Best Common Descent Podcasts (2025)

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Spook-E – Piranha Plants 1:06:10

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4d ago1:06:10

1:06:10

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. Spook-E Season is back! All throughout October, we pick monsters from myth and media and speculate how they – or something like them – could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet’s history. This year’s theme is Monsters of Nintendo! This episode, we begin with a ba…

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Plestia Alaqad: “The Eyes of Gaza,” Witness and Journalist 51:48

17m ago51:48

51:48

Today on the Gist, a tough conversation with Plestia Alaqad about what she saw in Gaza and how she frames it for a global audience. They dig into sympathy versus credence, terminology like IDF versus IOF, the Al-Ahli Hospital claim, and whether journalism requires shared vocabulary. Plus, a spiel on U Thant, transliteration, and the “clean” versus …

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Jake Tapper and the Race Against Terror 35:55

6m ago35:55

35:55

Today on The Gist. Jake Tapper breaks down the first U.S. criminal trial of a foreign combatant: why prosecutors chose court over Gitmo, and the painstaking sleuthing that turned a shaky confession into a conviction. We talk DOJ institutional memory, the politics orbiting the Comey case, and why trials rather than commissions lock terrorists away. …

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Obama CDC Director Tom Frieden: “'Believe in Science' Is a Terrible Idea.” 37:35

13h ago37:35

37:35

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Steven Pinker: “Common Knowledge Changes Everything” 37:39

1d ago37:39

37:39

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Diane Foley on America’s Hostage Blind Spot 29:12

4d ago29:12

29:12

Diane Foley, founder of the Foley Foundation and mother of slain journalist James Foley, joins Mike to discuss America’s fragmented hostage-recovery system, wrongful detentions, and why the U.S. response lags far behind countries like Israel. In the Spiel, Mike looks at the 20-point Gaza plan, Israeli hostages, and the very different ways nations v…

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Jonah Blank: “Very Quickly and Then Very Slowly” in Nepal 34:51

6d ago34:51

34:51

South Asia expert Jonah Blank explains how a Gen-Z–driven uprising—fueled by social media, flaunted elite wealth, and ubiquitous VPNs—toppled Nepal’s government. He sketches a country where remittances power daily life, institutions lack public trust, and political parties play musical chairs. Also: Trump fires another U.S. attorney and pressures M…

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Not Even Mad: Ben Wizner & Ilya Shapiro 1:02:34

7d ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Free speech under heat: the ACLU’s Ben Wizner and the Manhattan Institute’s Ilya Shapiro square off (and sometimes align) on the “ethos” of the First Amendment—from the Ball State firing over Charlie Kirk comments to cancel culture, government jawboning, and campus heckler’s vetoes. We dig into the Supreme Court’s shadow docket and unitary-executiv…

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Yaakov Katz - While Israel Slept: Winning Tunnels, Losing Time 44:58

6d ago44:58

44:58

Yaakov Katz co-author with Amir Bohbot, of While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East, traces the failures that led to October 7 and how Israel's security establishment misread Hamas's strength and intent. He explains how world opinion, hostage leverage, and casualty ratios constrain Israel differently in …

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KJ Steinberg, on The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox 37:30

8d ago37:30

37:30

We talk with KJ Steinberg, showrunner of Hulu’s The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, about concentrating on Knox’s perspective while still showing how others perceived her, and the legal tightropes that shaped the series. She details the refracted structure (episodes from the prosecutor’s to the co-defendant’s POVs) and why the story follows Knox throu…

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Amanda Knox — “You don’t have to be a psychopath to wrongly convict somebody.” 33:31

10d ago33:31

33:31

Knox recounts confronting prosecutor Giuliano Mignini and explores how certainty, incentive structures, and “alternate realities” turned her story into a sprawling international conspiracy. She parses the feedback loop between media and Italian justice, and why today’s true-crime-savvy public might have questioned the case sooner. Also: the 21 poin…

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Episode 227 - Beaks 2:26:52

10d ago2:26:52

2:26:52

The faces of vertebrate animals are often soft and full of teeth, but there is a common alternative. Birds, turtles, and many more groups have developed toothless snouts covered in a tough sheath. This episode, we’ll explore the defining features of beaks and their various functions. And we’ll take a tour through animal life past and present to inv…

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Is Masculinity A Prison? - Mike on Open to Debate 41:51

11d ago41:51

41:51

Listen to the full debate on Open to Debate’s podcast channel or watch it on YouTube: https://bit.ly/MikePesca Men are falling behind in our society, and some point to traditional ideas of masculinity as the cause. What does it mean to “be a man” today, and how do labels like toxic masculinity impact that question? For some men, masculinity is a co…

