Best Carson Levy Podcasts (2026)

1
Chris Turner: Possession is 9/10 of the Word 1:03:11

Play Pause

9h ago1:03:11

1:03:11

Oxford-educated archaeology student turned freestyle sensation Chris Turner joins Mike Pesca to explain how his "British period" of deadpan one-liners evolved into the show-stopping rap flow that now defines his Comedy Cellar sets. Turner discusses the "evolutionary advantage" of not knowing the rules of hip hop as a ten-year-old in Manchester—a bl…

1
Nick Freitas on the Crisis of Christian Masculinity 37:49

13h ago37:49

37:49

On this episode of Crosspolitic recorded live at AmFest 2025, hosts Toby Knox and Gabe welcome Nick Freitas, former Green Beret and Virginia State Legislator, to talk about the issue of building faithful Christian men and families in a hostile culture and why the church must boldly stand for biblical truth while equipping believers to engage politi…

1
Michelle Buteau: An Achievable Beyonce 48:56

1d ago48:56

48:56

Michelle Buteau explains why she is the "achievable Beyonce" for government workers and how her history editing grim news footage at WNBC led her to a record-breaking comedy career. Her new special, A Beautiful Mind, marks her as the first woman of color to headline Radio City Music Hall—a feat she attributes to the same grit that carried her throu…

1
T.J. Miller: You'll Do Better in Toledo 49:28

2d ago49:28

49:28

Actor and comedian T.J. Miller explains why a traumatic brain injury is his improvisational "cheat code"—and how a 2010 surgery for an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in his right frontal lobe fueled a career of manic chaos. Miller discusses the "invisible disability" of brain surgery and the high-stakes gamble of a 10% fatality rate. Along the wa…

1
AmFest: A Political Revival? (ft. Dr. Joe Boot & Virgil Walker) 29:27

3d ago29:27

29:27

In this special Crosspolitic show at AmFest, Knox, Toby, and Gabe welcome Dr. Joe Boot from the Ezra Institute and Virgil Walker from G3 Ministries to talk about the issue of Christian unity in the political sphere and why believers can work together on mission despite theological differences.By Pastor Toby, Choc Knox, Waterboy

1
BARD - What Is the FBI Hiding in Epstein and Why 28:55

4d ago28:55

28:55

In this holiday episode of Reasonable Doubt, Mark is joined by a special guest co-host, his daughter and fellow criminal defense attorney Teny. Together, they dig into the latest twists in the Jeffrey Epstein saga after the DOJ announced the discovery of more than a million additional documents, raising serious questions about discovery failures, t…

1
Sarah Silverman & Kyle Kinane: Comedy, Cancel Culture, and Conspiracies 36:16

4d ago36:16

36:16

Mike unlocks two interviews from the vault featuring comics who navigate the cultural minefield with very different styles. First, Sarah Silverman discusses her evolution from "arrogant ignoramus" character comedy to earnest podcasting, reflecting on her blackface controversy, her embrace of the "Bernie bro" label, and why she believes being wrong …

1
Alex Edelman: "The Hardest Thing to Talk About in a Joke is Israel." 57:48

5d ago57:48

57:48

In this special holiday week episode, Mike sits down with comedian Alex Edelman, fresh off a Tony Award for his show Just For Us and a spot on the Time 100 list. They discuss the "liquid dynamics" of a Comedy Cellar audience, the art of bombing while testing new material, and why jokes about the Israel-Gaza conflict are the hardest tightrope in com…

1
Roy Wood Jr.: "People Just Want to Feel Good." 1:02:19

6d ago1:02:19

1:02:19

In this special Christmas Day edition, Mike gives the gift of Roy Wood Jr., a comedian who embodies the "profundities in punchlines" ethos. Wood joins to discuss his CNN show Have I Got News for You, his upbringing as the son of a pioneering radio journalist, and the central thesis of his comedy: that in a fractured world, people prioritize dopamin…

1
Django Gold: The Comedian Who Wants to Dim Your Shine 58:21

7d ago58:21

58:21

In a special Christmas Eve edition, Mike brings you a "gift" from the comedy vault: an interview with the brilliantly off-kilter Django Gold. A veteran of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Onion, Gold discusses his YouTube special Bag of Tricks and his commitment to playing a paranoid, morose character on stage—a persona he claims is "clos…

