Best David Sirota Podcasts (2025)

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The Giant Fireball That Could Save Us (with Bill McKibben) 45:17

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41m ago45:17

45:17

Today on Lever Time, David Sirota talks with bestselling author Bill McKibben, who says the solar energy revolution has reached a tipping point and is now poised to reshape our world. Click here to learn about Sun Day, a nationwide action this Sunday, Sept. 21, to celebrate and advocate for solar power. To check out McKibben’s new book, Here Comes …

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How Profit and Politics Hijacked Scientific Inquiry, with John Ioannidis 48:10

3d ago48:10

48:10

Why does a podcast about capitalism want to talk about science? Modern capitalism and science have evolved together since the Enlightenment. Advances in ship building and navigation enabled the Age of Discovery, which opened up new trade routes and markets to European merchants. The invention of the spinning jinny and cotton in the 18th century spu…

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The Real Reason Jimmy Kimmel Was Pulled From Late-Night 48:51

1h ago48:51

48:51

First, they cancelled Stephen Colbert; now they’ve pulled Jimmy Kimmel off the air. The common denominator? Corporate power. On today’s episode of Lever Time, David Sirota talks with media-consolidation expert Craig Aaron and monopoly authority Matt Stoller about how media corporations are transforming the news and information environment to curry …

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969 - Pablo Torre Fucks Around and Finds Out feat. Pablo Torre (9/15/25) 1:31:47

22m ago1:31:47

1:31:47

In today’s two-parter, we start off with more coverage of the assassination of Charlie Kirk: what it means, possible motives, and the tidal wave of right-wing cancel culture it has wrought. Will then interviews journalist Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out about recently unearthed collusion in the NFL, with a story that starts with Deshaun Watson…

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Robert Reich Saw This Coming 37:03

1h ago37:03

37:03

Today on Lever Time, David Sirota speaks with Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary and economics professor, about what he’s learned from working in multiple presidential administrations, where he believes that American politics went wrong, and what the Democratic Party needs to do to save itself — and the country. Click here for more of this interv…

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197 - Supercharge Your Communication with Nick Brancato 36:02

6h ago36:02

36:02

NICK BRANCATO is a seasoned personal development coach and educator with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and couples connect, communicate, and thrive. With a master's degree in education and a background as a Microsoft systems engineer, Nick blends practical tools with data-driven frameworks to guide clients through life's challenge…

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We Must Stop This Civil War Before It’s Unstoppable 14:33

1d ago14:33

14:33

A message from David Sirota about recent violence and what we must do to stop it.By The Lever

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602. The Best of Larry Niven Part 2 Review (with Mercurio D. Rivera) 1:41:44

11d ago1:41:44

1:41:44

Mercurio D. Rivera joins us to discuss nine more stories from the book The Best of Larry Niven, edited by Jonathan Strahan. Stories discussed: “Inconstant Moon” (1:34), “Rammer” (18:42), “Cloak of Anarchy” (27:42), “The Fourth Profession” (38:22), “Flash Crowd” (47:59), “The Defenseless Dead” (59:37), “Flight of the Horse” (1:15:55), “The Hole Man”…

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967 - Whitehat feat. Derek Davison (9/8/25) 1:14:41

9d ago1:14:41

1:14:41

Chapo Senior Foreign Policy correspondent Derek Davison is back once again to talk about the escalating possibility of war in Venezuela. We discuss the recent strike on a Venezuelan boat by Trump and his newly-Christened Department of War, a botched raid into North Korea, our collapsing relationship with India, China’s SCO summit with Russia, and c…

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Meet The Democratic Insurgents Fighting To Save Their Party 56:44

23h ago56:44

56:44

The Democratic Party is in a rut. Democratic voter registration has been steadily declining since 2018, and the party’s approval rating in some polls has dropped even lower than President Donald Trump’s. Feeling pessimistic? We have some good news. On this episode of Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with three Democratic candidates — Michigan’s D…

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Will Privatizing The Mortgage Giants Solve The Housing Crisis? 44:58

17d ago44:58

44:58

This week, the Trump administration announced it would sell around 5% of mortgage giants and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The sale would begin to reintroduce the two firms to private markets after 17 years of government conservatorship. The decision to re-privatize two of the largest mortgage firms in the worl…

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Comrade Trump Seizes The Means Of Production 45:53

