The Gist

On The Gist, a special guest host with some words of wisdom for job applicants. Slate's Forrest Wickman explains the complexity of Kanye West as an artist and helps dissect the track "Ultralight Beam" from his new album The Life of Pablo. For the Spiel, please bear with podcasters everywhere. The Gist is hiring a producer: Slate's consummate daily news and opinion podcast is looking for an experie...

On The Gist, actor David Morse tells us about his role as Big Foster in Outsiders, a new TV series from WGN America. For the Spiel, Mike finds a new appreciation for the furry-hooded coat. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices H...

On The Gist, Matthew Dicks and your host record the show in the wee hours of the night, after seeing a Bruce Springsteen concert. They'll present two stories from the Story Collider storytelling night at the Kraine Theater in New York. The first features our winning Gist listener Frank Kennedy, who tells a story of trying to connect with his autistic son. For the Spiel, Mike takes the stage to tel...

On The Gist, the daughter of a Fort Hood victim explains how she became friends with the shooter's cousin. We'll speak with the HBO documentary Homegrown's filmmaker Greg Barker and subjects Kerry Cahill (the daughter), Nader Hasan (the cousin), and Philip Mudd, a veteran CIA and FBI counterterrorism official. Hasan and Cahill are both involved in the the Nawal Foundation. Mudd is the author of Ta...

On The Gist, Mike's thoughts on the P-word. Then, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker tells us about the challenge of doing a controlled trial on a controlled substance. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, Mike fact-checks a widely ignored statement from Chris Christie. Today's sponsors: Betterment, the largest automated investing service—managing billions of dollars for people j...

Murder is one of the most venerable subjects of journalism and drama. What was it about the O.J. trail that still entertains? On The Gist. reporter Jeffrey Toobin explains the case's lasting significance. He's the author of The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson. For the Spiel, let's dispel with this fiction that Marco Rubio doesn't know what he's doing. Today's sponsor: Betterment, the...

On The Gist, Slate's Justin Peters shares his observations from watching every Super Bowl in history over the course of two months. He's the author of The Idealist: Aaron Swartz and the Rise of Free Culture on the Internet. For the Spiel, another Lobstar of the Antentwig. Today's sponsor: Casper, the online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Get $50 toward any mattress pur...

On The Gist, Mike identifies the greatest depiction of a zebra in mass media. Here's the video. The, Dan Pashman from The Sporkful podcast explains how sound influences taste. For the Spiel, if a candidate offered to pay you 2,800 for your vote, would you take it? The Gist is Hiring a Producer: Slate's consummate daily news and opinion podcast is looking for an experienced and creative producer to...

On The Gist, we don't mention Iowa once! First, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker separates the gold-tinted truth from the rubber-scented fiction when it comes to synesthesia. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, what if your host was born to hand jive? Today's sponsor: Texture, the mobile app that lets you tap directly into the world's most popular magazines using your phone or...

On The Gist, listener C. Andrew Frank shares his experience caucusing in Iowa last night. Plus, Slate's Jamelle Bouie explains what the Iowa results tell us, if anything. For the Spiel, how to discuss Iowa better in the media. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gistplus. Learn more about your ad choices...

On The Gist, Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Gay shares a landmark moment from his cancer recovery—getting annoyed in line at Starbucks. He's the author of Little Victories: Perfect Rules for Imperfect Living. For the Spiel, the one thing we should hope to learn from the Iowa caucuses. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free tri...

On The Gist, a best-of episode to welcome new listeners who heard our host on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me this weekend. First, the film Spotlight depicts serious investigative journalism without the usual guns, car chases, and explosions. We speak with subjects from the film, including journalists Walter "Robby" Robinson (played by Michael Keaton), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams), and Mike Rezendes (M...

On The Gist, has the bully pulpit been in the hands of a poor communicator? Michael Grunwald from Politico joins us to discuss Obama's lesser-known accomplishments as discussed in his article "The Nation He Built." He's the author of The New New Deal. For the Spiel, a dark horse was endorsed, but we must consider the source of course—George Pataki. Today's sponsor: Squarespace.com. Get a free tria...

