Lost Debate

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Politics
Updated weekly

Lost Debate is a weekly podcast from The Branch that brings you news, ideas, and arguments from around the political spectrum. We engage in the good-faith discussions that too much of our society and media miss. It's hosted by Ravi Gupta, a former Obama staffer turned school principal.

1 day ago

Fire Bad Teachers and Bad Cops

Why is it so hard to fire bad teachers and bad cops? Ravi sits down with Robert Gordon and Nick Bagley to discuss the problems with public sector unions—how they use political influence, protect ineffective workers, and make it difficult to reward excellence. They explore how a small number of poor performers can have an outsized impact on schools, policing, and public trust, and examine what states that have successfully reformed these systems are doing differently. –––––––– Nick and Robert's recent piece in The Argument: https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/democrats-should-fire-bad-teachers Lost Debate ▪️Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate ▪️Get show notes and email updates - https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ ▪️Follow us - @thebranchmedia Ravi Gupta ◾ Pre-Order Ravi’s new book The Invisible List - https://readinvisiblelist.com/ ◾Join the Invisible Posse - https://readinvisiblelist.com/posse ◾Read Ravi’s Substack - https://realravigupta.substack.com ◾Follow Ravi - https://www.instagram.com/ravimgupta/ Host: Ravi Gupta Guests: Nicholas Bagley and Robert Gordon

46 min
4 days ago

How Andrew Tate Gets Away With It

Andrew Tate became one of the most influential figures on the internet by selling young men a vision of power, wealth, and masculinity. But behind the viral clips, luxury cars, and billions of views lies a disturbing trail of allegations, court cases, leaked messages, and accusations of abuse spanning multiple countries. In this conversation, New Yorker reporter Heidi Blake takes us inside her months-long investigation into Tate's empire, the women who say they were harmed, and the political forces that helped elevate him. It's a chilling look at influence, accountability, and the question of who, if anyone, will stop him. Heidi Blake’s piece, Andrew Tate’s Empire of Abuse (New Yorker, June 2026) _______ Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/

47 min
6 days ago

A New Wave of Psychedelics

What happens when technology starts reshaping the human mind—and recording every moment of our lives? Ravi Gupta sits down with Atlantic staff writer Ross Andersen to explore two fascinating frontiers: the next generation of engineered psychedelics and the rise of AI-powered surveillance devices that can remember everything. They discuss whether scientists can design specific emotional states on demand, how psychedelics may transform medicine, and why a growing number of people are carrying AI assistants that record their daily lives. The conversation raises a deeper question: as technology gives us more control over our minds and memories, what might we lose in the process? –––––– Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/

30 min
17 Jun

How Britain Became as Poor as Mississippi

Britain was once one of the world’s economic success stories. Today, parts of the UK are no richer than Mississippi. Atlantic staff writer Idrees Kahloon joins Ravi Gupta to unpack Britain's stunning decline: 18 years of wage stagnation, the fallout from austerity and Brexit, crumbling public services, sky-high housing costs, and the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform Party. They also discuss whether standardized testing is making a comeback in American higher education—and what that says about merit, inequality, and elite institutions. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/

48 min
14 Jun

The Case for Constraints

Why do constraints so often lead to better results? In this conversation, Ravi chats with bestselling author David Epstein, who explains how limitations can spark creativity, improve focus, strengthen decision-making, and drive innovation across writing, business, sports, and technology. Drawing on stories from Haruki Murakami, David Chang, Pixar, Amazon, and NASA, David argues that success comes from balancing exploration with focused execution. The lesson is counterintuitive but powerful: having fewer options is often what unlocks our greatest potential. ––––– Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/

53 min
10 Jun

An Optimist’s Guide to Investing

Ravi sits down with financial writer and Animal Spirits co-host Ben Carlson to discuss investing, inflation, market psychology, and why long-term optimism still wins. From stock market crashes and recessions to AI, passive investing, retirement, and wealth building, Ben explains why trying to time the market often backfires—and what investors should do instead. They also explore today's biggest economic risks, from government debt and tariffs to tech concentration and speculative investing. If you're wondering how to build wealth in an uncertain world, this conversation offers a practical framework for staying invested and thinking long term. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/

43 min
5 Jun

Will Platner Cost Dems the Senate?

Ravi Gupta examines the growing scandals surrounding Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, from newly revealed sexting allegations to controversial past comments and mounting questions about his character and judgment. He explores whether Platner's supporters—and the Democratic influencers and leaders who helped elevate him—are overlooking serious warning signs. With control of the Senate potentially on the line, Ravi asks whether Platner has become a political liability and what his rise says about the future of the Democratic Party. Pre-order Ravi’s new book The Invisible List Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-List-Passion-Year-Every/dp/0593980859/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2TKS6Y9B9VBMT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5LDAYpIV1QkF6qGXMXrOoA.RwdEWCV1lydW_PuYCdxwhLCv2L61Iu1CcRT9HDQXAxQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=ravi+gupta+invisible+list&qid=1780260764&sprefix=%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1 Local: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-invisible-list-a-guide-to-conquering-deferred-dreams-ravi-gupta/cc0da5aa0e8c5bb9?ean=9780593980859&next=t Book website: https://readinvisiblelist.com/ Email pre-order receipts to: lauren@orangeboatmedia.com ––––––– Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/ Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F Listen to Where the Schools Went: https://thebranchmedia.org/show/where-the-schools-went/

40 min
2 Jun

The Case Against Dating Apps

Dating apps promised to make finding love easier. Instead, many people feel more disconnected, discouraged, and lonely than ever. Ravi sits down with relationship coach, matchmaker, and founder of The Feels, Allie Hoffman, to explore why dating apps may be failing us, what we've lost by outsourcing connection to technology, and how real-world community can help us find our way back. Together, they unpack modern loneliness, the hidden costs of swipe culture, and the case for getting off the apps and into real life. Ravi's new book The Invisible List –––––––––––– Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 201-305-0084⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Notes from this episode are also available on Substack: ⁠https://thelostdebate.substack.com/⁠ Follow Ravi at @RaviMGupta Read more from Ravi on Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com Follow The Branch at @thebranchmedia Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-debate/id1591300785 Listen to more episodes of Lost Debate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xR9pch9DrQDiZfGB5oF0F

53 min

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Trailer

Introducing: The Lost Debate

Lost Debate is a non-profit media company founded to tell the stories of those misunderstood, overlooked, or just plain threatening to those with privilege and power. We’re ethically contrarian, which means we challenge conventional wisdom —not to be different or provocative —but to tell stories and highlight issues we believe are valid and underrepresented. Through originally produced podcasts, long and short-form videos, written commentary, and investigative journalism, we’ll build fresh narratives.

21/10/2021

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2 min

Ravi Gupta

Host
Rikki Schlott

Host

Lost Debate is a weekly podcast from The Branch that brings you news, ideas, and arguments from around the political spectrum. We engage in the good-faith discussions that too much of our society and media miss. It's hosted by Ravi Gupta, a former Obama staffer turned school principal.