1
2025 Wives Christmas Special (Answering YOUR Questions)! 1:39:29

8d ago1:39:29

1:39:29

By Pastor Toby, Choc Knox, Waterboy

1
The Myth of "National Unity" | AmFest 2025 (feat. Doug Wilson & Seth Gruber) 24:18

8d ago24:18

24:18

Crosspolitic is at AmFest 2025! We're here talking with Doug Wilson ( @blogmablog4870 ) and Seth Gruber ( @SethGruberShow ). Sign up for the FLF 2026 Holy Wars Conference for Early Bird pricing! https://tickets.flfnetwork.com/holy-wars-conferenceBy Pastor Toby, Choc Knox, Waterboy

1
Thomas Chatterton Williams: Why the Summer of 2020 Wasn't Inevitable 39:31

8d ago39:31

39:31

Thomas Chatterton Williams joins to discuss his new book, The Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse. He argues that the racial reckoning of 2020 was not an inevitable tide of history but a perfect storm of pandemic isolation, polarizing politics, and institutional failure. TCW dissects how mainstream institution…

1
Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson HIJACK AmFest 2025 49:16

8d ago49:16

49:16

Steve Deace joins the guys to discuss Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson's recent feud and their on-stage squabble at TPUSA AmFest. Sign up for the FLF 2026 Holy Wars Conference for Early Bird pricing! https://tickets.flfnetwork.com/holy-wars-conferenceBy Pastor Toby, Choc Knox, Waterboy

1
Quico Toro: "Charlatans Burrow Into Your Life and Don't Leave." 36:32

9d ago36:32

36:32

Quico Toro joins to discuss Charlatans: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Hucksters Bamboozle the Media, the Markets, and the Masses, distinguishing the "parasitic" nature of the charlatan from the hit-and-run tactics of the scammer. He traces the lineage of the grift from the official alchemists of 16th-century Venice to the upsell tactics of Trump Uni…

1
BARD - Competency, Insanity Pleas, and the Cost of Justice with Teny Geragos 24:47

11d ago24:47

24:47

Mark and Gary are joined by guest host Teny Geragos for a deep dive into one of the most complex and misunderstood areas of criminal law. Using the Nick Reiner case as a lens, the panel unpacks why arraignments are delayed, how competency evaluations and insanity pleas actually work, and what lawyers must consider when mental illness is front and c…

1
Rob Reiner: "I Just Viewed My Child in Pain" 35:02

12d ago35:02

35:02

In light of the recent tragedy, Mike unlocks a 2016 interview with the late Rob Reiner. It is a conversation that now plays differently: Reiner discusses his film Being Charlie, which was written by his son Nick Reiner—the man now arrested in connection with his death. Mike reflects on the director's legacy, the eerie prescience of their discussion…

1
Jay Jurden: High Profundities Per Minute 51:47

12d ago51:47

51:47

Comedian Jay Jurden explains why nine years of theater training is his "superpower" on the stand-up stage—and why he treats every punchline like a line of dialogue rather than a personal diary entry. His new special, Yes Ma'am, argues that physical specificity (from "rolling a wheelchair into affordable housing" to Marjorie Taylor Greene's hooves) …

1
213: John Abendshien KNOWS Movies, Healthcare, Curiosity Gone Wild, Human Nature, Kevin McCallister & Home Alone Home Ownership 33:48

12d ago33:48

33:48

Imagine your home suddenly transformed into a Hollywood icon. That's precisely what happened to John Abendshien, whose real-life house became the star of "Home Alone." More than just a film set, it turned into a character of its own, filled with traps and slapstick chaos that helped make the movie a global hit. Decades later, the house remains lege…

1
Nicholas Wright: When Ancient Brains Meet Modern War 41:30

13d ago41:30

41:30

Neuroscientist Nicholas Wright explains why big powers "lose" wars they dominate on the kill ratio—and why counterinsurgencies (Vietnam, Afghanistan, maybe Iraq) reliably punish the side with less at stake. His new book, Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain, argues that identity, surprise, and revenge are ancient brain feature…

