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Reasonably Optimistic

The Washington Post
Donald Trump
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Biden Administration
Tradwives
Artificial Intelligence
Gender Equality
Feminism
U.S. Politics
Netanyahu Regime
Housing Market
Affirmative Action
Work-Life Balance
Capitalism
Parenting
Domestic Sphere
Democratic Party
College Campuses
Free Speech
Home Ownership
Supreme Court

Enough with the doom and gloom — we’re ready to talk about how America can thrive. Hosted by Washington Post Opinion columnist Megan McArdle, “Reasonably Optimistic” is your weekly conversation about how America can get unstuck and build a better future. Stop feeding your rage and start embracing our possibilities. Episodes drop Wednesdays.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes114Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews CommentaryNews

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Artwork for Reasonably Optimistic

Latest Episodes

Science fiction writer Neal Stephenson predicted the metaverse, wearable tech and artificial intelligence long before those technologies arrived. What does he think of it all now? Host Megan McArdle talks to Stephenson about the future of AI, educati... more

Enough with the doom and gloom — we’re ready to talk about how America can thrive. Hosted by Washington Post Opinion columnist Megan McArdle, “Reasonably Optimistic” is your weekly conversation about how America can get unstuck and build a better fut... more

After chemotherapy, Post Opinions writer Rachel Manteuffel felt like she was encountering a bald stranger every time she looked in the bathroom mirror. But then came the curls and lots of other surprising phenomena that science hasn’t been quite able... more

YouTube

Where have all the benches gone? Deputy Opinion Editor Mark Lasswell reflects on the causes and consequences of the “defensive architecture” replacing seating in public spaces. Plus, contributing columnist Rick Reilly shares just how hard it’s become... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Richard Reeves
Author of the book 'Boys and Men' and president of the American Institute for Boys and Men
American Institute for Boys and Men
Episode: Want to find a wife? Be a better man.
Max Boot
Senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and national security columnist for The Washington Post
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Trump breaks with Putin. But will it last?
Kori Schake
Leads the foreign and defense policy team at the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Trump breaks with Putin. But will it last?
Charlotte Marian Pearson
A strategist focused on intersectionality and inclusion, currently working with various communities
Episode: Lonely? Call your AI best friend.
Bina Venkataraman
Columnist and editor at large in the Department of Opinions at The Washington Post
Washington Post
Episode: Lonely? Call your AI best friend.
Theodore Johnson
A Navy veteran and military expert
Not specified
Episode: When the military gets politicized
John Paul Brammer
Former Post Opinion's contributing columnist, now author of his eponymous sub stack
johnpaulbrammer.substack.com
Episode: Trump 2.0 is changing the meaning — and feeling — of Pride
Will Leitch
Contributing columnist
Washington Post
Episode: Movies in 2025: reduce, reuse, recycle
Catherine Rampell
Columnist and commentator on political and economic issues
The Washington Post
Episode: Does anybody want to visit the U.S. right now?

Hosts

Dana Milbank
Host and commentator exploring various societal issues and offering insights on American politics and culture.
Drew Goins
Co-host and author discussing various societal and political challenges, with a focus on constructive engagement.
Hadley Robinson
Audio producer focused on producing engaging content around societal and political issues.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 234 ratings
  • Sources and Methods

    At a moment when truth is increasingly hard to find, the time is right for this podcast. It’s also a pleasure to listen to intelligent and well-informed people discussing current events, as opposed to the doubtful actors currently in government.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maria M-P
    United States3 months ago
  • Love this show!

    Very well produced! Love their takes on current events

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KyraCwn
    United States5 months ago
  • Liberal B.S

    What you would expect from the arrogant liberal media.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    this show used to be good
    United States6 months ago
  • 5 stars!

    Really enjoying this show, especially with their inclusion of more diverse viewpoints lately and some respectful disagreement on the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ehenxidiebrndi
    United States6 months ago
  • Blinded by left views

    Being an independent in this era is hard. listening to these guys act like Bill Maher was too dumb to see past Trumps “act” and not take his assessment at face value that he is actually personable in a private setting. Their hatred is so blinding. And all the popular comedians are right leaning currently and they hardly know who any of them are even though they have the biggest pods in the country. So painful how hard they are trying to stay left.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    EBKeveryday
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The podcast is noted for presenting a refreshing, optimistic perspective on American politics and possibilities for the future.
Feedback indicates some listeners are frustrated by any perceived bias or failure to acknowledge differing viewpoints, highlighting a desire for balanced discourse.
Listeners appreciate the focus on constructive discussions rather than only highlighting problems in society.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

I got cancer. And met a different me on the other side.
Q: Chemotherapy turned your hair and mine completely different. As a man of science, what the hell?
It's not entirely clear what happens physiologically to the hair follicle during chemotherapy, though there are hypotheses regarding hair follicle shape and curliness.
I got cancer. And met a different me on the other side.
Q: As you were working on this piece, you decided to call up Hank Green. Can you tell our listeners who he is?
Hank Green is a guy who explains things to Gen Z and has had cancer at the same age as me, providing a platform to discuss experiences like chemo curls.
Want to find a wife? Be a better man.
Q: What should men's purpose be now that women have financial independence?
Men need to find ways to feel needed and contribute to relationships, focusing on relational skills and emotional intelligence instead of traditional roles.
Want to find a wife? Be a better man.
Q: What do you think of the problem of choice in dating with so many options available?
The real issue is not about having too many choices but about perfectionism that leads to paralysis in decision-making.
Lending a hand doesn’t require being armed
Q: Have you gotten any reaction and how has it been received so far?
The general thrust of the comments are about Trump seeing people as the enemy and using the National Guard this way, which indicates lessons haven't been learned.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Reasonably Optimistic

What is Reasonably Optimistic about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast focuses on fostering a spirit of hope and positivity in discussions surrounding contemporary challenges in America. It emphasizes the potential for progress and constructive conversation, countering the prevalent doom-and-gloom narratives found in much of today's media. Central topics include effective problem-solving, innovation, and community building, while also exploring prospective paths for overcoming obstacles facing the nation. Unique in its optimistic approach and commitment to actionable insights, the podcast engages listeners who are eager to hear about solutions and possibilities rather than only issues and frustrations.

Where can I find podcast stats for Reasonably Optimistic?

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How many listeners does Reasonably Optimistic get?

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What are the audience demographics for Reasonably Optimistic?

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How many subscribers and views does Reasonably Optimistic have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Reasonably Optimistic?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Reasonably Optimistic:

1. Post Reports
2. The 7
3. The Opinions
4. Radio Atlantic
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Reasonably Optimistic are there?

Reasonably Optimistic launched 2 years ago and published 114 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Reasonably Optimistic?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Reasonably Optimistic?

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What guests have appeared on Reasonably Optimistic?

Recent guests on Reasonably Optimistic include:

1. Richard Reeves
2. Max Boot
3. Kori Schake
4. Charlotte Marian Pearson
5. Bina Venkataraman
6. Theodore Johnson
7. John Paul Brammer
8. Will Leitch

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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