Best Journalism Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 464: John Glionna is a Clown Who Makes Balloons That Kids Don't Like 58:09

1d ago58:09

58:09

"We're sadistic motherf*ckers," says John Glionna, @johnglionna on the Instagrams. John is a longtime journalist and author of No Friday Night Lights (Bison Books). He made a name for himself at the Los Angeles Times pursuing what would be called "Glionna stories," stories about invisible people who have rich lives all their own. In this episode we…

1
AI, ethics and editorial power: voices from the IQ Media Conference

5h ago

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Can AI free journalists to do better work? Will it deepen inequalities? And what happens when the line between human and machine-generated content starts to blur? These questions and more answeredBy Journalism.co.uk

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Inside El Salvador’s Dystopian Prison Network 29:44

1h ago29:44

29:44

A few years ago, El Salvador was one of the most violent nations in the world, with gang killings taking the lives of dozens of people every week. Nayib Bukele, elected president in 2019, changed all that—today, violence is way down. But his brute-force approach to the problem has involved mass arrests, secret deals, and forced disappearances into …

1
A New History of the New World / Greg Grandin 1:44:23

2d ago1:44:23

1:44:23

Greg Grandin returns to This Is Hell! to discuss his new book, "America, América: A New History of the New World." "Rotten History" from Renaldo Migaldi follows the interview.Check out Greg's book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747326/america-america-by-greg-grandin/By This Is Hell!

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Why now is the time to find power in "otherness" 31:22

1h ago31:22

31:22

Viet Thanh Nguyen came to the U.S. as a refugee from Vietnam when he was four years old. Growing up in San Jose, California, Nguyen remembers the moment he understood he was Asian-American. In his latest book, To Save and To Destroy: Writing as an Other, Nguyen examines the power in finding solidarity with other Others, especially in today's Americ…

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What Paths Remain for Preventing Climate Apocalypse? / Malcolm Harris 1:37:57

3d ago1:37:57

1:37:57

Malcolm Harris Returns to This Is Hell! to discuss his new book, "What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis." "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dorchen follows the interview.Check out Malcolm's book here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/malcolm-harris/whats-left/9780316577410/?lens=little-brown…

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A Genocide Foretold / Chris Hedges 1:12:19

5d ago1:12:19

1:12:19

Chris Hedges discusses his new book, "A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine."Check out Chris's book here: https://www.sevenstories.com/books/4716-a-genocide-foretoldHelp keep This Is Hell! completely listener supported and access bonus episodes by subscribing to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thisishe…

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Episode 463: Leah Sottile on Building Scenes, Sagging Middles, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age 1:03:19

8d ago1:03:19

1:03:19

"It's kind of a mix of reporting to the very last minute to put off writing, and then when I have to write, having a panic attack, and then, like, booking a hotel room for a week and not leaving that room. This is the thing I have done until I figure it out," says Leah Sottile, in a live event at Gratitude Brewing. She is the author of Blazing Eye …

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Revisiting the fight over the Lakota language as Trump targets "divisive narratives" 41:32

7d ago41:32

41:32

As the Trump administration targets the Smithsonian Institute for "divisive narratives" and "improper ideology," it got us thinking about how we preserve our history and everything that builds it, like language. So we're revisiting an episode from last year from the Lakota Nation in South Dakota over language — who preserves it, who has the right t…

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Copaganda / Alec Karakatsanis 1:25:20

7d ago1:25:20

1:25:20

Alec Karakatsanis returns to talk about his new book, “Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News.” Alec founded the Civil Rights Corps, an organization that challenges systemic injustices in the U.S. legal system. "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dorchen follows the interview.Check out Alec's book here: https://thenewpress.org/books/co…

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Neoliberalism Turning To Nature To Defend Inequality / Quinn Slobodian 1:30:24

12d ago1:30:24

1:30:24

Author Quinn Slobodian returns to “This Is Hell!” to talk about his new book, “Hayek’s Bastards: Race, Gold, IQ and the Capitalism of the Far Right”, published by Zone Books.Check out Quinn’s book here: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9781890951917?srsltid=AfmBOopa361sL5mow9Y4zSXDsHQXyvTQBZ0YZASHJvW-UyhbliOMShxtKeep TiH! free and comple…

1
Kai Ryssdal Was America’s Economic Voice of Reason This Week 24:31

12d ago24:31

24:31

Kai Ryssdal has been the host of Marketplace, a leading daily radio show and podcast about the economy, produced by American Public Media, since 2005. He delivers the news—from the bitter latest on our 401(k)s to unexpected interviews about the modern-day resurgence of train robberies—with an affable, direct tone. And when he has something he wants…

