The Gist - Kid, Out Of The Hall

Though a self described prickly punk rocker, Bruce McCullouch always came across as the most adorable of the kids in the hall. McCulloch stops by to talk Kids, comedy, and his one man show playing off-broadway. Plus, the January 6th Commission reconvenes, and NYU fails an organic chemistry professor who failed too many students.


BRUCE MCCULLOCH: TALES OF BRAVERY AND STUPIDITY

OCTOBER 14-29 AT SOHO PLAYHOUSE


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - Everything About The Economy Ever, Pithily Explained

J. Bradford DeLong is here to deliver on the title of his impressive tome Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History Of The Twentieth Century. It Starts with 1870 and ends the year Law & Order was cancelled (it came back … the economy didn’t). Plus, the case for the nation’s defense budget being largely, mostly, mainly worth it. And the non-offensive parts of the LA City Council tapes are pretty instructive as to how politics everywhere really works.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - L.A. Disrespectful

A leaked recording revealed three members of the Los Angeles City Council, including the President, engaging in mockery of young children, a gay council member, the indigenous population, and African-Americans. Public comment time was not pretty. And Mike is joined by James A. Geraghty, author of Inside The Orphan Drug Revolution: The Promise of Patient-Centered Biotechnology. Plus, remembering Angela Landsbury—a wonderful actress as well as a symbol of the bygone monoculture.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - BEST OF THE GIST: Bros Edition

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we dive back into our archive to resurface our 2018 interview with comedian Guy Branum who had then just published My Life As A Goddess: A Memoir Through (Un)Popular Culture. Branum is the co-star of the much-talked-about new rom-com, Bros, which is the subject of Friday’s Spiel about why the film was funny but not a box-office smash.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - Those Who Oppose Bros

The Billy Eichner comedy Bros was undeniably funny, but also a box office failure. Eichner blamed homophobia, but it’s more complicated, Mike argues, but also not terribly more complicated. Of course, depictions of gay sex—some tame, some raunchy—hurt box office. Plus, Michele Tafoya is back to discuss the topics that prompted her to leave Thursday Night Football for her Sideline Sanity podcast and an ambush interview with Dan Le Batard. And also, what drives the world’s biggest A-holes?

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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The Gist - Misplaced Civil War Anxiety

Once more, a major media article offers incomplete and misleading evidence about the threat of a civil war. Mike offers not a dismissal but a reinterpretation. Plus, Michele Tafoya, former sideline reporter for NBC Sports, has a new podcast called ‎Sideline Sanity, and she has some opinions about Colin Kaepernick’s punishment for speaking out. Plus, Joe Biden pardons the 0 people in federal prison for simple marijuana possession.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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The Gist - Nuclear Fuel For Thought

Mike interviews Saleem Ali, University of Delaware professor of Energy and the Environment, about his book Earthly Order: How Natural Laws Define Human Life. Plus, Mike recognizes that the Georgia Senate race will be close, but also lays out that, of course the latest revelations hurt Herschel Walker. And also, just how to think about some baseball home run kings who allegedly—and also very much did—take steroids.


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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The Gist - It’s Legit To Quit

In her book, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, social scientist and former poker pro Annie Duke argues that we're way too over-indexed toward grit and not open enough to quitting. Plus, with the smart advice being not mock him, U.S. Senate candidate from Georgia, Herschel Walker instead provides a fertile means of self mockery. And Brett Favre just loves building volleyball courts!

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The Gist - The Libertarians Have Lost The Thread

Professor at Northwestern’s School of Law, Andrew Koppelman talks about his new book Burning Down The House: How Libertarian Philosophy Was Corrupted by Delusion and Greed. Also, Donald Trump “truths” that Mitch McConnell has a “DEATH WISH” (his caps, not ours). Senator Rick Scott finds the sentiment difficult to condemn. Plus, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss goes on the charm offensive, which proves just that.


Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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The Gist - BEST OF THE GIST: Live Music Edition

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we are replaying Mike’s Monday Spiel about the Sound On Sound Music Festival, and the rage it drew online despite being a pretty great weekend. Then we dig into the Gist archives and listen back to Mike’s 2015 conversation with musicians Dillon Kondor and Sharon Van Etten about the challenges not of music, but of performing good stage banter in between songs.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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