Mickey Bergman: "Even Maduro Has a Soft Spot"

The Gist

Peach Fish Productions

Daily News, News

4.5 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2026

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Mickey Bergman, who negotiates the release of political prisoners, returns to explain how freeing hostages from the world's most hostile regimes runs entirely on emotional intelligence, not geopolitical leverage. He walks through two cases — using Bill Richardson's death to unlock a Venezuelan prisoner release, and a single carefully orchestrated meeting with Myanmar's military junta leader. Bergman also discusses the Gilad Shalit exchange that put Yahya Sinwar back in circulation. Plus, Mike updates the March Madness bracket with injury news: Ali Larijani is out for the tournament. And in the Spiel, why Burger King's Baba O'Riley rebrand is less a comeback than a confession. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist

Transcript

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0:00.0	What does it really mean to have a good life in our politics, our work, our relationships?
0:03.6	If you care about social justice, science, or the search for meaning, you'll find courageous,
0:07.8	practical conversations. No Small Endeavor, the Signal Award winning an M.B. Award-nominated podcast
0:14.4	produced by our friends at Great Feeling Studio.
0:17.3	We've talked about No Small Endeavor in the past.
0:19.9	Host Lisee Camp leads thought-provoking
0:22.6	conversations with artists, philosophers, politicians, and beyond. Where do politics and justice
0:28.0	meet the pursuit of the common good? Find out with no small endeavor available on Apple Podcast,
0:33.8	Spotify, or wherever you listen.
0:43.5	It's Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 from Peachfish Productions.
0:44.3	It's The Gist.
0:45.3	I'm Mike Peska.
0:47.5	So some March Madness Update.
0:48.7	You're going to want to know who's out.
0:50.6	Braden Huff from Gonzaga.
0:52.6	He's not going to be returning.
0:53.2	He's out. Also, here's an update from Alabama,
0:56.3	agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force conducted a search of the 400 block of 30th
1:03.2	Avenue, and there they recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia, and cash.
1:08.6	Aidan Holloway is or was a player in Alabama was charged with first-degree possession
1:14.5	of marijuana and failure to affix attack stamp.
1:17.3	Now the marijuana, I understand, but the failure to affix a tax stamp, that just riles me.
	...

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