1
Episode 462: On Podcasting and Gardens with Debbie Millman 57:27

12d ago57:27

57:27

"I'm much more interested in how a person achieves something than in what they specifically achieved," says Debbie Millman, the "Pod Mother" and OG podcaster, twenty years in for Design Matters. She's also the author of the new book Love Letter to a Garden (Timber Press). In this episode, we talk about: The 20 year arc of Design Matters What people…

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Engaging with student and early-career professionals, with Dazed Media

14d ago

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Young people looking to break into the creative industries need practical guidance, solidarity and a confidence boost, say Jack Sunnucks and Harry SlaterBy Journalism.co.uk

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Why Trump is sending Venezuelans to El Salvador 37:49

14d ago37:49

37:49

One of President Trump's main campaign promises was carrying out mass deportations. We look at how the Trump administration is testing the U.S. legal system to make good on its promise, starting with the story of one family trying to find their 18-year-old son after immigration agents showed up at their doorstep. Learn more about sponsor message ch…

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Pirate Care / Valeria Graziano and Tomislav Medak 2:17:57

14d ago2:17:57

2:17:57

Valeria Graziano, Marcell Mars and Tomislav Medak discuss their book, "Pirate Care: Acts Against the Criminalization of Solidarity." "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dorchen and "Rotten History" by Renaldo Migaldi both follow the interview.Check out their book here: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745349800/pirate-care/Help keep This Is Hell! complet…

1
Carlos Watson Goes Free: A Surprising Coda to the CJR Podcast 19:55

19d ago19:55

19:55

Prosecutors weren’t notified in advance, witnesses are in shock—and Watson’s family celebrates his freedom. On the day that Carlos Watson, the founder of the digital media company Ozy Media, was due to turn himself in to prison last week, to begin serving a nearly ten-year sentence for fraud and identity theft, he and his family received some unexp…

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Episode 461: For Nick Davidson, Stories Hunt the Storyteller 1:19:38

19d ago1:19:38

1:19:38

Nick Davidson, @nickgdavidson on IG, says, "We usually think of hunting stories and looking for ideas, but I feel like it's the other way around: stories hunt the storyteller, and I'm just prey." Nick's latest piece is for The Atavist Magazine titled "The Balloon That Fell From the Sky." His work has appeared in Outside, VICE Sports, Garden & Gun, …

1
How journalists can cover LGBTQ+ stories, with Enrique Anarte Lazo of Context

20d ago

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Inspiring and relatable news content can create a connection with people who often have a shared experience of discrimination, prejudice and abuseBy Journalism.co.uk

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What's lost in Trump's DEI ban? 32:07

21d ago32:07

32:07

President Trump has put diversity, equity, and inclusion in his crosshairs — but there's no consensus on what DEI even means. Some say that that fuzziness is the point, and that the current anti-DEI push is part of a larger plan to undo the gains made by the Civil Rights Movement. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoic…

1
Understanding and serving the neurodiverse community, with Nick Ransom

26d ago

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Diversity of thought can create many divisions within its own community on how experiences are referred to. So, what chance does the media have to get it right?By Journalism.co.uk

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Molly White Knows You Don’t Understand Crypto 25:04

26d ago25:04

25:04

If you thought “DOGE” only stood for the “Department of Government Efficiency”—well, you’re not alone. The world of crypto is full of double meanings and inside jokes, making the recent arrival of these alternative currency markets—and their attendant “crypto bros”—into the seat of power in Washington all the more mystifying. Enter Molly White, a l…

1
Episode 460:Pulitzer Prize-Winning Biographer Megan Marshall Takes on Personal Essays in 'After Lives' 1:03:47

29d ago1:03:47

1:03:47

Megan Marshall is the author of After Lives: On Biography and the Mysteries of the Human Heart (Mariner Books), a new collection of essays. Megan won the Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for Margaret Fuller: A New American Life. Podcast Specific Substack at creativenonfictionpodcast.substrack.com. Pre-order The Front Runner Promotional Sponsor: The Power of …

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With measles on the rise, what we can learn from past epidemics 29:51

28d ago29:51

29:51

As the U.S. health system grapples with new outbreaks and the risk of old diseases making a comeback, we're looking to the past to inform how people in marginalized communities can prepare themselves for how the current administration might handle an epidemic. On this episode, a conversation with historian and author Edna Bonhomme, about her latest…

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How Will History Judge Us After Gaza / Pankaj Mishra 1:35:56

1M ago1:35:56

1:35:56

Award-winning author Pankaj Mishra returns to “This Is Hell!” to talk about his new book, “The World After Gaza: A History”, published by the Penguin Random House.Check out Pankaj’s book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/780437/the-world-after-gaza-by-pankaj-mishra/Keep TiH! free and completely listener supported by subscribing to our …