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Andrew J. Taylor: “Blue-Collar Voters Don’t Want Blue-Collar Politicians” 31:58

13d ago31:58

31:58

We talk with North Carolina State political scientist Andrew J. Taylor about his new book, A Tolerance for Inequality: American Public Opinion and Economic Policy, probing why voters often prefer public goods and tax cuts over classic redistribution—and how policy frequently tracks aggregate opinion more than pundits admit. Taylor also explores why…

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Justin Driver: “The Fall of Affirmative Action” 41:38

14d ago41:38

41:38

Yale Law’s Justin Driver argues that SFFA v. Harvard/UNC broke with precedent and embraced a faux “colorblindness,” spotlighting the Court’s creative reading of Grutter’s 2028 “sunset.” He lays out the early fallout—sharp drops in Black enrollment at elite schools, Asian American gains, and the perverse incentive for applicants to “essay their trau…

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Laura Spinney on the Language That Conquered the World 31:36

14d ago31:36

31:36

Laura Spinney joins to discuss her new book Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global, tracing the unlikely rise of Indo-European and why most of the world now speaks it. Also, a look at the Dallas ICE field office shooting in the broader context of political violence and how we categorize it. And in the Spiel: Jimmy Kimmel’s comeback monologue, …

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Sadie Dingfelder on Mosquito Magnets and Who Tastes Best to Bugs 26:22

16d ago26:22

26:22

President Trump mangles acetaminophen and issues a sweeping “don’t take Tylenol” decree. Are some people truly more attractive to mosquitoes than others? Sadie Dingfelder joins to walk through decades of mosquito studies, from Gambian huts filled with human volunteers to modern lab assays with paraffin membranes, and explains why carbon dioxide, sw…

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Andrew Fox on “Slam Frank”: Make Something Dangerous 51:11

16d ago51:11

51:11

The writer-composer behind the viral Slam Frank (an Anne Frank musical staged as if by the most social-justice-forward regional theater) explains why he pushes rules to their reductio ad absurdum and why “art should lift up the people who are beneath me.” Fox walks through a contentious table read, a Change.org backlash, and the joy/rage of craftin…

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Attention as Activism: The Power of Thresholds (Dr. Patrick O’Neill) 1:18:14

17d ago1:18:14

1:18:14

How do we navigate times of disorientation and change without losing ourselves? In this conversation, Dr. Patrick O’Neill brings his background in organizational psychology and years of guiding leaders through transformation to reflect on thresholds as spaces of both challenge and possibility. We talk about attention as a radical act, vocation as a…

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JD Vance, Jimmy Kimmel, and America’s Radical Underground 14:13

18d ago14:13

14:13

It’s the Saturday show. One from the week, one from the vault. First, a look at JD Vance on the mic with Charlie Kirk and the culture wars of today. Then, we rewind a decade to my interview with Brian Burrow, author of Days of Rage, on the radical underground and the turbulence of the 1970s. Produced by Corey Wara Production Coordinator Ashley Khan…

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Brendan Nyhan: Measuring Political Violence Without Panic 29:38

19d ago29:38

29:38

Dartmouth's Brendan Nyhan explains why headline-grabbing polls inflate support for "partisan violence" and how careful survey design finds under 10% backing for felony-level force, far less than in many democracies. He traces how elite cues shape perceived threats and warns against pretextual crackdowns. Also: a look at Jimmy Kimmel's removal and a…

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Not Even Mad: Michael A. Cohen and Jamie Kirchick 1:01:21

20d ago1:01:21

1:01:21

Michael A. Cohen and Jamie Kirchick discuss the Charlie Kirk assassination and the immediate retreat to priors — who’s weaponizing grief, what counts as incitement, and whether “fascistic” vs. “authoritarian” language clarifies or inflames. Plus, the TikTok law end-run and why process crimes don’t move voters the way visible force does. In Goat Gri…

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Christian Duguay Brings the Valley Heat 29:33

21d ago29:33

29:33

Christian Duguay, creator of Valley Heat, breaks down how Doug Duguay, his in-show alter ego, works within a 51% fictional universe. Tight sound design and ad-jingle microplots create an absurd world populated with Canadian foosball biker gangs and rogue car washes. Duguay traces the show’s improv roots and why “I’ll take that” became its guiding e…

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Garrett Graff: “Russia Sought Division More Than Victory” 30:34

23d ago30:34

30:34

Garrett Graff, host of the Long Shadow podcast, argues that Russia’s 2016 interference was about sowing distrust in U.S. democracy—weakening Clinton if she won, or destabilizing the system either way. He revisits the Access Hollywood–email leak overlap, the forgotten U.S. warning about Russian meddling, and how other nations have since borrowed the…

