The Gist

Latest Episodes:

It Was the Best of Timesheets, It Was the Worst of Timesheets Jul 07, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, a case for the modern office as a subject of high literature. J. Bradford Hipps discusses finding more than mockery in the anonymous office park where he set his novel, The Adventurist.

For the Spiel, an economical five minutes on the five hours the FBI director spent testifying at a congressional hearing.

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Mister Postman, Lower Your Price Points for Me Jul 06, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, Devin Leonard returns with the last installment of our postcard series to discuss the evolving economics of the U.S. Postal Service. Leonard's book is Neither Snow nor Rain: A History of the United States Postal Service. Plus, Bruce Shapiro ponders the best way to cover mass shootings if the goal is to limit future massacres. Shapiro is executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia Journalism School.

For the first-ever, midshow Spiel: Twinkies. For the traditional closing Spiel: dying in vain.

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Reduce, Reuse, and Re-Evaluate Jul 06, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, are you really saving the planet with your recycling? New Yorker writer Maria Konnikova, takes on what may be our most controversial round of "Is That Bulls--t?" Konnikova is the author of The Confidence Game. On the Spiel, porn on the Juno spacecraft's hard drive.

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Fantastic Negrito Returns Jul 01, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, Xavier Dphrepaulezz, aka the Fantastic Negrito, returns to reflect on his second career in music, Prince's influence, and the gentrification of America's greatest cities. His new album is The Last Days of Oakland. For the Spiel, it's time for another Lobstar of the Antentwig.

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Wyatt Cenac Wants Kermit the Frog's Job Jul 01, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, Wyatt Cenac explains the thinking behind his comedy showcase series Night Train With Wyatt Cenac,

premiering on NBC's comedy streaming service Seeso on Thursday. For the Spiel, Borisexit: the fanfare and drama of Boris Johnson's thanks-but-no-thanks speech.

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Poll Analysis From a Spiritual 60-Year-Old Jun 29, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, senior political writer and analyst Harry Enten explains FiveThirtyEight's 2016 Election Forecast.

For the Spiel, a forewarning about forearms: Are we ready for our Army men and women to roll up their sleeves?

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Do the Dead-Cat Bounce Jun 28, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, author Sloane Crosley on writing characters who are smarter than you, literary witch hunts, and borrowing Spider-Man's ethos when writing. Her novel, The Clasp, is now out in paperback.

For the Spiel, will we remember the Brexit as an argument against direct democracy?

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Brittle England Jun 27, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, Financial Times journalist Edward Luce returns to discuss the Brexit vote and its imminent consequences. Luce's latest book is Time to Start Thinking: America and the Spectre of Decline (though the American title is the more pointed Time to Start Thinking:America in the Age of Descent).

For the Spiel, what's the value of a cri de coeur?

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Billboard Hits From 1964 Jun 24, 2016

Show notes

Seems as good a day as any to talk about the British Invasion. On The Gist, we listen back to the Billboard hits of 1964, the beginning of Beatlemania in the states. Regular guest Chris Molanphy explains how other groups rode the Beatles' coattails to the top of the pop charts. Molanphy writes Slate's "Why Is This Song No. 1?" column.

Plus, Chad Millman's big lesson after the betting markets got the Brexit vote wrong. Millman is the host of ESPN's Behind the Bets podcast.

For the Spiel, we have just witnessed the triumph of gut over brains.

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The Character Actor's Studio Jun 23, 2016

Show notes

On The Gist, René Auberjonois shares his tips for defying typecasters and enjoying a varied acting career. He plays a minister in Blood Stripe, the psychological thriller about a female Marine adjusting to life after the military.

In the Spiel, one unifying theory for all the day's news.

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