About The Gist List

Let’s say you like staying informed. Let’s also say you like being the person at the dinner table who casually drops the story about the Icelandic mayor who moonlights as a competitive whistler. You know—news that matters and news that delights.

Welcome to The Gist List—a daily newsletter from Mike Pesca, host of The Gist podcast. It’s your one-stop digest for:

📰 The context and data behind the top headlines

🌀 The odd, overlooked, and "wait, what?" stories that catch Mike’s eye

🎙 A preview (or postview) of what’s on The Gist

🎭 A peek behind the Pesca curtain—where curiosity and commentary collide

Think of it as your daily primer before the podcast or your palate cleanser afterward. Either way, it’s smart, quick, and just judgmental enough to raise an eyebrow at lazy narratives.

So if you like your news with nuance, your weird stories with context, and your commentary with a smirk—hit subscribe. The Gist List is here to inform, amuse, and keep you just ahead of the group chat.

About Mike Pesca

Hi, I’m Mike Pesca. I host The Gist, a daily podcast where I tell you what’s happening, why it matters, and occasionally why it’s ridiculous. I’ve spent decades in journalism—at NPR, Slate, and other acronym-rich institutions—chasing stories, questioning premises, and marveling at the human tendency to be both fascinating and wrong.

Now I write The Gist List, because I figured: Why not bring the same mix of curiosity, skepticism, and occasional delight to your inbox?

I like stories with stakes. I like stories with twists. I like stories that involve Icelandic mayors who moonlight as competitive whistlers. And I like explaining why the thing that sounds like a thing… maybe isn’t actually the thing.

If you enjoy wit with your wonk, judgment with your journalism, or just want to be the most interesting person at brunch—this is the place for you.

Also, I root for the Mets. So yes, I understand disappointment and misplaced hope.

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