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.
Impromptu
Claim This Podcastby The Washington Post
3.9(118 reviews)
163 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
34
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality29
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement98
Podcast Overview
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.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/6/2024
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
34
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality29
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement98
5
Excellent Areas
3
Good Performance
11
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Publishing Consistency
Every 5 days
Performing excellently!
good
Show Notes Quality
3.0/5
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
poor
Episode Thumbnails
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
+16 More Metrics
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report
See how your show performs across every key metric
Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Secure Sponsorships
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Grow Your Audience
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
1 verified contact email on file for Impromptu
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
July 17, 2026
Lonely Gen Z needed this wake-up call
Host Megan McArdle interviews Wall Street Journal editor Emma Camp about why Gen Z must actively combat loneliness and embrace vulnerability to build genuine connections.
July 15, 2026
This actor drove 10,000 miles to ask men about loneliness
Host Megan McArdle interviews actor, director, and author Andrew McCarthy about his 10,000-mile journey exploring male loneliness and the fading of friendships.
July 10, 2026
The problem with ‘Tax the rich!’
Host Megan McArdle explains why taxing billionaire wealth is complex, as it represents assets rather than spendable income.
163 total episodes available with 102 transcripts
Recent guests on Impromptu
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Emma Camp
Guest
Andrew McCarthy
Guest
Richard Hanania
Guest
Shawn Grain Carter
Guest
Kat Rosenfield
Guest
Gad Saad
Guest
Adam Frank
Guest
Ed Elson
Guest
Dr Leana Wen
Guest
Leana S Wen
Guest
Richard Reeves
Guest
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
The Dispatch Podcast
The Dispatch
Matter of Opinion
New York Times Opinion
Very Serious with Josh Barro
Josh Barro, Megan McArdle & Ben Dreyfuss
Advisory Opinions
The Dispatch
The Opinions
The New York Times Opinion
Post Reports
The Washington Post
The Ezra Klein Show
New York Times Opinion
The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg
The Dispatch
Radio Atlantic
The Atlantic
Left, Right & Center
KCRW
Conversations with Bill Kristol
Bill Kristol
Stay Tuned with Preet
Preet Bharara
The David Frum Show
The Atlantic
GLoP Culture
Ricochet
Playbook Deep Dive
POLITICO
Deep-dive analytics for Impromptu
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Impromptu?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.