1
James Clyburn: "The World Would Much Rather See a Sermon Than Hear One." 42:29

14d ago42:29

42:29

Clyburn discusses The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation, explaining how Reconstruction-era Black lawmakers navigated power, compromise, and backlash—and why their choices still resonate. He reflects on faith as action, not rhetoric, and on history as a guide rather than a museum piece. Plus: Mar…

1
Mikhail Zygar: From Glasnost Whiplash to Social-Media Smog 41:26

15d ago41:26

41:26

Russian journalist in exile Mikhail Zygar traces an information system so sealed even Gorbachev couldn't get the facts in The Dark Side of the Earth: Russia's Short-Lived Victory Over Totalitarianism. He draws a straight psychological line from late-Soviet overload to our current tech-firehose, arguing humans don't change much; institutions do (and…

1
The Lust Epidemic No One's Talking About (ft. Dr. Jared Moore) 41:40

16d ago41:40

41:40

On this episode of CrossPolitic One-on-One, Gabe welcomes on Dr. Jared Moore, pastor and author, to talk about the issue of sexual lust and why it represents a fundamental affections problem that requires believers to fall more deeply in love with God's character and design. Read Dr. Jared Moore's new book 33 Days to Freedom From Lust: A Hope-Fille…

1
Chris Dalla Riva: "Billboard's become a Christmas chart." 39:42

16d ago39:42

39:42

Data journalist Chris Dalla Riva brings charts, facts, and plenty of fight to Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us About the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves, a tour through every Billboard Hot 100 #1 and the strange incentives that pick our "popular." They debate whether streaming makes the charts more accurate or just more boring—why Christma…

1
BARD - Grand Juries, Power Struggles, and the High-Stakes Politics of 2026 20:35

18d ago20:35

20:35

Mark and Gary break down the mounting tension inside a high-profile Los Angeles grand jury investigation, examining the rare public clash between prosecutors, LAPD, and the medical examiner, what it signals about the strength of the case, and why a major development could come sooner than expected. The conversation then shifts to Washington, where …

1
Finding the Next Terry Gross with Daniel Oppenheimer 40:22

19d ago40:22

40:22

In this special Saturday edition, Mike sits down with Daniel Oppenheimer of Eminent Americans to tackle a high-stakes question: Who is worthy of the Fresh Air throne? They dissect the craft of interviewing, critique the "unprepared celebrity" podcast trend, and evaluate potential successors ranging from Colin McEnroe to Jon Ronson. Produced by Core…

1
Shadi Hamid: The Left Should Learn to Love American Power 42:52

19d ago42:52

42:52

Shadi Hamid joins to discuss his new book, The Case for American Power, arguing that progressives' retreat from global engagement is a mistake. He contends that while the Left often views U.S. hegemony as intrinsically immoral—citing the legacy of Iraq and the tragedy in Gaza—the alternative of withdrawal often leads to greater atrocities, such as …

1
Not Even Mad: Anthony Weiner & John Ketcham 1:03:30

20d ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Anthony Weiner and John Ketcham break down a Congress being flayed by its own fringes, where the "crazies" sometimes deliver the sharpest institutional critiques. They then assess Pete Hegseth and the possible release video of a lethal Caribbean boat strike, the challenges reshaping New York politics, and what it really means to govern a city you o…

1
212: Mark Malkoff KNOWS Entertainment, Comedy, Late Night TV, Obsessive Behavior & Johnny Carson 35:11

21d ago35:11

35:11

Mark Malkoff is a comedian, writer, and podcast host. He has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, CNN, NPR's Weekend Edition, and for eight years hosted the popular podcast The Carson Podcast. His new book, "Love Johnny Carson," is a wildly entertaining account by one of the world's most obsessed and informed fans of TV icon Johnny Carson,…

1
Holiday Suicides: Is That BS? with Sadie Dingfelder 27:42

21d ago27:42

27:42

Holiday dread is real enough—fraught family gatherings, forced merriment, and the persistent myth that December is the peak month for suicide. In truth, it's the lowest month for suicides, even as the season brings elevated risks of car crashes, cardiac emergencies, and alcohol-related ER visits. Sadie Dingfelder joins for an Is That Bulls**t? to e…