Yesterday on The Gist, Jesse Eisenberg performed his story "Marv Albert is My Therapist" alongside your host. Today, they'll discuss his story collection Bream Gives Me Hiccups and why Eisenberg is drawn to writing dialogue. For the Spiel, don't forget that it's only six days until the Iowa caucuses. Today's sponsor: Squarespace.com. Get a free trial and 10 percent off your first purchase when you...

While researching Ronald Reagan for his new biography, Slate's Jacob Weisberg grew to appreciate the 40th president's original mind and dedication to writing every day. As he explains on today's Gist, "We'd give that guy a column in Slate." Jacob Weisberg is the author of Ronald Reagan: The American Presidents Series. Toward the end of this episode, your host performs the vignette "Marv Albert is...

On The Gist, what factors determine how a domestic abuser is charged? We ask attorney adviser Jane Anderson from AEquitas: The Prosecutors' Resource on Violence Against Women. For the Spiel, much more ridiculousness in politics from Donald Trump to Anthony Weiner. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at slate.com/gist...

On The Gist, guests Brian Koppelman and David Levien explain why they stopped making easy TV-show deals with networks. For Billions, the longtime creative duo decided to take the time to write the show they wanted to make on spec. Their series premiere set records for Showtime, and you can watch it for free online. You can also check out Brian's podcast The Moment. For the Spiel, Mike identifies s...

On The Gist, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker examines the benefits of eating the "Paleo" diet for a game we call "Is That Bulls--t?" She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, can Sarah Palin see syntax from her speech? Today's sponsor: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles, and shipping right to your door. Visit Harrys.com for $5 o...

On The Gist, Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn explains the likelihood that Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel will resign, and suggests a possible plan B for protestors. For the Spiel, what we do and don't need to know about presidential candidates and their families. Today's sponsors: Texture, the mobile app that lets you tap directly into the world's most popular magazines using your phone or tablet....

On The Gist, we bring you two favorite segments from the past year. First, a look at how propaganda thrives in North Korea from the perspective of Kim Jong-il's former poet laureate, Jang Jin-sung. He's the author of Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee—A Look Inside North Korea. For the Spiel, a rhyming response to Keith Ablow's comments on Fox News. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclus...

On The Gist, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker explains how the best con artists make their victims emotionally invested. She's the author of The Confidence Game. For the Spiel, all the self-flagellation Ted Cruz thinks was missing from Obama's State of the Union address. The Gist and Story Collider Event, Jan. 15: Coming up on Friday, Jan. 15, our host Mike Pesca and listener Frank Kennedy will b...

On The Gist, the phrase you should listen for during Tuesday night's State of the Union address. Then, researcher Gordon Pennycook explains lessons from his study "On the Reception and Detection of Pseudo-Profound Bullshit." For the Spiel, please remember The Gist when you make your billions. Today's sponsors: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-designed handles...

Disruption eruption, what's your function? On The Gist, Harvard Business Review editor Adi Ignatius explains what actually makes a business a disruptor. For the Spiel, San Diego sea lion crap, The Gist annotated edition. Today's sponsors: Credit Karma. Do not pay for your credit score! With Credit Karma, you can get your credit report, right now, absolutely free. Just visit CreditKarma.com/Save to...

On The Gist, traveler Eric Weiner joins us to discuss why certain cities throughout history have been ripe for cultivating our most creative thinkers. He's the author of The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places From Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley. For the Spiel, another Lobstar of the Antentwig. The Gist and Story Collider Event, Jan 15: Coming up on Friday, Jan. 15...

On The Gist, Slate's Will Oremus explains who's really controlling your Facebook feed. He recently wrote a cover story based on a visit to Menlo Park, California, where even his trips to the bathroom were supervised. For the Spiel, Mike gives Donald Trump advice. The Gist and Story Collider Event, Jan 15: Coming up on Friday, Jan. 15, our host Mike Pesca and listener Frank Kennedy will be live ons...