The Gist - Podcast Rankings and reviews

Mike often takes a very moderate position and strives for fairness. I truly appreciate this. He’s extremely well spoken and good at arguing his points. He seems to care about hearing the opinions of people on all sides of an issue and doesn’t shy away from changing his view in light of new information. He covers a lot of topics I don’t necessarily find interesting but has a way of making them interesting in his style of speaking. For a daily podcast this is excellent, not every episode is a hit but sometimes there are really stellar ones that stick with me for a while. And forgive me for being a little mushy: he seems like a really nice and good person.

If you hunger for thoughtful analysis that’s outside the traditional echo chamber of mainstream media. While I often disagree with the host Mike Pesca he always makes thought provoking points, asks terrific questions and often talks to worthwhile & important guests. He’s also likable with a light sometimes cheesy humor. Absolutely one of the best if you want to think about what’s going on in a nice compressed entertaining package.

I’ve been listening to Mike from the beginning. He was an acquired taste, to be sure, but I find more often that his take is a refreshing look at the world when others are pushing particular agendas. Mike asks thoughtful questions of his guests and does the homework to know where to push. The Gist is one of a few podcasts I won’t miss, even if I’m not 100 percent on board with Mike all the time. It’s a great source of honest journalism in an increasingly siloed media landscape. All that being said, Mike, my man, I don’t mind the songs so much, but you HAVE to work on staying on the beat.

The Gist is a great listen! Host Mike Pesca has a fair, interesting perspective. I appreciate his experience and journalistic rigor. He is conversant in wide ranging topics and has consistently knowledgeable guests. His personality is always entertaining and he throws in just enough quirks, wordplay and offbeat humor to bring out a laugh or appropriate groan here and there.