1
Mark Rowlands on Memory and the Stories We Tell Ourselves 26:16

22d ago26:16

26:16

The philosopher discusses The Book of Memory: How We Become Who We Are, exploring how recollection constructs identity, coherence, and the personas we inhabit. He explains why memory is less an archive than an act of ongoing authorship, shaped by emotion, imagination, and the stories we rehearse. The conversation traces the boundary between what we…

1
From Imam to Apostate: What Every Christian Needs to Know About Islam (ft. Mark Christian) 51:37

23d ago51:37

51:37

On this episode of Crosspolitic One-on-One, Gabe welcomes on Dr. Mark Christian, founder of the Global Faith Institute, to talk about the issue of political Islam in America and why Christians need to understand the true nature of Islamic ideology and how to effectively witness to Muslims while defending America's constitutional Christian foundatio…

1
Daniel Zoughbie: The Mightiest Turns an Enemy into a Friend 34:27

23d ago34:27

34:27

Daniel Zoughbie discusses Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump, arguing that Truman's one-sided recognition of Israel and decades of U.S. overreliance on defense distorted the region's trajectory. He traces missed off-ramps from Oslo to the Olmert–Abbas talks, explaining why partition remains the on…

1
BARD - Harmeet Dhillon on Texas Redistricting, Campus DEI Crackdowns and Life Inside DOJ 30:14

25d ago30:14

30:14

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon joins Mark Geragos to break down the Supreme Court ruling on Texas redistricting, her overhaul of campus DEI programs, and the sweeping changes she is driving inside the DOJ. She also reflects on public service, recruiting new attorneys, and the unexpected role knitting plays in managing a…

1
Mike Pesca on the Vig, the Fix, and the John Goodman Thumb 33:43

26d ago33:43

33:43

On this Saturday edition, Mike Pesca joins the cast of Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone to explain the dopamine minefield of modern sports betting. He walks Paula and Adam Felber through the mechanics of the "vig," the absurdity of Cleveland pitchers throwing balls into the dirt to cover prop bets, and the time NBA legend Chauncey Billups unwitti…

1
Why It’s Not Okay for Candace Owens to ‘Just Ask Questions 1:21:53

26d ago1:21:53

1:21:53

Why It’s Not Okay for Candace Owens to ‘Just Ask Questions On this episode of Cross Politics, Knox, Toby, and Gabe welcome viewers into the studio to talk about the issue of Candace Owens' recent conspiracy theories surrounding Charlie Kirk's assassination and why her approach to journalism violates biblical principles of justice and truth-telling.…

1
Funny You Should Mention: Mohanad Elshieky 1:03:08

26d ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Mohanad Elshieky joins Funny You Should Mention with stories that make Benghazi feel less like a political Rorschach test and more like the small town where he learned comedy by roasting his siblings and dodging unlicensed militias. He walks us through the dictatorship-era silence around politics, the sudden rise of ISIS-adjacent checkpoints, and t…

1
Raising Faithful Children in a Wicked World | Larry Taunton (FLF 2025) 1:01:34

27d ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Sign up for the FLF 2026 Holy Wars Conference for Early Bird pricing! https://tickets.flfnetwork.com/holy-wars-conferenceBy Pastor Toby, Choc Knox, Waterboy

1
TJ Raphael on the Liberty Godparent Trap and the Cost of Coercion 37:17

27d ago37:17

37:17

TJ Raphael, host of the series Liberty Lost, joins Mike to investigate the "Liberty Godparent Home"—a facility on Liberty University's campus where pregnant teens were allegedly pressured into adoption under the guise of spiritual redemption—and discuss why the financial incentives of the "adoption industrial complex" often cause the promise of ope…

1
Rachel McCarthy James on Axe Murder, Salad Spinners, and the Hat-Brim Line 37:25

28d ago37:25

37:25

True crime historian Rachel McCarthy James joins to talk about Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder, tracing humanity's relationship between axe and skull, where questions about Axe-related word play are axed and answered. Then the show pivots to how algorithms elevate the most loathed spokespeople on every hot-button issue, from Riley Gaines to Jasm…

