The Ezra Klein Show - Podcast Rankings and reviews

Out of all the podcasts I listen to, this show drives me to action the most frequently. Often, it’s a new framework to use to change the way I think about the world. Other times, it is a book recommendation. The last episode made me re-visit Run For Something. Sometimes, I find myself writing long emails to the show and then realizing that I’ve scripted a podcast of my own. Highly recommended if you want a podcast that thoughtfully changes you or makes you do things!

Ezra so organically guides his interviews; when I listen I always feel like I’m eavesdropping on two friends having a spontaneous, magnificent discussion. Astoundingly, Ezra’s ability to articulate issues is at least as brilliant as his guests whose area of expertise he is discussing. The topics are profound, the explorations are authentic and deeply engaging, and the ideas explored could often radically change our society for the better. It’s a rare episode that doesn’t spark epiphany. Thank you, Ezra!

Definitely a top five podcast. I honestly have no idea how they produce this show—the guests are consistently interesting and the conversations never waste my time. I always learn something new, and I can always count on Ezra to ask the question I want him to ask. Especially loving the insightful coverage on AI.

If you enjoy drilling down on topics for a deeper understanding, this podcast is for you! Ezra never fails to move beyond popular, pat answers to explore the nuances of our world with the help of credible experts and people with relevant lived experiences. His approach to the questions and concerns of our time is an exercise in, and fantastic example of, critical thinking. Highly recommended!

The interviewee and Klein’s uncritical enthusiasm are deeply problematic. What about those of us who are overlooked or stereotyped by healthcare professionals? Black women are perceived to experience less pain; obese people are a stereotype of symptoms that are their own fault; poor people are unworthy of healthcare, etc.
Not until the very end of the interview does the interviewee clarify that stress (well, more importantly, it seems she means the patient’s poor choices) is not the *only* source of pain. It’s so repugnantly irresponsible to ignore health provider bias and systemic inequities.

Ezra presents conversations on the show as balanced between Israeli and Palestinian- while using much of the language that allows Israel to normalize its illegal occupation. In the most recent AMA- he describes Israel as a normal state like any other. Even before the unprecedented violence of the last 60 days- Upholding a violent occupation of the West Bank, apartheid laws, a policy of expansion into land that isn’t its own via settlements, and a horrifying blockade of Gaza isn’t normal and is not just like any other state the way Ezra posits. Bias disguised as balance is the most insidious kind.