1
Episode 459: Cassidy Randall Talks Forgotten Histories, Sticky Notes, and the Power of Listening 51:31

1M ago51:31

51:31

“I could suddenly see — and this is how I know when I'm supposed to start writing — is that words start putting themselves together in my head, and I just have to get them out, right? Which doesn't happen all the time, but it did for this," says Cassidy Randall, author of Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All Women's Ascent …

1
Michael MacLeod, founder of The Edinburgh and London Minute, on growing a curated, community newsletter

1M ago

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This journalist left a comfy job at Meta to launch two Substack titles that bring essential news and updates to local audiences. The formula has proved a hit, and many others now follow suitBy Journalism.co.uk

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How School Integration Failed Black Students / Noliwe Rooks 1:26:46

1M ago1:26:46

1:26:46

Noliwe Rooks returns to This Is Hell! to discuss her recent book, "Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children" from Penguin. "Rotten History" from Renaldo Migaldi follows the interview.Check out Noliwe's book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721962/integrated-by-noliwe-rooks/Help keep This Is Hell! completely listener supp…

1
What Mahmoud Khalil's arrest means for ... everyone 36:30

1M ago36:30

36:30

Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident and Columbia alum, was detained by ICE for his role in leading pro-Palestinian protests at his former university last year. As Khalil's case has captured the nation's attention, free speech advocates see it as a test of the First Amendment. Meanwhile, the Trump administration argues they have the right to …

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Covertly Manufacturing Consent for US Imperialism and Militarism in Hollywood / Tanner Mirrlees 1:45:04

1M ago1:45:04

1:45:04

Tanner Mirrlees on the new Cost of War paper from the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University entitled, "The Militarization of Movies and Television." "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dorchen follows the interview.Check out Tanner's writing here: https://home.watson.brown.edu/research/research-briefs/militarization-…

1
Corporate sustainability and greenwashing: Navigating the fine line 19:37

1M ago19:37

19:37

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Dr. Jacob Bethem, a professor at the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University. Focusing on the issue of greenwashing, the discussion explores how companies make sustainability claims, the challenges in distinguishing genuine efforts from marketing tactics, and the role of third-party certifica…

1
Covering the climate community, with Waqas Ejaz of the Reuters Institute

1M ago

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Policymakers, scientists and even disruptive protest groups all largely want the same thing: to save the planet. They just go about it in different ways - here is how the media fits inBy Journalism.co.uk

1
Episode 458: Jaydra Johnson Had to Get Weird 58:09

1M ago58:09

58:09

"And then this person said, 'Hey, you know, this needs to be, like, more weird or less weird, but it's in this kind of odd place that isn't working.' And I was like, she's so, right," says Jaydra Johnson, @jaydranicole, and author of Low: Notes on Art & Trash (Fonograf). Lots of good stuff in this episode. We talk about: Luck Growing up poor Dialin…

1
Episode 457: Poynter's Neil Brown Says Editing Isn't Discussed Enough 1:00:53

1M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

"What I was fortunate enough to get exposed to very early in my career, and I really believe is now the way to go, which is the nature of editing as thinking," says Poynter Institute president Neil Brown. Neil has spent more than forty years as a reporter and editor, and he just wrapped up his tenure on the Pulitzer Prize Board. He's one of the mor…

1
MAGA Rule by the Numbers / Lindsay Koshgarian 1:36:29

1M ago1:36:29

1:36:29

Lindsay Koshgarian joins us to discuss the Institute for Policy Studies report, "The High Moral Stakes of the Policy Battles Raging in Washington." "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dorchen follows the interview.Check out their report here: https://ips-dc.org/summary-high-moral-stakes/Help keep This Is Hell! completely listener supported and access b…

1
The Legal War on Journalism 25:04

1M ago25:04

25:04

Over the past several months, Donald Trump has mounted a series of legal attacks against the media, including a libel case against ABC, an FCC investigation into CBS, and a lawsuit accusing an Iowa pollster (and the newspaper that publishes her) of “election interference.” The sometimes far-fetched claims in these cases notwithstanding, the maneuve…

1
This Palestinian-American's debut novel may not be political — but her existence is 32:26

1M ago32:26

32:26

To be a Palestinian-American writer right now can lead to a lot of expectation to focus on identity and devastation, but in her debut novel, Too Soon, Betty Shamieh shares the story of three generations of Palestinian women trying to find love, purpose and liberation. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privac…

1
Sustaining a Politics of Extermination and Climate Chaos / Omar El Akkad 1:36:18

1M ago1:36:18

1:36:18

Award-winning author Omar El Akkad joins “This Is Hell!” to talk about his new book, "One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This”, published by the Penguin Books.Check out Omar’s book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777485/one-day-everyone-will-have-always-been-against-this-by-omar-el-akkad/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI9NZpleHRuA2FlbQI…