12d ago45:53

45:53

The United States government is taking a 10 percent stake in Intel, blurring the lines between capitalism and state ownership. While critics say it’s a dangerous power grab, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is praising President Donald Trump’s move. On this episode of Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with The American Prospect’s Harold Meyerson and Co…

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The Players Club Episode 1: Metal Gear Solid (1998) - Am I My Brother’s Streaker? 2:11:46

17d ago2:11:46

2:11:46

In 1998, the world was ruled by Rayman. You could not go anywhere without seeing Rayman street art. Thousands of children died attempting to cut their own limbs off and suspend them from midair. All that changed when Solid Snake was brought into the third dimension.Brendan and Felix kick off their journey through the greatest story ever told by sur…

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965 - A Chorus Line feat. Alex Nichols (9/2/25) 1:24:10

5d ago1:24:10

1:24:10

Alex is back for some speculation about the health of Donald Trump (after his disappearance) and Rudy Giuliani (after his “not targeted” car crash). Then we turn to the weird world of Democratic Party influencers and the dark-money group secretly funding their American Girl Doll memes. Finally, we chat a little about phones in schools and Adam Frie…

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196 - Jonathan Kemp's Healing Journey Through Mental Illness 51:19

20d ago51:19

51:19

JONATHAN KEMP is a mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and creator of SmartWisdom, a scientifically validated note-taking technique. Born into privilege as the future 3rd Viscount Rochdale, he built careers in law enforcement and entrepreneurship and undertook postgraduate study, unaware that bipolar disorder, depression, and dyslexia were shapin…

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Falling Down with Catherine Liu & Mario Mills 1:30:36

8d ago1:30:36

1:30:36

After you listen to this episode, if you're interested in checking out Josh's new cut of the film, you can check it out right here. Highly recommend checking it out AFTER you listen! https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1096330034/42b8662702By Catherine Liu, Mario Mills, Trevor Beaulieu, Josh Olson

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The Grotesque Fruits Of Your Labor (With Evan Osnos) 46:22

8d ago46:22

46:22

As American workers are fighting for their basic needs, the country’s richest are getting richer — while inventing perverse new ways to spend and hoard their money. Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with “greed beat” journalist Evan Osnos, who explains why ultrarich oligarchs are running away from the rest of us on luxurious gigayachts, d…

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601. Fantastic Fiction at KGB (with Matthew Kressel) 1:43:10

24d ago1:43:10

1:43:10

Matthew Kressel joins us to discuss Fantastic Fiction at KGB, a monthly science fiction reading series in New York City. Support the Fantastic Fiction at KGB fundraiser over at www.gofundme.com/f/fantastic-fiction-reading-series-at-the-kgb-bar. Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. Learn more about your ad…

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Trump’s Gerrymandering Plot To Steal The Election (With Rep. Lloyd Doggett) 36:54

12d ago36:54

36:54

As Trump presses states to redraw their district maps to favor Republicans, David Sirota gets the inside scoop from Texas Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who is on the frontlines of the gerrymandering war. Doggett this week announced a shocking act of self-sacrifice, jeopardizing his own career for the battle against Trump. Click here for a f…

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963 - Distractions feat. Prem Thakker (8/25/25) 1:13:57

14d ago1:13:57

1:13:57

Zeteo’s Prem Thakker joins us for a look at Trump’s takeover of Washington D.C. We talk about the impetus for the takeover, what day-to-day life in occupied D.C. looks and feels like for its immigrant communities, and the Democratic Party’s impotent response. We then look more broadly at Trump’s Fortress America, ICE’s country-wide renditions, and …

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What's Next for September 2025 0:52

15d ago0:52

0:52

One week before each episode, we're going to give you a heads up as to what we'll be discussing so you have time to catch up with it and get the most out of our next episode. Next up, Falling Down (1993).By Trevor Beaulieu & Josh Olson

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Ed Helms Exposes America’s Scariest Screw-Ups 32:38

27d ago32:38

32:38

On today's episode of Lever Time, comedian and writer Ed Helms (The Daily Show, The Office) takes David Sirota on a wild journey through some of history’s greatest screw-ups — from nuclear war near-misses to secret ice tunnels in Greenland to attempts to blow up the moon. Helms, who hosts the podcast SNAFU, explores the risks of putting our trust i…

