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.

The Gist is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 1,000 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 92.

Unknown Host hosts The Gist, a news show with 1,000 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #3103

  Roy Wood Jr.: "People just want to feel good."

  Oct 2, 20261h 1m

  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 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegist@mikepesca.com For 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_g ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X  https://x.com/pescami TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To 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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  Episode #3101

  Axes and Sodium with Rachel McCarthy James and Maria Konnikova

  Sep 30, 202631 min

  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.  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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegist@mikepesca.com For 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_g ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X  https://x.com/pescami TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To 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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  Episode #3100

  Dr. Abdul El-Sayed on Viral Misinformation and Public Health Failures

  Sep 28, 202635 min

  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 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegist@mikepesca.com For 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_g ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X  https://x.com/pescami TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To 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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  Episode #3099

  Django Gold: "Don't Be Funny"

  Sep 25, 202655 min

  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 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegist@mikepesca.com For 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_g ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X  https://x.com/pescami TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To 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.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #3098

  KJ Steinberg: "The echoes of trauma are loud and they are long."

  Sep 23, 202648 min

  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 disability access, and the resilience required to thrive. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegist@mikepesca.com For 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_g ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X  https://x.com/pescami TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To 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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