The Gist

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we dive back into our archive to resurface our 2018 interview with comedian Guy Branum who had then just published My Life As A Goddess: A Memoir Through (Un)Popular Culture. Branum is the co-star of the much-talked-about new rom-com, Bros, which is the subject of Friday's Spiel about why the film was funny but not a box-office smash. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Billy Eichner comedy Bros was undeniably funny, but also a box office failure. Eichner blamed homophobia, but it's more complicated, Mike argues, but also not terribly more complicated. Of course, depictions of gay sex—some tame, some raunchy—hurt box office. Plus, Michele Tafoya is back to discuss the topics that prompted her to leave Thursday Night Football for her Sideline Sanity podcast and an ambush interview with Dan Le Batard. And also, what drives the world's biggest A-holes? Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once more, a major media article offers incomplete and misleading evidence about the threat of a civil war. Mike offers not a dismissal but a reinterpretation. Plus, Michele Tafoya, former sideline reporter for NBC Sports, has a new podcast called ‎Sideline Sanity, and she has some opinions about Colin Kaepernick's punishment for speaking out. Plus, Joe Biden pardons the 0 people in federal prison for simple marijuana possession. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike interviews Saleem Ali, University of Delaware professor of Energy and the Environment, about his book Earthly Order: How Natural Laws Define Human Life. Plus, Mike recognizes that the Georgia Senate race will be close, but also lays out that, of course the latest revelations hurt Herschel Walker. And also, just how to think about some baseball home run kings who allegedly—and also very much did—take steroids. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In her book, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, social scientist and former poker pro Annie Duke argues that we're way too over-indexed toward grit and not open enough to quitting. Plus, with the smart advice being not mock him, U.S. Senate candidate from Georgia, Herschel Walker instead provides a fertile means of self mockery. And Brett Favre just loves building volleyball courts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Professor at Northwestern's School of Law, Andrew Koppelman talks about his new book Burning Down The House: How Libertarian Philosophy Was Corrupted by Delusion and Greed. Also, Donald Trump "truths" that Mitch McConnell has a "DEATH WISH" (his caps, not ours). Senator Rick Scott finds the sentiment difficult to condemn. Plus, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss goes on the charm offensive, which proves just that. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, we are replaying Mike's Monday Spiel about the Sound On Sound Music Festival, and the rage it drew online despite being a pretty great weekend. Then we dig into the Gist archives and listen back to Mike's 2015 conversation with musicians Dillon Kondor and Sharon Van Etten about the challenges not of music, but of performing good stage banter in between songs. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chilean voters recently rejected an extremely progressive (and extremely long at 170 pages) constitution. It would have ensured animal rights, as well as rights to "neurodiversity" and "digital disconnection." Ted Piccone of Brookings and the World Justice Project examines if Chile's new constitution was too progressive or just too long. Plus, can't we just enjoy the moment when the President went asking for a dead lady? And in the Antwentig, mo' Skimo than you ever hoped for. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike talks with Phelim McAleer, the producer and co-writer of My Son Hunter, the first film released by the Breitbart News Network. Storytelling techniques and claims to accuracy are discussed. Then, at the prompting of the guest, Mike spends The Spiel fact-checking the film. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The authors of The Constitution in Jeopardy: An Unprecedented Effort to Rewrite Our Fundamental Law and What We Can Do About It, Peter Prindiville and Senator Russ Feingold raise the alarms about a ploy that has a chance of upending our democracy. Plus, Russian military mobilization sparks flight, and the iconic TV doofus dad isn't going away. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices