Shows / Heard Tell
Heard Tell
Turning down the noise of what we are hearing in the news cycle, social media, and the discourse to get to the information on culture, politics, and the issues of the day we need to properly discern the times we live in.
Hosted by Andrew Donaldson
Episodes
Heard TellWhat’s Really Going On in Venezuela, Brazil, & Latin America?
What’s really happening in Latin America, and why is the U.S. media getting so much of it wrong? Host Andrew Donaldson (@four4thefire) is joined by Venezuelan…
Heard TellMedium J: The Gate City to the 2026 Midterms w/ Eric Garcia & Andrew Donaldson
Eric M. Garcia of The Political Spectrum went to Greensboro, NC, to see how the midterms look on the ground. He and host Andrew Donaldson cover the collapse of…
Heard TellThe Kids Are Alright: Teaching Civics in College
Historically when West Virginians and Kentuckians get together, bad stuff happens, but our friend Jeffrey Tyler Syck digitally reached across the metaphorical…
Heard TellExplaining The “Stagflation Lite” Economy
A horrible jobs report, angst over gas and consumer prices, conflicts around the world, and a bitter midterm election cycle here at home means one thing: we…
Heard TellPanic! at the Russian Plague Disco
The death of a researcher in Siberia has lit a worldwide fire back under the public health debate. With so many layers to this story from internet panic…
Heard TellCongress, Midterms, and Twitching Ain’t Easy
Ace reporter and congressional insider Eric Garcia returns to talk doing journalism in the era of streamers and content creators, what’s really going on in the…
Heard TellA Whole Lotta Space News with Dr. Michael Siegel
We are thrilled to have our friend and long-time Heard Tell contributor Dr. Michael Siegel back to talk about all the recent headlines on space. Dr. Siegel is…
Heard TellWhat The Botched Execution of Christa Pike Tells Us
What an omnishambles, to take a term from our UK friend. Host Andrew talks the death penalty, the botched execution, and what it says about the judicial…
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Teacher Recruitment Changes Lives. It Did Mine
Let’s talk about teachers on this episode of Heard Tell, specifically how a program covered by Amelia Knisely in WV Watch reminds me of the programs that…
Heard TellOld Biases Ain’t Working in New Media Ecosystem
Some brief thoughts on why the privilege of platform demands that we who have it must be willing to adapt and change, because the audience doesn’t care about…
Heard Tell25 Years Of Still Not Knowing How To Talk About 9/11
My personal habit of not really talking about 9/11 on 9/11 ends today. And going forward. I talk about why, my experience that day, dealing with memory…
Heard TellDoes the Governor's Shirt Color Matter in West Virginia Politics? YES!
All heck is breaking loose in West Virginia’s gubernatorial politics. After weeks if not months of speculation US Senator and former WV Governor Jim Justice…
Heard TellAn American and a Canadian Talk About Trade Uproar
While American and Canadian officials crank up the rhetoric, threats, and retaliations, we try to turn down the noise on the US-Canada trade hot mess as our…
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Perspective, Expectations, and Affordability's Moving Target
Instead of yelling at others as part of the “affordability”, for this Heard Tell we take the roiling online debate and bring it back to the personal. Having a…
Heard TellLet's Talk West Virginia Water Right Quick
The old saying goes being listened to is better than being heard because the latter is passive and automatic whereas listening is active and requires focus…
Heard TellFather of Apalachee High School Murder Gets 15 Years and That's A Good Thing
Some thoughts on charging parents for enabling the violence of their mass shooting children, why “fell through the cracks” is a lie, and why accountability for…
Heard TellThe Sickening Del Elliott Pritt Abuse Charges and Backstory
The story of WV House of Delegate member Elliot Pritt being charged with grooming and abusing a student has made me sick. Reviewing my text messages w/him &…
Heard Tell"Follow the money" Explains Sports and Politics
One of our principles on Heard Tell when covering politics & culture is “follow the money” since that’s the closest you usually can get to the truth in a world…
Heard TellAmerica 250 w/Englishman Ben Harris: Part Two
Talking America 250 (Part 2). The conversation turns stateside as Ben Harris, an Englishman with a serious soft spot for America but experienced working in the…
Heard TellAmerica 250 w/Englishman Ben Harris Part One
For the 4th of July and reviving an old tradition, Host Andrew sits down with our man in Westminster, Ben Harris, for the 4th of July episode. Ben (soccer…
Heard TellDoom, Boom, and Data Centers
Our friend Gabriella Hoffman of IWF, Outsider on the Inside Substack, District of Conservation Podcast, and a whole bunch of other stuff returns to talk about…
Heard TellState of the Unions: UK Politics, Starmer's Mandelson/Epstein Scandal, US/UK Relations, Trump & more
Live from the UK on a very busy news day Over Yonder Jack Rowlett joins Heard Tell to react to PM Keir Starmer going before the House of Commons for a two hour…
Heard TellThe Economy, But In Plain Language w/Dr Stephen Popick & Andrew Donaldson
Host Andrew Donaldson is joined by economist Dr. Stephen Popick to talk proper economic terms from the headlines life inflation, The Fed, and more, how to…
Heard TellSome Common Sense Regarding AI and Higher Education
Host Andrew Donaldosn brings his unique perspective on AI and higher education as someone who has college-aged children, his own education, and currently being…
Heard TellHeard Tell Live: Trump Announces Iran War "Ceasefire" w/ reporter Eric Garcia
President Trump announces a "ceasefire" in the Iran War, so we do instant reaction with The Independent's Washington Bureau Chief Eric Garcia, plus…
Heard TellInstant Reaction: Pres Trump Presser, Rescued Airmen, Iran War, & more
Andrew Donaldson gives his instant reaction after President Trump's press conference that started with the rescued airmen and ended with a hot mess of…
Heard TellHeard Tell Live: Political Philosophy & The Drunk Drivers of Gravel Ridge
On trying to do better than the race to the bottom politics, social media, and news media have all decided to not only do, but monetize and make the dominate…
Heard TellHeard Tell Live: Self-Induced Cluster Injuries Mount For President Trump
In football, they call it "cluster injuries" when multiple problems start to compile and cross streams to derail everything else the team might be…
Heard TellHeard Tell Live: Iran Conflict Up to This Point
Some thoughts on the ongoing Iran conflict, what is and isn't being reported well about the conflict, talk about the troops/veterans, and more on this Heard…
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Me, and 63 Million Other Americans: Grown Folks Talk on Caregiving and Home Healthcare
On this episode of Heard Tell, Andrew returns after an extended absence to explain where he has been, and he hasn't been working - publicly at least - lately…
Heard TellLosing 50 Years of Autism Progress, Revisionist History & Conspiracy Theories , RFK Jr, MAHA & more
On this episode of Heard Tell, we turn down the noise on on the growing reaction to HHS Sec RFK, Jr's and President Trump's comments on Autism at the recent…
Heard TellThe Political Issues and Cultural Controversies Fracturing the United Kingdom with guest Oliver Dean
On this episode of Heard Tell, we're back "across the pond" to check in on our United Kingdom friends with Oliver Dean joining us from the UK. What's…
Heard TellAnatomy of a political rally: Bernie Sanders in West Virginia w/ local reporter Justice Hudson
On this episode of Heard Tell, we turn down the noise on US Senator Bernie Sanders visiting West Virginia as part of his current tour with reporter and founder…
Heard TellPractical Explainers to Economic Headlines w/ economist Dr Stephen Popick
On this episode of Heard Tell, we turn down the noise on economic headlines and the interwebs and talking head reaction to them, by asking our economist friend…
Heard TellWhat We Need To Know About The Black Sea Region w/ Antonia-Laura Pup
On this episode of Heard Tell, we focus on one of the most strategically important and geopolitically challenging areas of the world: The Black Sea Region…
Heard TellCanada vs America tariff tussle, Trump vs Carney, economics of travel, politics of housing crisis
On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew talks with Sabine Benoit, the Canadian Policy Associate at the Consumer Choice Center about the current state of…
Heard TellHulk Hogan's Life and Scandals, Superhero Summer at Box Office, Movie Prices & more w/ Luis Mendez
On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew talks and our film critic friend Luis Mendez of the Mendez Movie Report break out their lifelong wrestling fandom to…
Heard TellGOP Congress Taps Out, Epstein Files, Redistricting, Midterms, JD Vance, & RIP Ozzy w/Eric Garcia
On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew talks with our friend and congressional reporter Eric Garcia who takes us beyond the headlines and inside the halls…
Heard TellWhy Box Office Is Way Up From Last Year, Disney & Live Action Remakes, Film Reviews w/ Luis Mendez
On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew talks with our friend and certified film critic Luis Mendez of the Mendez Movie Report on why this year's box…
Heard TellLA Riots, Trump, Troops, Media, & Having Enough Integrity To Survive First Contact With Viral Video
"Do you have enough principles and personal integrity to survive first contact with a viral video?" On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew talks…
Heard TellWhat News & Political Media Get Wrong About Nerd Culture, Content Creation, & more w/ Peter Pischke
