Open to Debate

I listen to a lot of podcasts on politics, technology, finance and science. The formats are almost always interviews with experts. I learn a lot but have always wished to hear experts with differing views debate so that I could understand how each defends and elaborates their position when challenged by another expert. This podcast does that! I appreciate the structured format and the role of the host in shaping which topics the guests are to address.

Good debate and I appreciated the moderator pausing for intermittent responses from the opposition. This debate could have been improved by narrowing the issue(s) because at times felt like there were two different sex industries being explored: legally supported vs illegal black market. Still enjoyed it! Thanks!!

I do appreciate the purpose of this show. It models the seemingly lost art of disagreeing without demonizing or demeaning. I especially enjoyed listening to the debate about color blindness between Jamelle Bouie and Coleman Hughes. Thank you so much for this work.

Loved Nayeema Raza's moderation on the debate on the American dream! She was excellent. Refreshing to hear some thought provoking debate instead of the echo chambers we've gotten used to.

The pre-2020 episodes with 4 debaters and a live audience are stellar and absolutely worth listening to, but the show took a BIG downturn after COVID hit. The zoom-meeting episodes are hard on the ears, and even when they DO get back to a live audience setting, the debates are lacking in quality. For example, the latest episode (“Is America too obsessed with race?”) quickly turned into a messy verbal slap fight that lost track of the original premise. Update: many months later, this stands true. Interruptions and multiple people shouting over each other are now the norm on this podcast. It’s painful. What used to be a respectful debate show is now a sloppy shouting match.

Great debate format and very interesting, however, it is very clear this is not a bipartisan and the labeling should be amended. And John, actually be a moderator it was obvious who you stood with in the “wokeness in public schools” debate. Do better.