The Gist

On The Gist, a gift for your New Year's resolutions. Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker tells us what research has been done into various popular exercise methods. She's the author of The Confidence Game, now available for preorder. For the Spiel, the biggest news story in the world right now. Today's sponsor: Casper, the online retailer of premium mattresses for a fraction of the price. Get $50 to...

On The Gist, professional storyteller Matthew Dicks tells a story to demonstrate how to tell better stories. We'll learn why it's important to give your story a setting in the physical world. He's the author of The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs. You can listen back to all the past appearances in our storytelling series here on Soundcloud. For the Spiel, happy manipulating with air bag manufa...

On The Gist, how significant is the impact of the shale revolution on the international oil markets? We ask Robert Weiner, professor of international business at George Washington University. For the Spiel, Mike wonders what we should call the armed protesters who took over the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The Gist and Story Collider Event, Jan 15: Coming up on F...

This year, many of us were consuming the same big songs at the same time. On The Gist, music writer Chris Molanphy explains how 2015 continues a modern trend toward a shared pop music monoculture. Chris writes Slate's Why Is This Song No. 1 column, and for more 2015 analysis you can check out his contribution to The Music Club, 2015. For the Spiel, favorite ideas and sentences of the year. Join Sl...

On The Gist, Gretchen Rubin explains what self-knowledge has to do with forming lasting habits. To identify your core tendency, try filling out her quiz here. She's the author of Better Than Before and hosts the Happier Podcast, a fellow member of the Panoply network. For the Spiel, please indulge our host in a particularly self-indulgent meditation on simplicity. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonu...

On The Gist, Dan Pashman from The Sporkful podcast explains the food science behind why we're more in the mood for a lemony Blood Mary this week instead of a creamy glass of eggnog. If you're going to serve eggnog anyway, there's a great recipe for Puerto Rican eggnog from The Sporkful here. For the Spiel, an issue in American life that is terrorizing us. Spoiler—it's terrorism. Learn more about y...

On The Gist, the big news from Zimbabwe. Then, Mike asks Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker what can be done to fight off a common cold. Maria's new book The Confidence Game is now available for preorder. For the Spiel, we welcome friendly carolers into the studio to perform a new holiday classic. Today's sponsor: Make holiday shopping easier with the Slate Gift Guide, a curated collection of produ...

On The Gist, a look back at major news stories made possible by data leaks and analysis. Too bad there's no award for data … or is there? Jody Avirgan from the FiveThirtyEight podcast What's the Point joins us to share the winners and losers of various data-related awards for 2015. For the Spiel, we're all a bunch of stinking political hypocrites. Today's sponsors: Harry's, the shaving company tha...

On The Gist, Mike has a song in his heart about Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Listeners sensitive to Mike's singing should tune out around 25:40. But first, has conceal-and-carry helped armed civilians defend themselves against criminals with guns? It turns out this happens. Our guest John Lott is the president of the Crime Prevention Research Center. He's the author of More Guns, Less Crime. For...

On The Gist, music writer Chris Molanphy explains what's made Adele's new album 25 an epic success. It is her voice or the cult of Adele? Chris writes Slate's Why Is This Song No. 1 column. For the Spiel, a Bruce Springsteen bootleg features a very special holiday preamble. Today's sponsors: Shari's Berries. Fresh berries dipped in chocolate, starting at just $19.99 are a great last-minute gift, a...

On The Gist, a few glib chortles are exchanged about the venerable institution of New Yorker cartoons. Director Leah Wolchok joins us to discuss her film Very Semi-Serious. For the Spiel, wouldn't it be great to live in the world that the Republican candidates have been telling us about? Today's sponsors: Shari's Berries. Fresh berries dipped in chocolate, starting at just $19.99 are a great last-...

On The Gist, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker explains how our birth order influences personality and intelligence for a game we call "Is That Bulls--t?" Does IQ go down after the firstborn? Her new book, The Confidence Game, is now available for preorder. For the Spiel, Mike's takeaways form the CNN Republican presidential debate last night. Read more of Slate's coverage of the GOP primary. Toda...

On The Gist, Slate's Forrest Wickman explains the many layers that a casual visitor to the Star Wars universe might miss. He recently wrote the cover story "Star Wars Is a Postmodern Masterpiece" for Slate. For the Spiel, do the Iowa caucuses really matter? Today's sponsors: Berries. Fresh berries dipped in chocolate, starting at just $19.99, are a great last-minute gift, and double your berries f...

On The Gist, we talk about the weather. Then, Mary Lane from the Wall Street Journal will discuss the new show at the Detroit Institute of Arts called "30 Americans" on display through Jan. 18. Plus, author Amy Koppelman joins us to discuss her novels Hesitation Wounds and I Smile Back, which has recently been adapted into a film starring Sarah Silverman. For the Spiel, do a state's laws always re...

On The Gist, we call in Adam Davidson to explain the frustratingly tepid action of the European Central Bank amid Europe's economic crises. Davidson is a contributor to the New York Times Magazine and host of a new podcast with Adam McKay called Surprisingly Awesome. For the Spiel, corrections, amplifications, and awards of the antentwig. Today's sponsor: Berries. Fresh berries dipped in chocolate...

On The Gist, historian Kliph Nesteroff shares a few favorite tales from comedy's mobster past. He's the author of The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels, and the History of American Comedy. For the Spiel, the ordinary American focus group participant. Today's sponsors: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and printer. Use th...

On The Gist, the incredibly cool Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker looks into the dearth of research into cryotherapy for a game we call "Is That Bulls--t?" Her new book, The Confidence Game, is now available for preorder. For the Spiel, we travel to the four corners of the world in search of happiness. Today's sponsors: Harry's, the shaving company that offers German-engineered blades, well-desig...

On The Gist, professor Julian Zelizer joins us to discuss how to understand Woodrow Wilson in the context of his time, and how Princeton is grappling with that legacy today. He's the author of The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society. For the Spiel, Trump induced anxiety gets its own crisis intervention hotline. Today's sponsors: Prudential's 40/40...

On The Gist, actor Jon Glaser explains how a one-off joke on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon led to his new miniseries Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter. The new show premiers Monday, Dec. 7 at midnight on Adult Swim. For the Spiel, a look into the psychology of fighting ISIS. Today's sponsor: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and...

On The Gist, we welcome back past guest and Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer to discuss the likelihood of new gun control legislation. Then, Slate's Will Saletan joins us to assess the current state of the abortion debate, a decade after writing his book Bearing Right: How Conservatives Won the Abortion War. Why hasn't this issue moved? For the Spiel, Mike counters all the counterargu...

On The Gist, Mike discusses the fast-moving field of cancer research with doctor Vincent T. DeVita, and his daughter, science writer Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn. Together they wrote The Death of Cancer. For the Spiel, a rhyming response to Keith Ablow's comments on Fox News. Read more of Slate's coverage of the San Bernardino shooting. Today's sponsors: Casper, the online retailer of premium mattress...

On The Gist, Maria Konnikova of the New Yorker rounds up the holiday season's most tedious myths for a game we call "Is That Bulls--t?" Her new book, The Confidence Game, is now available for preorder. For the Spiel, all the things we don't know but tend to report in wake of another mass shooting. Today's sponsors: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk...

On The Gist, Slate's Fred Kaplan explains how recent GOP rhetoric plays perfectly into the bad guys' plans. He's the author of The Insurgents: David Petraeus and the Plot to Change the American Way of War and 1959: The Year Everything Changed. For the Spiel, what we know about abortion clinic safety. Today's sponsors: Goldman Sachs. Information about developments currently shaping markets, industr...

On The Gist, the real reason why government programs like Medicaid and food stamps show little to no impact on the poverty rate. We get into the specifics with Vox editor Ezra Klein. Check out his new podcast The Weeds, from Panoply. For the Spiel, put down your weapons. Today's sponsors: Stamps.com, where you can buy and print official U.S. postage right from your desk using your own computer and...

On The Gist, a parent's worst nightmare. Three years ago this week, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath's 17-year-old son was shot while Black Friday shopping with his friends. The HBO documentary 3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets tells the story of how they pursued justice for their son. For the Spiel, why uncle slander has become a Thanksgiving tradition. Today's sponsor: The Message, a new podcast series from GE...