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Trump's Great Private Equity Bailout, with Dan Rasmussen 54:04

1M ago54:04

54:04

For decades, private equity has been the darling of pension funds, university endowments, and sovereign wealth funds, promising high returns and low volatility. Now, President Donald Trump has made it possible for everyday investors to get in on the magic with his executive order, "Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors.” T…

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Why Your Health Insurance Could Explode Next Year 38:26

19d ago38:26

38:26

Health insurance premiums for some Americans could increase by a whopping 66 percent next year. Why are insurers jacking up their rates? And why are Republicans killing off Biden-era subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, despite their overwhelming, bipartisan popularity? Could such efforts backfire and make Medicare for All inevitable? And how can…

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600. Steph Grossman, co-host of The Basement Girls 1:38:30

1M ago1:38:30

1:38:30

In this special 600th episode David Barr Kirtley interviews his wife Steph Grossman, short story writer and co-host of the Basement Girls horror podcast. Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy David Barr Kirtley

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961 - The Dogs of War feat. Seth Harp (8/18/25) 1:33:17

21d ago1:33:17

1:33:17

Journalist and author Seth Harp returns to the pod to talk about his horrifying and expansive new book The Fort Bragg Cartel. We talk with Seth about America’s forever-war machine and the global drug empire it empowers, with a special focus on the case of Delta Force officer William Lavigne, who killed his best friend before turning up dead near Fo…

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Scene On Radio: Capitalism 38:04

22d ago38:04

38:04

Today, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at Scene On Radio, the Peabody-nominated documentary podcast that asks big questions about who we are and how we got this way. This is the premiere episode of its season seven series, “Capitalism,” which explores the rise of the world’s dominant economic system — and examines why the concept is …

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195 - Tools for Writers with Chelene Knight 42:02

26d ago42:02

42:02

Chelene Knight is the author of five books including Safekeeping: A Writer's Guided Journal For Launching a Book With Love (Anansi 2025), and Let It Go: Free Yourself From Old Beliefs and Find a New Path To Joy (HarperCollins Canada 2024). She is founder of her own holistic creative studio, Breathing Space Creative through which she's launched the …

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The Male Friendship Collapse (With Sam Graham-Felsen) 24:46

26d ago24:46

24:46

Men are struggling with friendships and feeling lonelier than ever. The male loneliness epidemic is seeping into many facets of life — including mental health, the economy, and American politics — but why are guys having such a hard time making and keeping friends? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with journalist Sam Graham-Felsen to exp…

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959 - The Bopper’s Lair (8/11/25) 1:03:14

28d ago1:03:14

1:03:14

We begin by reading the last will and testament of Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old journalist for Al-Jazeera that was among those slain in Gaza by Israel yesterday. We then resume our Epstein coverage, including a look at his Manhattan lair and celebrity dinner guests. Then, two pieces on venture capitalists driven insane by The Computer and a story …

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Ari Aster Thinks You’re Being Manipulated 37:24

1M ago37:24

37:24

You might recognize director Ari Aster from his groundbreaking horror films like Hereditary and Midsommar. But Aster just dropped the scariest film of his career: Eddington, a dark COVID-19 comedy starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone, about social media-driven polarization, gun violence, and the looming tech takeover. Today on Lev…

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599. The Clarion Writers' Workshop (with Tom Gerencer) 1:30:11

1M ago1:30:11

1:30:11

Tom Gerencer joins us to discuss the book Storyteller: Writing Lessons and More from 27 Years of the Clarion Writers’ Workshop by Kate Wilhelm. Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy David Barr Kirtley

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Should Chatbots Teach Our Children? With Khan Academy CEO Sal Khan 44:38

2M ago44:38

44:38

What is the right way, if there is one at all, to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technology into our education system? For Sal Khan, CEO of one of the world’s largest nonprofit education technology platforms, the answer is to take a step back and ask: Where can AI best complement current pedagogy? If a problem can be solved by pencil and pa…

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Are Corporations Spying On You To Raise Your Prices? (With Lee Hepner) 44:18

1M ago44:18

44:18

Delta Air Lines recently came under fire for announcing that artificial intelligence will be setting 20 percent of its ticket prices for its domestic flights by 2026. While Delta subsequently denied using the tech to engage in “personalized” price gouging, many airlines, big businesses, and data brokers have allegedly been dabbling in “surveillance…