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Garrett M. Graff on “Long Shadow” and the Internet’s Descent Into Outrage 37:56

24d ago37:56

37:56

Writer and historian Garrett Graff discusses the fourth season of his podcast Long Shadow, which charts how the internet devolved from a tool of hope to one of outrage and division. He traces that shift to specific corporate choices—especially Facebook and YouTube prioritizing profit by feeding anger and conspiracy. Graff argues that these unregula…

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Episode 226 - Dodos 2:04:57

24d ago2:04:57

2:04:57

Dodos are probably the single most famous case of recent human-induced extinction. First documented in the late 1500s and extinct within a century, dodos have become a global reminder of the devastating potential of human activity. This episode, we review the brief history of human interactions with dodos, and we explore what recent research and fo…

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Mike Pesca on The Good Fight Club 43:40

25d ago43:40

43:40

Today on The Gist, we air some of Mikes appearance on The Good Fight Club Podcast. Please note that this was recorded on September 10th, before the shooting of Charlie Kirk. You can listen to the rest of the podcast using the link below. The Good Fight Club: Russian Drones in Poland, Low Literacy in Schools, and Can Anyone Rein in Trump? Produced b…

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Bill McKibben: “Energy From Heaven, Not From Hell” 39:04

27d ago39:04

39:04

Bill McKibben discusses his new book Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, making the case for renewables as civilization’s best hope. He has long argued that we can’t save the planet without a massive overhaul of how we live, but here he answers a challenge to whether that was ever right. McKibben d…

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Aaron Sibarium on Charlie Kirk, Retribution, and the Cycle of Violence 38:46

27d ago38:46

38:46

Aaron Sibarium of the Washington Free Beacon reflects on his recent full-hour interview with Charlie Kirk, which aired just a week before Kirk’s assassination. He recalls Kirk’s reach across conservative factions and his surprising focus on debate and voter mobilization rather than pure outrage. The conversation widens to the risks of political vio…

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Ryan Evans on Drones, Ground War, and Ukraine’s Fight for Survival 27:59

29d ago27:59

27:59

Ryan Evans, founder of War on the Rocks, breaks down the grinding land war in eastern Ukraine, the tactical role of drones, and how morale and leadership shape the battlefield. He points to Zelensky’s missteps, the weapons still needed, and what “winning the ground” really means. Also: Russia sends drones into Poland, forcing Trump into a test of N…

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Nim Shapira: Torn Between Empathy and Erasure 31:29

29d ago31:29

31:29

Filmmaker Nim Shapira discusses Torn, his documentary on the hostage posters put up—and torn down—across New York after October 7th. He reflects on free speech, empathy, and why erasing someone else’s pain won’t shorten a war. Also: a protest in Nepal over a social media ban topples the prime minister. Plus: Israel’s strikes on Hamas leaders in Qat…

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Christine Wenc: The Onion’s Straight Face Made It Funnier 28:48

30d ago28:48

28:48

Christine Wenc joins to discuss Funny Because It’s True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire, recalling its Wisconsin roots, AP-style discipline, and newsroom battles over absurd details. She traces the paper’s arc from gas-station rent money to online cult influence, and the tension between preachiness and bite. Plus, the Ambazonian …

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Immigration, Nuance, and a Leonhardt Vault Cut 31:46

1M ago31:46

31:46

It’s the Saturday Show: one from the week, one from the vault. Mike revisits his take on immigration—spurred by a CNN piece and a Pesca Profundities post—arguing the media too often flattens a hard issue into easy labels. Courts have now allowed parts of Trump’s approach, forcing a distinction between “shameful” and “unconstitutional.” From the vau…

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Mike Hayes on Purpose, Grit, and Mission 38:45

1M ago38:45

38:45

Today on The Gist. Trump’s push to rebrand the Pentagon as the “Department of War”. Then a full-length interview with Mike Hayes—former commanding officer of SEAL Team 2, White House Fellow, and author of Mission Driven: The Path to a Life of Purpose. Hayes lays out how to define the “who” before the “what,” why 1% better beats overnight breakthrou…

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Not Even Mad: Galen Druke and Josh Barro 49:47

1M ago49:47

49:47

Today on The Gist: It’s Not Even Mad. Mike Pesca welcomes Galen Druke and Josh Barro for a sharp yet civil debate on Trump’s immigration strategy, crime, and the charge of creeping autocracy. They weigh whether cruelty brings Trump political advantage, how Democrats should frame their response, and what “autocracy makes you poor” really means for v…

