The Necessary Conversation

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

A Fine School

This week on The Necessary Conversation, Chad, Haley and Mary Lou discuss the week's politics. Plus we just appeared on Katy Tur's show on MS NOW this week, so

Oct 4
1 h 15 min

The Cornell Seven

In this midweek episode Chad, Haley and Mary Lou discuss the situation regarding the sexual assault of a student by 7 fellow students at Cornell University in 2024 and wh

Sep 30
47 min

Trump Loves China

This week on The Necessary Conversation Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou dig into the following topics, with a special appearance by Bob late in the episode. 🇨🇳 American Dictat

Sep 27
54 min

Mary Lou's X's

In this midweek episode Chad takes Mary Lou through a website made by a member of the Necessary Conversation community that lists all of her "X's" against Trump to s

Sep 23
47 min

Trump Bans Press From The Whitehouse

This week on The Necessary Conversation, Chad is joined by Haley and Mary Lou, who are together in Oklahoma. Bob is still out recovering. 🚫 Authoritarian Dictator Donald

Sep 20
1 h 08 min

Kash Patel's Stance On Bestiality

In this mid-week episode Chad and Mary Lou show one another clips from across the aisle that address a wide range of topics including Kash Patel's public support of

Sep 16
51 min

Trump Sleeps While America Mourns

This week on The Necessary Conversation, it's Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou. Bob is still out recovering. 💵 Trump held the first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, dubb

Sep 13
1 h 12 min

Special Guest: Beto O'Rourke

Haley, Mary Lou and Chad have a conversation with Texas Democrat Beto O'rourke in which they discuss his run for President in 2020, current issues with voting in Ame

Sep 11
39 min

Mamdani

Mary Lou and Chad show each clips from opposite sides of the aisle pertaining to 911 and Mamdani's first 9 months as Mayor of New York City. If you have a question

Sep 9
53 min

How Close Is Trump To Dying?

This week on The Necessary Conversation, it's Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou. Bob is still out recovering but getting better. We miss you, Dad. ❤️ 🤒 How close is Trump t

Sep 6
1 h 15 min

J.D. Vance Says He's Okay With Ushering In The End Times

Mary Lou and Chad dig into clips from JD Vance’s recent appearance on a podcast in which he said he is willing to usher in the biblical end times. Clips From Today’s Sho

Sep 2
52 min

Trump Tries To Rename Lake Ontario

This week on The Necessary Conversation, it's just Chad and Mary Lou holding it down. Bob is still out recovering — getting better every day — and Haley is off galav

Aug 30
1 h 02 min

Project 2025 Plans For America's Food Supply

In this midweek episode Mary Lou and Chad show each other clips from opposite sides of the political spectrum including clips about Iran threatening Baron Trump's li

Aug 26
50 min

Trump Is Slaughtering Horses

This week on The Necessary Conversation, it's Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou. Bob is still out but getting stronger every day — we're hoping to have him back soon. H

Aug 23
1 h 08 min

What Does Maga Still Like About Trump?

In this midweek episode, Chad and Mary Lou play clips for one another from the opposite side of the aisle as Chad asks Mary Lou what she still likes about Trump. These ar

Aug 19
53 min

Lost At Sea

This week on The Necessary Conversation, Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou dig into the biggest political issues of the past 7 days. 🚢 The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea fo

Aug 16
1 h 13 min

Trump's Cowardly Escape

In this midweek show, Chad and Mary Lou show each other clips about Fauci, Blanche, Trump's Catering Cart Escape and more. Fauci and miscarriages: https://www.insta

Aug 12
45 min

Todd Blanche Confirmation Means Trump Is Above The Law

This week on The Necessary Conversation, Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou cover the biggest stories in American politics. ⚖️ The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche — Trump's pe

Aug 9
1 h 04 min

Trump Caught Lying About The Reflecting Pool

This week on The Necessary Conversation, Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou discuss week 23 of Trump's illegal war with Iran, and the possibility that it could be the beginn

Aug 2
1 h 01 min

Trump 2028

This week on The Necessary Conversation, Chad, Haley and Mary Lou dig into day 149 of Trump's war with Iran. 18 American soldiers dead. And the bill just keeps climb

Jul 26
1 h 08 min

Chart trend

Position in the Politics chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#43#85JulAugSepOct

all-time peak

days in the top 10 since Jan 2025

Chart positions

Where The Necessary Conversation ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 5, 2026).

#137 ▲ 14 News US

#49 ▲ 1 Politics US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

The parallels between the parents’ radicalization, beliefs, and specific Q anon terms they use and my parents is uncanny. I can’t talk to my parents about politics since COVID, and it’s cathartic to hear how you are handling the necessary conversations more tactfully than I can. I’ve mourned the loss of the people who they used to be, and it’s so important to share these conversations. I’m only in to episode 3, and I’m hooked. Thank you!

gamingwonton · Jul 2026

I’m the oldest daughter of a MAGA father and step‑mother, now the black sheep of the family. We had a great relationship before Trump (respectful, communicative, never a real fight) and I thought it was gone forever. Your podcast gave me hope. Hearing Mary Jo listen, learn, and slowly understand the truth about MAGA made me believe reconciliation might one day be possible. Thank you for having the conversations so many families desperately need.

LLGTactical · Jul 2026

It’s funny, it’s heavy, it’s frustrating, it’s endearing. I love the reason behind the show. Bob is horrible, but I feel like I care about him at the same time. If you listen from the start, you’ll begin to care about each member of this family. No matter what side they’re on.

Todd Earl · May 2026

Take your typical awkward political argument at a large family gathering, now have it weekly. This is a podcast that’s extremely relatable. We all know a Bob, poster boy for “hurt people hurt people”. We all know a Mary Lou, a sweetheart who is woefully misinformed. Hearing and understanding why they hold the beliefs they do can help the listener learn with how to deal with these people in their own lives.

Tiki815 · May 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.