James Patterson: “My Time Here Is Short. What Can I Do Most Beautifully?”
The Gist
James Patterson joins the show to talk about Disrupt Everything—and Win: Take Control of Your Future, his new playbook for turning constant disruption into something useful rather than paralyzing. He explains how he thinks about “positive” versus “negative” disruptors, wrestles with whether the gospel of disruption feeds our narcissism, and defends his literacy work and banned YA novels in places like Florida. Mike then presents to him evidence that one of the book’s inspirational case studies isn't quite so inspirational; Patterson reacts to that information in real...
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John Amaechi: “Excellence Isn’t Sorcery”
The Gist
The former NBA power forward and unmistakably English John Amaechi talks leadership, psychology, and the everyday skills that make organizations work. His book It’s Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders anchors a conversation about accountability, ambition, and what people misunderstand about excellence. Also: Europe’s frozen-assets loan scheme, Macron’s future-jets promise, and the contrast between Brussels’ legalism and Trump’s “sea boat, bomb boat” simplicity. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at To advertise on the show, contact ...
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Nicole Gelinas on Crime, Bail, and Mamdani’s Vibesy Criminology
The Gist
The Manhattan Institute’s Nicole Gelinas breaks down New York’s post-pandemic crime surge and what the data actually say about bail reform versus simple pandemic chaos. She explains why the city’s rise in murders and disorder looks different from the national pattern and how weak supervision, dangerous subways, and repeat violent offenders all compounded the problem. Gelinas also assesses the competing theories embraced by Mayor-elect Mamdani and what the tension means for the next administration. Plus: a Spiel on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s sudden crusade against “toxicity,” and...
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David Ignatius on Space Wars, Skepticism, and His Father’s Legacy
The Gist
Mike Pesca revisits his conversation with Washington Post columnist and novelist David Ignatius, recorded before the recent passing of Ignatius’s father, former Navy Secretary Paul Ignatius. They discuss the future of warfare in space, why the U.S. Space Force deserves more credit than it gets, and how a century of Pentagon experience shaped a lifelong skepticism toward military overconfidence. Plus, a Spiel on a government shutdown that achieved very little beyond irritating everyone involved. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at To advertise on the show, contact...
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Katie Herzog Is the Kind of Person Who Googles Recidivism Rates in an AA Meeting
The Gist
Katie Herzog breaks down Drink Your Way Sober: The Science-Based Method to Break Free from Alcohol and how naltrexone—used through the Sinclair Method—let her “drink” her way out of addiction after years of half-hearted AA attempts. She explains why rock bottom kept moving, why abstinence felt impossible, and how targeted medication can disrupt the endorphin loop that makes alcohol so compulsive. Plus: the laser focus on the magic word “affordability,” and a Spiel about Michael Wolff’s Epstein posturing. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at To advertise on the show,...
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Not Even Mad: Charles Lehman & Brad Carson
The Gist
The Epstein files and the Michael Wolff ethics mess. Then Brad Carson (Americans for Responsible Innovation) and Charles Lehman (Manhattan Institute / City Journal) dig into the shutdown endgame, Schumer’s calculus, 2026 vibes, and why data centers might be a sleeper issue. They argue affordability vs. “afford to dream,” culture vs. policy, and whether legalization waves for pot, NIL, and sports betting were built to fail. Plus: AI guardrails, why adding friction to vices works, and Goat Grinders on EST vs. EDT, reclining your plane seat, and off-leash dogs. Bonus Q&A about Brad’s...
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John J. Lennon — “I’m Owning My Sh*t on the Page”
The Gist
John J. Lennon, currently incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, discusses The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us, arguing that true crime’s fixation on innocence obscures the harder stories of guilt, punishment, and change. He describes refusing to be branded “Inside Evil” on Chris Cuomo’s show—and how that exploitation pushed him toward critiquing the genre from within. Lennon explains why he writes himself beneath the other men he profiles—even as he’s “owning [his] sh*t on the page” so he can have a life when he gets out....
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Jon Levy: “We Don’t Really Want Authenticity”
The Gist
Behavioral scientist Jon Levy, author of Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius, joins to talk about why he collects astronauts, Olympians, and other outliers for secret salons—and what they’ve taught him about trust and connection. He explains why status isn’t the same as popularity, how our networks quietly determine our habits and fortunes, and why so-called “authentic” leaders are really just people who match our prewritten narratives. Plus, a Spiel on a government shutdown that changed very little in the real world beyond making everyone mad...
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Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon on Life After Cars
The Gist
Mike reflects on the post-election landscape, including Mamdani’s win and the hype around Trump’s election monitors who reportedly spent their time chatting about cats. Then Mike talks with Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, hosts of The War on Cars and authors of Life After Cars. They discuss traffic fatalities, Dutch street design, the Brightline conundrum, induced demand, EV optimism vs. EV limitations, and what cities gain when they take traffic out of their cores. In the Spiel, Mike explains why expecting a state’s congressional delegation to mirror its statewide vote...
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The Good Fight Club, or Good Fight Club?
The Gist
Mike joins Yascha Mounk’s Good Fight Club to debate the mid-midterm results: Democrats’ surprisingly strong showings in Virginia and New Jersey, Zoran Mamdani’s charisma-vs-governance problem in New York, and whether moderates like Abigail Spanberger can still carry a national coalition. Also: the Seattle mayoral race tightens, and the “Dems in disarray” narrative hits a wall. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at To advertise on the show, contact or visit Subscribe to The Gist: Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ...
info_outlineDusty Slay drops by with “Wet Heat” fresh on Netflix to talk Opelika lore (a.k.a. Snopalika), becoming parade Grand Marshal, and how a onetime pesticide salesman turned country-music linguist builds jokes from tiny word quirks. We get into his love of language (Carlin vibes), song-lyric autopsies (“It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” Brooks & Dunn’s “Hard Workin’ Man”), the origin of “We’re having a good time,” Comedy Cellar war stories, Opry nights, accent drift, trailer-park childhood, and why he’s plotting an ASMR sleep-comedy album. Also: milk, hand-washing, and the eternal mystery of gas stations named “Kum & Go.”
Produced by Corey Wara
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