The Matt Jones Show - Podcast Rankings and reviews

No show on earth has a better mix of hilarity and intellect. If you are seeking joy or respite for an hour, you cannot go wrong by listening to this.

Matt is excellent at taking everyday individuals and public figures and letting us get to know them in an entertaining and conversational manner. In a world where most shows are meant to divide, he is one of the few who truly bring people together.

I enjoyed the debut episode of The Matt Jones Podcast, especially the interview with Bomani Jones. The conversation was thoughtful, wide-ranging, and genuinely entertaining. Matt is a gifted interviewer and knows how to create engaging dialogue.

That said, I was disappointed by some of the political commentary sprinkled throughout the episode. To be clear, I don’t mind Matt discussing politics — I’m a conservative, but I’ve always appreciated that he usually tries to include people from across the spectrum. However, in this episode, his dismissive remarks about figures like Charlie Kirk and Matt Walsh felt unfair and a bit shallow.

For example, Matt characterized Charlie Kirk as someone who thrives only in short, confrontational clips with college students. That simply doesn’t reflect the full picture. Kirk may be polarizing, but he’s clearly a capable and intelligent debater who frequently engages with serious thinkers. Dismissing him with a backhanded compliment isn’t real engagement — it’s a way of writing someone off without reckoning with their actual ideas.

Matt also mentioned Matt Walsh, but rather than addressing Walsh’s views, he made an odd dig about a failed radio stint in Lexington years ago. It came off as petty — especially given Walsh’s current success as a prominent commentator with a large following. If you’re going to criticize someone, at least do it based on their arguments, not personal trivia.

My bigger concern is the double standard: Matt often says he doesn’t want politics on his other shows, and callers with differing views are frequently cut off or waved away. Yet, when it’s his own political views, they’re presented freely and sometimes with subtle jabs at those he disagrees with. It gives the impression of open-mindedness without the substance — a kind of watered-down honesty that doesn’t quite sit right.

I’ll keep listening — Matt is a talented broadcaster, and I respect his willingness to explore new formats. I just hope future episodes include a little more intellectual honesty when it comes to politics, and a bit more willingness to engage opposing views in good faith.

Matt is always entertaining and even times that I disagree with him, he explains his point of view to a way that I can at least understand.