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957 - Democracy Soon! feat. Osita Nwanevu (8/4/25) 1:02:47

1M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Osita Nwanevu stops by to discuss his new book The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding. Osita leads us through his case that American “democracy” as it currently stands isn’t that democratic at all. We discuss the real intentions of the founders, the actual American revolution of the Civil War, and the stalled re…

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Casablanca w/Vida Starr & Jared Yates Sexton 2:37:10

2M ago2:37:10

2:37:10

Vida Starr is a radio and podcast host and producer. Jared Yates Sexton is the author of THE MIDNIGHT KINGDOM: A HISTORY OF POWER, PARANOIA, AND THE COMING CRISIS. He writes the newsletter DISPATCHES FROM A COLLAPSING STATE, and you can find his substack here: https://jaredyatessexton.substack.com/By Vida Starr, Jared Yates Sexton, Trevor Beaulieu, Josh Olson

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Your 401(k) Is Billionaires’ Next Bailout Scheme 40:24

1M ago40:24

40:24

The Trump administration appears ready to sign an executive order that would allow private equity firms to prey on Americans’ retirement savings. What happens if Wall Street can suddenly tap into the trillions of dollars tucked away in 401(k) accounts? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota speaks with former federal regulator Ted Siedle and economist E…

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BONUS - The Bitter Buddha feat. Eddie Pepitone 1:02:36

1M ago1:02:36

1:02:36

Will welcomes comedian Eddie Pepitone to the show for a bonus interview. They rap on keeping comedy political, celebrity sell-outs, veganism, Bill Maher vs. Billy Joel, trying to calm the rage, and of course, being Just Kids From New York. Check out Eddie’s new special at: https://veeps.com/eddiepepitoneIt is your last day to pre-order YEAR ZERO: A…

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194 - Compassionate Change in the Classroom with Dr. Ashley Seidel-Potvin 41:08

1M ago41:08

41:08

Dr. Ashley Potvin was drawn to the Crown Institute by the mission, approach to research, and the dedicated and amazing faculty and staff. She was eager to work in a community that strives to live out its commitments to collaboration, inclusiveness, and equity. She was also excited to collaborate with educators to think deeply about compassion and w…

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Trump’s New Merger Scandal Is Swampier Than Watergate 39:25

2M ago39:25

39:25

In a stunning reversal, the Trump administration just gave the green light to a major tech merger — and then fired two Justice Department lawyers who opposed it. Was corruption at play in the merger decision? Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with The Lever’s Luke Goldstein and UnHerd Magazine’s Sohrab Ahmari, who first exposed the “merge…

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955 - Memory (7/28/25) 1:24:47

2M ago1:24:47

1:24:47

Will & Felix discuss the dire starvation crisis now gripping Gaza, and the rapidly changing attitudes among certain political & media elites now that this has all apparently finally “gone too far.” We also try to keep up with Trump’s Epstein trouble as the President attempts to drown the whole thing off with old scandals and some showstopping showt…

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598. The Story of Elden Ring (with Matt London) 1:29:14

2M ago1:29:14

1:29:14

Matt London joins us to discuss narrative design, George R. R. Martin, and the new book Grace Given: The Mythology of Elden Ring by George Truscott. Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy David Barr Kirtley

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What's Next for August 2025 0:52

1M ago0:52

0:52

One week before each episode, we're going to give you a heads up as to what we'll be discussing so you have time to catch up with it and get the most out of our next episode. Next up, the one and only CASABLANCA!By Trevor Beaulieu & Josh Olson

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How AI Is Taking Over The U.S. Government 36:03

2M ago36:03

36:03

The Trump administration just unveiled a sweeping AI Action Plan that aims to achieve global dominance in the industry. Hiding deep within the document? A previously rejected scheme to ban oversight of tech oligarchs and let artificial intelligence run wild. Today on Lever Time, producer Natalie Bettendorf investigates the challenges and political …

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Can The Dollar Be Dethroned?, with Ken Rogoff 57:42

2M ago57:42

57:42

Americans are often told that they benefit from the privilege of the dollar serving as the world's currency. A strong dollar makes imports cheaper, facilitates demand for American companies, and is tied to cheap government borrowing. But what happens when this powerful privilege weakens? What does it even mean for the dollar to be “strong” or “weak…