The Gist

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, with the NBA All-Star weekend upon us, we listen back to Mike's 2018 interview with Felipe Lopez. Once considered the Dominican Michael Jordan, he was a high school star whose powers dwindled in college and the NBA. Lopez joined Mike on the even of the release of The Dominican Dream, an ESPN documentary. Then we listen to a great exchange between Mike and Bob Delaney—the former NBA ref turned PTSD crusader, whose latest book is Heroes are Human: Lessons in Resilience, Courage, and Wisdom from the COVID Front Lines—which didn't make the show on Thursday but was too good to throw 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

In the new book The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times, discusses the clearest ways available to save a system that's delivered prosperity and freedom. Plus, its an Antwentig! And a car crashes into a 7-Eleven every day, but, to our credit, no one makes the "we must find this car and stop it" joke on the show today … so, you're welcome. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Glacier's uneven melting causes concern. Oscar nominee Andrea Riseborough's surprise nod causes tumult. And a pasta shape's surprise popularity causes sequels. Massive chunks of ice, awards snubs, and Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful Podcast, constitute today's show. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bob Delaney worked undercover in law enforcement, under the backboards as an NBA ref, and under the tutelage of mental health experts. His latest book is Heroes are Human: Lessons in Resilience, Courage, and Wisdom from the COVID Front Lines. Plus, we're now shooting down sky detritus. And the perceived video game boycott over JK Rowlings' opinions was much Aparecium about Nargles. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keith Humphreys—a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University who served as a drug policy advisor in the Bush and Obama White Houses—says Fentanyl really is a hugely destructive and disruptive force. He talks with Mike about how the rise of this drug is effected by, and might effect, the trend of marijuana legalization. Plus, Pete Buttigieg and the air-born toxic event. And on Valentine's Day: to swoon or repugn? Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emily Hanford, host of one of 2022's best podcasts, Sold A Story, is here to discuss her deep reporting and well-told (if disturbing) documentation about how the way we've taught kids to read in this country is all wrong … and we haven't done anything about it for decades. Plus, an orgy of celebrity becomes white noise in Super Bowl commercials. And so many weird floating objects, so few answers beyond those supplied by F-22 Raptors. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this installment of Best Of The Gist, with Super Bowl Sunday upon us, we listen back to Mike's September 11, 2017 interview with former Raider (and Eagles) cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha. Despite being one of the best cornerbacks ever to play in the NFL, Namdi sees his time in football as a prep course for acting. Then we're replaying Mike's Spiel about San Francisco sex workers who are clogging up the streets. 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

Paul Farber, a scholar at UPENN's Center for Public Art & Space at the University of Pennsylvania, hosts the WHYY podcast series The Statue, which looks at Philadelphia's most notable icon…no, not the Liberty Bell, but Rocky. Plus, crazy plans to thwart the sun, and crazier plans to thwart Twitter's thwarting of questionable political content. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Fundraiser by Michelle Pesca : Deniushkina Family Resettlement Fund (gofundme.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hulu Series Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult of Sarah Lawrence tells the story of conman Larry Ray and his ten-year grip over a group of young people. Director Zach Heinzerling and survivor Dan Levin talk about the three-part series, which premieres tonight. Plus, AOC delivers the "DIS" but not the perfect "INFORMATION." And Mike voluntarily sits for an online government training module. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Fundraiser by Michelle Pesca : Deniushkina Family Resettlement Fund (gofundme.com) Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Booing of Joe BIden was shameful, because the boo-ers were shameless. Mike analyses the incentives spurring on the most raucous in the GOP caucus. And we're joined once more by Anthony Scaramucci, who holds forth on SBF, the January 6th Committee, and his own personal B.S. detector. Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist Fundraiser by Michelle Pesca : Deniushkina Family Resettlement Fund (gofundme.com) Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices