Best Paul David Thompson Podcasts (2025)

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281 — Max La Manna 1:26:44

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1h ago1:26:44

1:26:44

🎉 It’s Max La Manna week on the podcast! 👉🏽 Max La Manna is an award-winning author, low-waste chef, and campaigner whose casual approach to cooking has attracted over 2 million followers and more than a billion video views. Drawing from his own life, he shares simple, affordable recipes that make the most of every ingredient and inspire people to …

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Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin and Monica Nevi guest 55:56

5h ago55:56

55:56

Doug welcomes Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin and Monica Nevi to the show. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

3d 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

3d 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

4d 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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7 - From $5K and Bandit Signs to 8,000+ Deals with David Olds 34:07

4d ago34:07

34:07

Episode Description In this episode, Paul Thompson sits down with David Olds, co-founder of EZ REI Closings, the nation’s largest transaction coordination company. David shares his raw journey from hitting rock bottom during the 2009 crash and moving to Chattanooga with just $5,000, two kids, and three dogs to building a powerhouse business that ha…

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Episode 392 - Blessed Are The Spiraling with Levi Lusko 1:03:13

4d ago1:03:13

1:03:13

What do you do when anxiety suddenly takes hold and you find yourself spiraling? How do you begin to unravel the past wounds and circumstances that have led you to a place of chaos and uncertainty? For author and pastor Levi Lusko, a season of anxiety emerged seemingly out of nowhere. After years of pushing hard in ministry and leadership, he found…

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Inside a Fat Camp named Shame 52:01

5d 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

6d 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

7d 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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Paget Brewster and Chad Opitz guest 1:00:42

7d ago1:00:42

1:00:42

Doug welcomes Paget Brewster and Chad Opitz to the show. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

9d 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…

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The Working Class Party with the Post-Graduate Jargon 54:12

10d ago54:12

54:12

McKenzie Wilson of Blue Rose Research joins to dissect Democrats’ branding failures, from alienating language to ignoring cost-of-living pain. She explains why Gen Z may be drifting rightward, why “when we all vote we win” no longer holds, Plus: Trump’s doomed “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, shut down not for human-rights abuses but for thre…

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Not Even Mad: Rikki Schlott and Isaac Saul 1:01:13

11d ago1:01:13

1:01:13

New York Post columnist Rikki Schlott and Tangle founder Isaac Saul join Mike to discuss policing Washington, D.C.—who's in charge, who gets blamed, and why federal takeover is more problem multiplier than solution. Then: scalpel or a chainsaw on the syllabus for higher ed. Plus, using the concept of toxic empathy to explain both a recidivist subwa…

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Episode 391 - Making Sense of Your Story with Adam Young 1:00:56

12d ago1:00:56

1:00:56

How do we begin to untangle the wounds of our childhood and understand how they influence the way we show up in the world today? What do we do with the stories of harm, neglect, and pain that linger from our past? Therapist Adam Young came to realize in his thirties just how profoundly his family of origin and early wounds were shaping his adult be…

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CryptoDad’s Pirate Clause: Reviving Letters of Marque 32:47

12d ago32:47

32:47

Christopher Giancarlo—former CFTC chair and known as “CryptoDad”—joins to explain why the U.S. should build a crypto reserve, just like oil or gold. He recalls a White House summit that treated digital assets with the pomp of a state visit—and unveils a swashbuckling plan to revive the Constitution’s old letters of marque to hunt today’s digital pi…

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Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson 1:26:27

12d ago1:26:27

1:26:27

Drummer, DJ, producer, Oscar-winning documentary director, composer and musical director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson joins SCORE from John Mayer’s private writing room at Henson Recording Studios! Ahmir discusses the absolutely bonkers music mashup from 50 years of Saturday Night Live, featured in his Emmy-nominated documentary LADIES & GENTLEMEN: 5…

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Rent-Stabilized and City-Run: Mamdani Rises as Rivals Flail 42:34

13d ago42:34

42:34

Harry Siegel joins to break down the chaotic New York mayoral race, where Zohran Mamdani looks like the presumptive next mayor but hasn’t been fully tested. Siegel warns that old tweets, rent-stabilized housing, and city-run grocery promises could become liabilities once federal pressure mounts. Plus, Trump’s trade war bets on an eight-to-eleven-ye…

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Katja Hoyer on Germany’s AFD and the Limits of Calling Someone a Nazi 28:59

15d ago28:59

28:59

Today on The Gist, the Texas Democrats’ walk-out, a dramatic gesture that ultimately did little because they never had the leverage to win. From there he zooms out to Europe, where far-right parties are suddenly topping polls in France, the UK, and now Germany. Historian Katja Hoyer joins to explain what’s behind the AFD’s rise and why calling them…

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Brandon Collins, Trae Crowder and Drew Lynch guest 57:07

14d ago57:07

57:07

Doug welcomes Brandon Collins, Trae Crowder and Drew Lynch to the show. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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The Spiel Saturday Show 23:53

16d ago23:53

23:53

Today on The Gist we air two spiels from earlier in the week. One about the CDC shooting in Atlanta and then one about Matt Taibbi's murder stat takedown of D.C backfires. Produced by Corey Wara Production Coordinator Ashley Khan Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠htt…

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The Cheesecake Factory Model of Freedom 34:32

17d ago34:32

34:32

In The Age of Choice: A History of Freedom in Modern Life, Sophia Rosenfeld traces how choice evolved from secret ballots and dance cards to consumer overload and political battlegrounds. She also dissects ihow the pro-choice movement’s framing was both a strength and a vulnerability. Also, Trump’s murder-rate comparison between D.C., Bogotá, and M…

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When the Train to Hell Runs on Time 40:26

18d ago40:26

40:26

Aziz Huq, author of The Collapse of Constitutional Remedies, explains how liability insurers shape policing in small towns, why “rights versus rights” conflicts—from same-sex marriage to police brutality—often hinge on public trust, and how Chicago’s low murder clearance rate reflects deep distrust of law enforcement. He analyzes the Supreme Court’…

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Rights You Can’t Use 36:41

18d ago36:41

36:41

Aziz Huq, University of Chicago law professor and author of The Collapse of Constitutional Remedies, lays out how federal courts have gutted the mechanisms for enforcing constitutional rights—blocking individuals harmed by police while greenlighting speculative corporate attacks on regulation. Also, Donald Trump crowns himself de facto CEO of the U…

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Episode 390 - Practicing Defiant Joy in Suffering with Margaret Feinberg 1:05:45

19d ago1:05:45

1:05:45

How do you find joy when the diagnosis feels devastating? How can you become the joyful person God calls you to be—even in the midst of your deepest pain? Author Margaret Feinberg was nearing the completion of a book on joy when she received a life-altering diagnosis: aggressive cancer. What followed was a profound season of wrestling—an honest, ra…

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The Case for Good Anger 39:11

20d ago39:11

39:11

Samuel Parker, author of Good Anger: How Rethinking Rage Can Change Our Lives, argues that suppressing anger fuels anxiety and that society’s overcorrection toward placidity has blunted a vital emotion. He traces its demotion from the Stoics to corporate HR, separates it from violence, and shows how to channel it into productive action. Plus, Donal…

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Rebecca Lemov and the Instability of Truth 39:54

21d ago39:54

39:54

Harvard historian of science Rebecca Lemov joins to talk about her book The Instability of Truth, which dives deep into the history of mind control, from Cold War POW camps and MKUltra to the quieter persuasion of social media. They get into what really works (and doesn’t) when it comes to changing someone’s beliefs, why we’re all more suggestible …

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Mike Carrozza, Martha Kelly and Justin Thompson guest 1:01:10

21d ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Doug welcomes Mike Carrozza, Martha Kelly and Justin Thompson to the show. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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From 'Bee: Wild' to the 'Kiss the Ground' Regenerative Agriculture Documentary Trilogy - Highlights 15:03

23d ago15:03

15:03

"For the last two decades, I've made over 20 films about the environment, starting with oil and carbon emissions. Those films, Kiss the Ground and now Common Ground, talk about how we can stabilize the climate, reverse climate change, grow nutrient-dense food, and help farmers make a profit through biodiversity and regenerative practices and princi…

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Sarah Ruhl on Lessons from the Teachers Who Shaped Her 35:48

23d ago35:48

35:48

Playwright Sarah Ruhl has collected wisdom from her mentors, from Pulitzer winners to driving instructors, in her new book Lessons from My Teachers. She joins Mike to talk about the art of learning, the balance between control and letting go, writing obliquely about grief (sometimes through a dog’s eyes), and why you should thank the people who tau…

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Peter Moskos on NYC’s Historic Crime Drop and the Lessons for Today 39:22

25d ago39:22

39:22

Homicides are down 14% from pre-pandemic levels and other major crimes have followed suit. But what can today’s drop teach us about the last great decline, the one that transformed New York in the 1990s? Mike talks with Peter Moskos, former Baltimore cop turned John Jay College professor, about his new book Back from the Brink, an oral history of t…

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Steven Hahn Unmasks the Myth of Liberal America 37:10

25d ago37:10

37:10

Diplomacy via tweet rarely ends well, but US ambassadors are now flailing into their way through international tensions with sarcasm, memes, and zero restraint. Plus Steven Hahn, NYU historian and author of Illiberal America: A History, joins to unpack how liberalism has always shared the stage with its illiberal twin. From eugenics to temperance t…

