The Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage will welcome a new era in equality, acceptance, and fretting. A recent headline even predicted a “twinge of loss” for modern gay culture. On The Gist, Slate’s J. Bryan...
27 min
2458
The Following Story Is Based on Real Presidents
Today on The Gist, the return of “Names in the News!” Plus, Brad Melzer from the Lost History TV series explains how real presidential lore and relationships influenced his new novel The President's Shadow. You can hear Brad’s...
27 min
2459
1990: The Year Before Music Changed Forever
Today on The Gist, Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick explains the vulnerability of Friday’s SCOTUS ruling on gay marriage, and a favorite Scalia moment from the arguments. She’s the host of the Slate podcast Amicus. Plus, our regular...
33 min
2460
Is the "Five-Second Rule" Baloney?
Today on The Gist, you will either be happily relieved or totally devastated by what we’ve learned about the “five-second rule.” Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker if she’d eat what we’ve...
24 min
2461
Why Humankind Needs Kardashians
Is there a relationship between celebrity worship and a lack of social mobility? Today on The Gist, we explore the allure of celebrity with professor Timothy Caulfield. He’s the author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: How the...
29 min
2462
What’s Fair for Fatherhood
Mike took three months off after each of his sons were born. He considers that time to be the most important bonding he’s ever done, but when it comes to family leave, some new dads aren’t so lucky. CNN’s Josh Levs makes a...
23 min
2463
Four Essential Lies
On this weekend’s Meet the Press, Mike Huckabee asked, “Is South Carolina a racist state because of the flag that flies on their Capitol grounds?” On The Gist, Mike Pesca answers, “No, the flag flies over the Capitol because...
29 min
2464
The Creator of Doc McStuffins
What kind of person is drawn to write for children’s television? And why does that person always seem to sneak in adult jokes and pop culture references? The creator and executive producer of Doc McStuffins, Chris Nee, shares the wide...
27 min
2465
Why Dylann Roof Picked Those Two Flags
Today on The Gist, a closer look at the apartheid-era South African and Rhodesian flags worn by the Charleston suspect, Dylann Roof, with vexillologist Ted Kaye. Plus, Richard Thaler offers common-sense ideas found in behavioral economics. He’s...
27 min
2466
Go-Go Wearable Gadgets
Does Congress care about the political interests of regular American citizens as much as those of their affluent donors? Today on The Gist, we speak with Princeton politics professor Martin Gilens about a study in Perspectives on...
31 min
2467
Deep Dive Into a Defining Institution
Was racism the progeny of the decision to enslave black people? Today on The Gist, the duo behind a new Slate Academy tell us what they’ve learned so far in a summerlong inquiry into a vast and complex aspect of American history. Mike...
21 min
2468
Google’s Loony Balloons
Today on The Gist, an improbable Google experiment is still afloat. Will this “loony” idea help expand Internet access around the world, or just be a boon to fuzzy sock manufacturers? Slate’s Will Oremus explains. For The Spiel, we...
19 min
2469
My Friend Became a Staunch Anti-Vaxxer. Now What?
Today on The Gist, we dig some of our favorite segments out of the vault. Mike Pesca is still away taping Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me, which you can hear this coming weekend online or on NPR stations across the country.
First up, Mary...
26 min
2470
Tour Guide for The Memory Palace
James Holmes is mounting an insanity defense for his trial in the 2012 movie-theater killings in Aurora, Colorado. But what connection does that tactic have with the actual medical understanding of mental illness? Today on The Gist, Fordham’s...
29 min
2471
Sleeping: You’re Doing It Wrong
Today on The Gist, how common is the phenomenon of the historic genius or eccentric CEO who needs less sleep than the rest of us? Could more of us benefit from less sleep? Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker to open our...
23 min
2472
Grasping for the Ferguson Effect
In the Wall Street Journal editorial “The New Nationwide Crime Wave,” Heather Mac Donald argues that spikes in inner city crime are the consequence of “The Ferguson Effect” on police. Today on The Gist, Mike Pesca disagrees....
26 min
2473
Sharon Van Etten, Banter Mentor
Today on The Gist, listener Dillon Kondor explains why he finds himself consistently embarrassed by his own stage banter. Can indie rock singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten save the day? They’ll join us in studio for a thoughtful conversation...
31 min
2474
His Dunkological Clock Was Ticking
When Asher Price reached his mid-30s, he realized it was his last chance to learn how to dunk a basketball. Today on The Gist, we’ll visit the West 4th Street Courts to learn about his training regimen and the symbolism behind a slam dunk....
28 min
2475
Mac McCaughan: Solochunk
Today on The Gist, a new album from Mac McCaughan captures the feeling of being fifteen in 1982. His new album Non-Believers is available from the label he co-founded, Merge Records. In our segment, you’ll hear the tracks “Box...
34 min