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The Dark History of American Orphanhood / Kristen Martin 1:35:57

1M ago1:35:57

1:35:57

Journalist and cultural critic Kristen Martin joins “This Is Hell!” to talk about her new book, "The Sun Won’t Come Out Tomorrow: The Dark History of American Orphanhood”, published by the Bold Type Books.Check out Kristen’s book here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kristen-martin/the-sun-wont-come-out-tomorrow/9781645030348/?lens=bold-ty…

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Episode 456: Neko Case Wrote her Memoir in Bed 41:56

2M ago41:56

41:56

Neko Case is best known for her career as a musical performing artist and as a founding member of The New Pornographers, but her debut memoir The Harder I Fight the More I Love You (Grand Central) is all the evidence we need to see that she's got the chops for narrative. Podcast Specific Substack Pre-order The Front Runner Promotional Sponsor: The …

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Episode 455: Will McGrath's Season on the Sidelines for The Believer 57:32

2M ago57:32

57:32

Will McGrath often thinks he's a phony, a fake writer, a fake journalist. But he isn't. He's very much real, and his piece for The Believer, "American Boys," chronicles the season and the lives of a group of young basketball players. It harkens back to Darcy Frey's brilliant book The Last Shot. Podcast Specific Substack: https://substack.com/@creat…

1
Supporting Southport's recovery after tragedy, with Andrew Brown of Stand Up For Southport

2M ago

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The Merseyside holiday town is trying to reclaim its identity as a place of happy memories after witnessing three horrific murders and riots. How can news providers help the local community get back on its feet?By Journalism.co.uk

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A look at the human toll of the construction of the Panama Canal 31:48

2M ago31:48

31:48

The Panama Canal's impact on the geopolitical stage far outreaches its roughly 51-mile stretch of land and water. This week, we're trying to understand the canal's murky future - from climate change to President Trump's threat to take it for the U.S. - by looking at its turbulent, cataclysmic birth. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcast…

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Worker-to-Worker Organizing / Eric Blanc 1:51:04

2M ago1:51:04

1:51:04

Labor scholar Eric Blanc joins us to discuss his new book published just today by the University of California Press titled, "We Are the Union: How Worker-to-Worker Organizing Is Revitalizing Labor and Winning Big." "The Moment of Truth" with Jeff Dorchen follows the interview.Check out Eric's book here: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/we-are-the-uni…

1
Episode 454: Allegra Rosenberg's Tale of Love on Ice for The Atavist 58:39

2M ago58:39

58:39

Allegra Rosenberg became obsessed with polar exploration narratives during the pandemic. She soon came across the journals of Harry Pennell and learned of his love for Edward Atkinson. Set amongst the backdrop of the South Pole and the looming possibility of WWI, Allegra weaves a brilliant and tragic story. Pre-order The Front Runner Promotional Sp…

1
Episode 453: Chandlor Henderson, Live at Gratitude Brewing, Says 'Focus on the Skill' 45:23

2M ago45:23

45:23

Chandlor Henderson is the very definition of a multi-hypenate: a writer, editor, comic book writer, filmmaker, and podcaster. This conversation was recorded live at Gratitude Brewing as part of a quarterly series between the Oregon Writers Colony and The Creative Nonfiction Podcast. In this conversation we talk about his journey to Oregon from the …

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How to listen to people who avoid the news, with Shirish Kulkarni, Abdi Yusuf and Rhiannon White

2M ago

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“If you want people to trust you, do trustworthy things," say the organisers of a six-month project between BBC and Media Cymru to understand why marginalised groups do not engage with journalismBy Journalism.co.uk

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The Kicker, the Masseuses, and the Price of Doing Sports Journalism 27:37

2M ago27:37

27:37

In January, the Baltimore Banner released an investigation into the star kicker of the Baltimore Ravens, in which multiple women accused him of sexually inappropriate behavior during massages, dating back years. (The player denies the accusations.) It was an example of a rare kind of journalism these days: hard-hitting accountability reporting on s…

1
Black audiences see themselves centered in a brand new soap opera 36:20

2M ago36:20

36:20

B.A. Parker digs into the historical connection between Black Americans and soap operas with the launching of "Beyond the Gates," the first ever soap focused primarily on a Black family. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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Hitler's Takeover Was Completely Constitutional / Timothy Ryback 1:52:39

2M ago1:52:39

1:52:39

Historian Timothy W. Ryback joins us to discuss his Atlantic essays, "How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days: He used the constitution to shatter the constitution," "The Oligarchs Who Came to Regret Supporting Hitler They helped him in pursuit of profit. Many ended up in concentration camps," and, "‘Herr Hitler, Do You Really Believe Me Capab…

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