1
Daniel Brook & Brandy Schillace: The Sex Expert Who Scared Hitler 32:11

29d ago32:11

32:11

Daniel Brook and Brandy Schillace trace the life and legacy of Magnus Hirschfeld, the so-called "Einstein of Sex," from his pioneering Institute for Sexual Science to the Nazis parading his severed likeness at the 1933 book burning. They dig into the longer prehistory of Weimar queer politics and antisemitism, discussing how obsessions with masculi…

1
Murdaugh Showrunner Michael D. Fuller: Power Metastasizes 42:01

1M ago42:01

42:01

Michael D. Fuller joins to talk about Hulu's Murdaugh: Death in the Family. The conversation digs into what scripted drama can do that true-crime podcasts and prosecutors can't, especially around messy motives and family dynamics that don't fit a neat trial narrative. Plus, an opening segment on Trump's "don't give up the ship" blowup, congressiona…

1
BARD - How a RICO Prosecution Unraveled in Real Time 12:53

1M ago12:53

12:53

Mark and Gary break down the dramatic collapse of the Georgia RICO case tied to Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, a prosecution they have followed from the start. They revisit the courtroom moments that foreshadowed the ruling, reflect on Ashleigh Merchant's pivotal role in exposing misconduct, and discuss why the judge’s dismissal may mark an important…

1
Jesse Eisenberg: "Marv Albert Is My Therapist" 24:41

1M ago24:41

24:41

On this Saturday edition, Mike Pesca reaches into the archives for a 2016 classic with actor and author Jesse Eisenberg. They discuss Eisenberg's short story collection Bream Gives Me Hiccups and the "creek vs. crick" linguistic controversy it sparked, while analyzing why a nine-year-old restaurant critic is the perfect vessel for exposing adult hy…

1
Bob Saget & Chuck Klosterman: "I Really Have Become Liza Minnelli" 33:13

1M ago33:13

33:13

Today on The Gist, the late Bob Saget, who reconciles his Full House image with his "Dirty Daddy" persona while admitting he was a "nerd burglar" in his youth. They dissect the difference between misogyny and locker room talk, deconstruct the logic of his famous "Winnebago" joke. Then, cultural critic Chuck Klosterman joins to analyze The Nineties,…

1
Henry Winkler & Clint Watts: "Three Little Fonzies and a Trail of Dead Russians" 38:04

1M ago38:04

38:04

On this Thanksgiving edition Mike Pesca serves up two revitalized classics, starting with Henry Winkler (The Fonz), who joins to discuss his Hank Zipser books, the unique Dutch font designed for dyslexic readers, and his tenure-granting plan to design the world's first consumer jet pack. Then, we revisit a conversation with counterterrorism expert …

1
211: Robin Hauser KNOWS Documentaries, Egg Freezing, Human Nature & Courageous Women 31:49

1M ago31:49

31:49

Once a niche medical procedure, egg freezing is now a billion-dollar industry that promises women the ability to pause their biological clocks and extend their reproductive choices. For some, it's a path to empowerment; for others, it's a costly gamble in an unregulated system with no guarantees. Through the experiences of three American women navi…

1
Abby Phillip: "The Stones for David's Slingshot" 46:05

1M ago46:05

46:05

Mike Pesca is joined by CNN anchor and author Abby Phillip to discuss her new book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power. They explore Jackson's soaring, sermon-like rhetorical style and the hubris of the "tree shaker, not a jelly maker" philosophy. The conversation traces how Jackson's push to change delegate rul…

1
Not Even Mad: Russ Muirhead & Nick Gillespie 1:03:49

1M ago1:03:49

1:03:49

Mike Pesca welcomes back Nick Gillespie (Reason Magazine) and first-time guest Russ Muirhead (Dartmouth professor and New Hampshire State Rep.) for a spirited debate that is—we swear—not even mad. Today, we look at the half-full autocratic glass: Does the dismissal of the Comey and James indictments prove that institutions are holding, or does the …

1
How Genesis 1 Destroys the Myth of Secular Government (ft. Levi Secord) 38:51

1M ago38:51

38:51

On this episode of Crosspolitic One-on-One, Gabe welcomes Pastor Levi Secord, founding pastor of Christ Bible Church and author of "Servant Not Savior," into the studio to talk about the issue of developing a biblical political theology and why the church desperately needs to apply Scripture to every area of life, including civil government. Buy Le…