Rephonic
Artwork for Open to Debate

Open to Debate

Open to Debate
Political Speech
Israel
Dark Money
Citizens United
Democracy
Donald Trump
Iran
Racism
Color Blindness
First Amendment
Ukraine
Solar Geoengineering
United States
Social Policy
Civil Rights Movement
Campaign Financing
Childcare
Economic Implications
Secure the Border Act
Hamas

America is more divided than ever—but it doesn’t have to be. Open to Debate offers an antidote to the chaos. We bring multiple perspectives together for real, nonpartisan debates. Debates that are structured, respectful, clever, provocative, and driven by the facts. Open to Debate is on a mission to restore balance to the public square through expert moderation, good-faith arguments, and reasoned ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes437Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Open to Debate

Latest Episodes

What does it take to moderate a debate? How do we keep conversations civil when the world feels so polarized? In celebration of our launch on Substack, moderator-in-chief John Donvan joins Nayeema Raza and Reason’s Nick Gillespie for a lively convers... more

he Trump administration is taking the War on Drugs in a bold direction, using aircraft carriers, intelligence networks, and direct military strikes to target alleged smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Supporters of militarization... more

We are pleased to share an episode from the Clearer Thinking Podcast featuring Open to Debate Founder Robert Rosenkranz in conversation with Spencer Greenberg.

About this episode:

What makes a forum truly open-minded rather than performative? When ... more

How big is the divide between different age groups? In this inaugural episode of a new Open to Debate series, “Generational Divides,” Reason’s editor-at-large Nick Gillespie brings together a Baby Boomer, a Gen X-er, and a Gen Z-er to discuss Social ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Intelligence Squared
Intelligence SquaredIntelligence Squared
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Recent Guests

Jimmy Wales
Co-founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust
Wikipedia
Episode: Think Twice: The Seven Rules of Trust with Jimmy Wales
Vicky Ward
Co-author of The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy, podcaster, documentary host, and former CNN senior reporter
Open to Debate
Episode: Think Twice: The Idaho Four Tragedy with Vicky Ward
Stephen G. Breyer
Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Episode: Think Twice: Reading the Constitution with Justice Stephen Breyer
Brandi Kruse
Emmy Award-winning journalist and political commentator, host of Undivided.
Episode: Free Speech in the Trump 2.0 Era
Nadine Strossen
Senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, former national president of the ACLU and author.
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Episode: Free Speech in the Trump 2.0 Era
Alex Thompson
National political correspondent for Axios
Axios
Episode: Think Twice: Original Sin with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
Megan McCardle
Columnist and editorial writer for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
Episode: Think Twice: Original Sin with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
Alex Sheppard
Senior editor at The New Republic
The New Republic
Episode: Think Twice: Original Sin with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
Tracy Gendron
Internationally recognized gerontologist and executive director of the Virginia Center of Aging
Virginia Commonwealth University
Episode: Think Twice: Original Sin with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

Host

John Donvan
John Donvan is a seasoned moderator and journalist known for his work in fostering structured debates and facilitating civil discourse. He has a background in journalism and has served as a host for a variety of thought-provoking discussions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2.8k ratings
  • Open to Debate = Liberals and Leftists vs. Liberal Republicans

    I have listened to this for years and rarely is there a true conservative on here. Most times I see a conservative, it’s one of the “I’m a conservative, BUT obviously I hate Trump and he’s a horrible human being and I vote Democrat now.”

    John Donovan is pretty fair but he and his OTD team don’t seem to understand everyday GOP voters—they bring in the limousine, Ivy League elitist GOP-ers to debate. Like or hate Trump, his views are held by a majority of the right half of the country today and ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ConstitutionalConservativeVet
    United States3 months ago
  • The Absolute Best

    The civil discourse and timely topics give me life! Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    khooks1
    United States3 months ago
  • Is trump the only debate topic?

    Every single episode is some variation of “is trump good”. We get it, he’s a dumpster of a human. Surely there are other topics of discussion?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jim9864
    United States5 months ago
  • Jake Tapper is a hack wannabe journalist. He betrayed his country, hiding this, then wrote a book about his role in the betrayal.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Radark
    6 months ago
  • 1/2 n 1/2

    Some episodes seem biased and others do not. Overall a very interesting and thought provoking podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    BiggusBallsworth
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate the civil discourse and timely topics, finding the discussions to be thought-provoking and enlightening.
Feedback indicates a mix between admiration for the intellectual engagement offered and concern over perceived biases in guest selections or topic framing.
Some critics feel that the podcast has become less effective in terms of presenting truly varied perspectives and that it occasionally leans towards specific narratives.
Listeners have expressed a desire for a return to the show's earlier format, appreciating the structured debates and inclusion of live audience input.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
Sword and Scale
Sword and ScaleSword and Scale
I've Had It
I've Had ItJennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
The Viall Files
The Viall FilesNick Viall

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

INSIDE THE DEBATE with John Donvan, Nayeema Raza, and Nick Gillespie
Q: What is the hardest part about staying neutral when moderating a heated debate?
Staying neutral can be challenging, especially with strong opinions, but it is essential to maintain respect and structure in the conversation.
Debating the Legacy of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Q: How should the public health system adopt their communication strategies to fight misinformation?
Collaboration is key, and the health care community must approach communication with humility and a willingness to engage on social media platforms.
Debating the Legacy of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Q: Why do you suppose that your audience just soared during the pandemic? What were you doing that got them to listen to you?
I was there to provide accurate health information as a family medicine doctor when no one else was, which contributed to my audience growth.
Is Masculinity A Prison?
Q: Are men being held back by societal constructs or their own perceptions?
Lux posits that men often trap themselves in a cycle of needing to prove their masculinity, creating a losing game.
Is Masculinity A Prison?
Q: What made each of you think this is an important topic to talk about?
Mike believes that the current discourse on masculinity is not helpful for anyone, aiming to change it. Lux loves discussing gender roles and their impact on society.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Open to Debate

What is Open to Debate about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Offering a thought-provoking platform for civil discourse, this podcast brings together a diverse array of experts and thought leaders to engage in structured debates on contemporary issues spanning politics, society, science, and technology. With a commitment to nonpartisan perspectives, the show emphasizes the importance of respectful dialogue and critical engagement, catering to listeners who value well-reasoned discussions in an increasingly polarized environment. Notably, the podcast strives to bridge divides by presenting contrasting viewpoints, making it a unique resource for those interested in understanding complex societal issues through debate. Regular themes include public discourse, social justice, technological advancements, a... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Open to Debate?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Open to Debate. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Open to Debate and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Open to Debate get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Open to Debate, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Open to Debate?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Open to Debate, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Open to Debate have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Open to Debate has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Open to Debate?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Open to Debate:

1. Intelligence Squared
2. KCRW's Left, Right & Center
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Open to Debate are there?

Open to Debate launched 19 years ago and published 437 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 Open to Debate?

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 Open to Debate?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Open to Debate from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Open to Debate?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Open to Debate. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Open to Debate?

Recent guests on Open to Debate include:

1. Jimmy Wales
2. Vicky Ward
3. Stephen G. Breyer
4. Brandi Kruse
5. Nadine Strossen
6. Alex Thompson
7. Megan McCardle
8. Alex Sheppard

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days