The Gist

Latest Episodes:

What Do The Taliban Want? Aug 22, 2022

Show notes

Just past the one-year mark of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's taking control of the country. How is the nation is faring under the leadership of Mullah Hibatullah Adhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban? With us to answer those questions and more is Jason Campbell, a former director for Afghanistan in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy. Plus, an E. coli outbreak begs the question what kind of lettuce we order at Wendy's, and Mike has some advice to Republicans who want to win the midterms ... if they will listen ...

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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BEST OF THE GIST: Monday Night Calculus Aug 20, 2022

Show notes

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman John Urschel left the game after three seasons to get his PhD in mathematics. Totally normal career path, right? He wrote the book Mind And Matter: A Life In Math And Football alongside his wife, author Louisa Thomas, and they joined Mike in June of 2019 to discuss the similarities and differences between John's two chosen career paths. And then we listen back to Wednesday's Spiel, in which Mike ponders the threat of overstating threats from the right.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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A Fine Line Between Pleasure And Pain Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

Paul Bloom, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale, Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, and author of The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning stops by to take his punishment and like it! Actually, BDSM is only a fraction of his truly fascinating look at everything from distance running to why sharp pain causes pleasure, but somehow nausea never does. Plus, the San Francisco Police vow to not use a phrase they've never used, Colorado Schools will once again say "Nazi," and Joan of Arc is she/they … but not actually "of Arc." Also, speaking of finding bizarre pleasure in pan—it's an Antwentig with song!

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Confoundingly Dense Communications Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

The CDC's head, Rochelle Walensky vows to undertake an agency overhaul, including better communication. Mike argues that when it comes to COVID-19, things were not perfect … maybe even not good … but great leaps in communication are going to be extremely difficult. Plus, Donald Trump "endorses" one of his impeachers, and University of Toronto Professor Jooyoung Lee talks about Canadian gun crime's roots in the U.S.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Mr. Xi's Neighborhood Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

Jonah Blank, senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation, assesses the messages sent (and received) by all the Chinese missiles lobbed over Taiwan. Plus, the threat of overstating threats from the right. And is Alaskan Senate Candidate Kelly Tshibaka secretly … maybe … plausibly … part Wookiee?

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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An Alaskan Election Direction Inspection Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Sarah Palin is on the ballot to serve her home state as its At-Large member of Congress. Let's just say, the process is hardly straightforward. Plus, Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina, the Executive Director of The Worker Institute at Cornell University, discusses union drives at Amazon and Starbucks and if there's ever a reason for workers to reject an organizing drive. Plus, how Better Call Saul is the rare show that tried to examine what real people might really do in dramatic, made-for-TV-type circumstances.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Listen to the "Real Catch Me If You Can" on the PRETEND Podcast at pretendradio.org

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What He Lost When We lost Afghanistan Aug 15, 2022

Show notes

Journalist, novelist, and former Marine, Elliot Ackerman, who fought the Taliban, joins Mike to discuss his new book "The 5th Act: America's End In Afghanistan". Plus, an extroverted Norwegian walrus meets an ignominious end, and assessing our current news drought.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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BEST OF THE GIST: Leave George Washington's Thighs Alone Aug 13, 2022

Show notes

In the interview, Mike chats with historian Alexis Coe, author of the new book You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington. They discuss the founding-father's height, dentures and that awkward obsession male historians have about the man's thighs.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara and Ian Scotto

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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High Steaks Talks Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

Nathan Allebach, brand consultant and author of https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/brand-twitter-jokes-history.html was for many years the twitter voice of Steak-umm brand meats. As such he engaged with gaseous comedians and angsty millennials and has some theories as to why it all worked. Plus, a media without breathing room makes for madness and the Mar-A-Lago black boxes are like dada experimental theater.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara and Ian Scotto

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

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Twitchy Monkey Forbearing Dragon Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

China thinks in centuries but strikes quickly. China is patient, but impetuous. Is China all these things, or is our shorthand more malleable than diagnostic? And we are joined once more by Jason Kander author of "Invisible Storm: A Soldier's Memoir of Politics and PTSD". Plus, America plunged into day 3 of the cardboard box crisis that can undue civilization.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara and Ian Scotto

Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com

To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.