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Miles Taylor on Resistance Cascades, Rubio’s Turn, and Testing the Judiciary 35:15

1M ago35:15

35:15

Former DHS official Miles Taylor, author of the “Anonymous” op-ed, returns to discuss Trump’s second term agenda, the courts, and the missing “axis of adults.” Pesca opens with a theory on why deportees landed in Eswatini, then closes with a spiel on the immigration conundrum: border deterrence versus humane policy. Taylor explains “permission stru…

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Ex-DHS Chief Miles Taylor: Trump, Treason, and Executive Power 36:41

1M ago36:41

36:41

Trump health rumors, media scrutiny, and what counts as news kick off the show before a wide-ranging interview with Miles Taylor—former DHS Chief of Staff and author of Blowback—about the April 2025 White House memo labeling him “treasonous,” the threats that followed, alleged blacklisting, and how executive power can be bent to punish speech. We d…

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Episode 225 - Forests 2:55:48

1M ago2:55:48

2:55:48

Forests are among the most widespread and diverse biomes on our planet. This episode, we’re joined by our favorite paleobotanist, Dr. Aly Baumgartner, to explore what defines a forest, how these habitats function, and how they differ around the globe. Then, we’ll take a trip into the past to discuss how paleontologists study ancient forests and how…

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Governor Wes Moore on Baltimore’s Historic Drop in Homicides, Plus Laura Loomer’s Lunacy 20:27

1M ago20:27

20:27

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has overseen one of the steepest homicide drops in America. Baltimore, long plagued by 300-plus murders a year, has seen killings fall more than 40 percent since 2023. In this archived conversation, Moore explains how a data-driven, all-of-the-above approach—boosting local police, investing in technology, and supporting …

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Edward Wong: At the Edge of Empire, China, Family, and Power 33:59

1M ago33:59

33:59

New York Times correspondent Edward Wong has reported from Beijing to Baghdad, covering the rise of China and the reach of American power. In his new book At the Edge of Empire: A Family’s Reckoning with China, Wong blends geopolitics with personal history, from his father’s time in Mao’s army to his own years navigating censorship and nationalism …

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Nick Foster on How We Really Think About the Future 32:48

1M ago32:48

32:48

Mike Pesca examines the political spin after a Minnesota school shooting and the debate over trans identity and mass shootings. He then speaks with designer and futurist Nick Foster (Apple, Google, Dyson) about his new book Could Should Might Don’t: How We Think About the Future and why tech culture misunderstands futurism. Plus, a spiel on how RFK…

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Inside a Fat Camp named Shame 52:01

1M ago52:01

52:01

Donald Trump’s allies are weaponizing the machinery of government against opponents, eroding faith in American institutions. But does every abuse demand the “dictatorship” label? Mike weighs in on the rhetoric of tyranny, then turns to Camp Shame, a new podcast by Kelsey Snelling about the notorious weight loss retreat Camp Shane, its false promise…

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Trump’s Mortgage Attacks and Kessler on Weight Loss 38:05

1M ago38:05

38:05

Trump has fired Fed governor Lisa Cook for lying on her mortgage, part of a broader pattern of using mortgage fraud as a political weapon while allies skate by. Former FDA head David Kessler joins again to explain how GLP-1 drugs reshape the fight against obesity and what they mean for health long term. In the Spiel, the spectacle of Laura Loomer’s…

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David Kessler on Why Junk Food Is America’s Nicotine 41:01

1M ago41:01

41:01

Today on The Gist, the Trump administration’s lowering of FBI recruitment standards, where irony gives way to petty tyranny. Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler joins to discuss his new book Diet, Drugs, and Dopamine and his petition urging the FDA to strip refined carbohydrates of their “generally recognized as safe” status. Kessler explains why…

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Journey to the Internal Waters: A Guided Meditation 50:07

2M ago50:07

50:07

This episode of Deconstruction is an invitation into active imagination. Rooted in my Celtic lineage and blessed for the Waters on the land where I live — the unceded and traditional territory of the Syilx First Nations — this meditation offers a safe container to meet our own Inner Terrain through sensation & image. It teaches how regulation opens…

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Trump’s Long Game and Miles Taylor’s Warning 31:46

2M ago31:46

31:46

Mike revisits an old worry: Trump’s policies are built for payoffs far beyond his term—and that’s a problem for a man who won’t share credit. From tariffs to civil service purges, the risks linger. To set the stage, we go back to a 2018 interview with Miles Taylor, once “Anonymous,” whose warnings still resonate as he returns with his new book Blow…