On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew welcomes back Peter Pischke of CultureScape for a rousing discussion of how "nerd culture" should really…
Heard TellThe Death Penalty, "Botched" Executions, and a Whole Bunch of Cowardice In The State Killing Someone
On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew shares some thoughts on yet another news story furthering the debate on the death penalty, and how a combination of…
Heard TellJoe Biden Has Cancer, We're All Going To Die, and the Interwebs & News Media Ain't Handling It Well
On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew shares some thoughts on the news that former President Joe Biden has cancer, and how once again the news media…
Heard TellGrown Folk Talk on Middle East, al-Sharaa and Syria, Trump’s Trip, & Saudi/Qatari Soft Power Plays
On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew shares some thoughts on the current state of politics, politicians, people, places, and a whole bunch of money…
Heard TellActually, The Problem is Congress, And the Blame Lies With Us
On this episode of Heard Tell host Andrew talks about the blame game that is a core of politics and pundits but reminds us that the finger pointing of news and…
Heard TellAI Skepticism, Using ChatGPT to Cheat Your Way To A Degree, & Why I'm Applying to Community College
On this episode of Heard Tell host Andrew shares some thoughts on the NY Magazine article "Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College” and uses it to…
Heard TellSignal Scandal and The Eternal Truth That OPSEC Ends Where Convenience Begins
On this episode of Heard Tell host Andrew shares some thoughts on the Signal scandal involving Trump administration officials using the messaging app as a…
Heard TellSacred Cows & Spending Cuts: DOGE, Veterans, Entitlements, & the Rhetoric of Other People's Problems
On this episode of Heard Tell host Andrew comes fresh of some talking heading to talk through the reported cuts coming for Veterans Affairs, the wider push for…
Heard TellWere The Oscars Overly Political? Winners & Losers, Controversies Large and Small, plus Marvel/Disney Woes & more w/film critic Luis Mendez
On this episode of Heard Tell we are talking about the goings on at the Academy Awards. The Oscars are always a cultural moment to slather our political &…
Heard TellTalking Canada w/Canadian Sabine El-Chidiac: Tariffs, Trump, Trudeau, Economics, Elections & more
On this episode of Heard Tell, we turn down the noise of the news cycle and get to the information we need on Canada being all over US news and politics. But…
Heard TellInside Congress, Reaction to Trump, RFK Jr & Autism, Politics of DCA & more w/ reporter Eric Garcia
On this episode of Heard Tell, we turn down the noise of the news cycle and get to the information we need on the early days of the new Trump administration…
Heard TellEverything Is A Conspiracy If You Don't Understand How Things Work
There have always been bad faith media actors and conspiracy theorists, because human nature is undefeated and there is nothing new under the sun. But…
Heard TellTerror Attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas Get 2025 News/Social Media Off to Bad Start
On this episode of Heard Tell, we turn down the noise of the news cycle and gets to the information we need as 2025 starts out with two terrible terrorist…
Heard TellPresident Joe Biden Pardons His Son Hunter Biden
On this Heard Tell turns down the noise of the news cycle and gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to President Joe Biden deciding to pardon his son…
Heard TellVeterans Benefits, The Economist “Absurd” Claims, & Grown Folks Talk About The Cost Veteran Affairs
On this Heard Tell host Andrew Donaldson took a few days before responding to an article in The Economist entitled "American veterans now receive absurdly…
Heard TellMeet the New Congress, a Lot Like The Old Congress, GOP Senate Leadership, & more/ Eric Garcia
On this Heard Tell host Andrew Donaldson talks post-election politics on Capitol Hill with senior Washington Correspondent at the Independent Eric Garcia, who…
Heard TellVeterans Day and the Cost of Service
On this Heard Tell host Andrew Donaldson talks about Veterans Day and the cost of service, both the broad perspective of how the Department of Veterans Affairs…
Heard TellSo, Now What? 2024 Election Aftermath, Voting Coalitions, & What Comes Next
On this Heard Tell host Andrew Donaldson talks the aftermath of the 2024 election and talks the coalition that won it for the GOP and what Democrats need to do…
Heard Tell2024 Election Reaction: Trump Wins
On this Heard Tell Special Edition host Andrew Donaldson reacts to the 2024 elections results as former President Donald Trump becomes the president-elect…
Heard Tell2024 Election Primer: Nothing is Happening, and Nobody Knows Anything
On this Heard Tell host Andrew Donaldson explains that while content must be created, analysts must analyze, and talking heads must talk, there really is…