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Episode 389 - Disability-Inclusivity with Dr. Laurie Thompson 1:24:11

26d ago1:24:11

1:24:11

How can we learn to trust God when our prayers for healing go unanswered? What does it truly mean for the Church to become a place of belonging and welcome for individuals with disabilities? Dr. Laurie Thompson has deeply engaged with these questions—both personally and academically. At just 14 years old, a devastating car accident left her permane…

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Not Her Type: E. Jean Carroll vs. The President 41:06

26d ago41:06

41:06

E. Jean Carroll joins to talk about the lawsuit she won, the president she sued, and the dressing room encounter that changed everything. The author of Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President opens up about the attack by Donald Trump, how she fought to be heard, and what it took—mentally and emotionally to face him in court. They talk trial prep, me…

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High Stakes, Low Standards: America's Gambling Gamble 38:12

27d ago38:12

38:12

Jonathan D. Cohen, author of Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling, joins to explain why our national rush into online sports betting might be a bigger mess than we realize. They talk sketchy app rollouts, bad state deals, and how betting lines went from shady corners to college campus. Plus, why Malaysian women’s doubles badminton …

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All About Bees, Soil & Regeneration with Documentary Filmmaker REBECCA TICKELL 1:00:46

28d ago1:00:46

1:00:46

“I didn't really appreciate bees until I became a farmer, and then I started to understand how essential bees are for our food. They pollinate 70% of our food, and that feeds 90% of the world. There's a whole world of insects that creates the color in our food; it's what creates the flavor in our food. It's part of our biodiversity, and it's essent…

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Pay to Play: The NCAA’s Big Payout Era Begins 35:29

28d ago35:29

35:29

The NCAA’s $2.8 billion settlement doesn’t just change the rules—it rewrites the entire playbook. Mike talks with Gabe Feldman, director of Tulane’s Sports Law Program, about what happens now that schools can pay athletes directly. They get into how the money will be split, why Olympic sports are suddenly on the chopping block, and whether this new…

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John Murphy & David Fleming (Superman) 1:12:03

28d ago1:12:03

1:12:03

Superstar composers John Murphy and David Fleming finally enter the same room (you read that correctly) after an unusual but groundbreaking experience co-composing the score for James Gunn’s SUPERMAN. How John’s electric guitar-focused approach (he writes themes on a zany guitar he named Ned Flanders) harnessed the majesty of John Williams’ iconic …

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Paget Brewster, Eric Edelstein, Kelly McInerney and Jerry Trainor guest 1:30:31

29d ago1:30:31

1:30:31

Live from Dynasty Typewriter in LA, Doug welcomes Paget Brewster, Eric Edelstein, Kelly McInerney and Jerry Trainor to the show. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Puzzling The Puzzle Master on The Puzzler 38:59

30d ago38:59

38:59

Today on The Gist we air Mikes appearence on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. Produced by Corey Wara Production Coordinator Ashley Khan Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.co…

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The NIH vs. The New Grievance Politics 37:41

1M ago37:41

37:41

Former NIH director Elias Zerhouni reflects on the agency’s triumphs and shortcomings in light of his new memoir, Disease Knows No Politics. He defends the NIH’s legacy while addressing critiques from figures like current NIH head Jay Bhattacharya, and warns that proposed funding cuts could severely undermine scientific progress. Also: the decline …

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Art, Empathy & Resilience with CADY McCLAIN, Actor, Director, Writer, Artist, Musician - Highlights 11:20

1M ago11:20

11:20

“I had to become the father of my family very young because my parents divorced when I was 12. My situation was a little bit unusual in that my father kind of disappeared, and I had been making a fair amount of money as a kid, doing commercials and television and film. We needed money, and I kind of became the breadwinner. But I had this amazing wo…

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Airborne Assumptions and Subventilated Science 45:38

1M ago45:38

45:38

Carl Zimmer joins to discuss Airborne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe, a book that excavates the forgotten science of airborne disease transmission—from Louis Pasteur’s broth experiments to why COVID’s airborne nature was dismissed by health authorities. Also : praise for the New York Times’ recent front-page study that honestly asses th…

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A Life in Acting with Emmy Award-winning Actor, Director, Writer CADY McCLAIN 1:06:02

1M ago1:06:02

1:06:02

“I won my first Emmy when I was 21, which was the result of absolutely devoting myself day and night for two years to doing all the scene work. I attended classes simultaneously and did plays until my mother died. I studied with Michael Howard for eight years. Even when I was so tired I couldn't get up to do a scene, he would say, "Get up and do a …