Podcasters to Check Out
Segment #753
These two very independent thinkers are not going to be manipulated by sponsors to flog their agenda. You may not always agree with these two; however, their ideas are thoughtful and honest. Tucker has been attacked for his America First philosophy where anything seemingly contrary can and should be questioned. Patrick Bet David is an ambitious smart entrepreneur who two years ago offered Carlson 100 million dollar contract to join his company.
Tucker Carlson
Success Overview
Tucker Carlson is a prominent conservative political commentator who rose to fame through his long-running show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News, which he hosted from 2016 until his departure in 2023. At its peak in 2022, the show averaged 3.3 million viewers per episode, making it one of the highest-rated cable news programs. Following his exit from Fox, Carlson launched The Tucker Carlson Show in December 2023 via his independent platform, Tucker Carlson Network (TCN), distributed on X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other services. Key milestones include:
Becoming the most popular new show on Apple Podcasts in 2024.
Surpassing The Joe Rogan Experience as the top podcast on Spotify in July 2024.
Ranking 21st in the US Podcast Ranker by Triton Digital (Q3 2025, based on listeners/viewers).
Episodes consistently garner high viewership, with an average of 1.06 million views per episode in June 2025, and several exceeding 1 million views. Carlson's shift to independent media has been hailed as a disruption to traditional outlets, with Elon Musk noting that his content often achieves more views than legacy media networks. His influence extends beyond podcasting, including viral interviews and a reported impact on political discourse, particularly within conservative circles.
Audiences and Followers
Carlson's audience is predominantly conservative and Republican-leaning, with a focus on political commentary, current events, and cultural issues. Demographics skew older, whiter, wealthier, and more male compared to the average Fox News viewer. Specific insights include:
Age: Historically tied to cable news trends, with a median viewer age around 68 (from 2015 data) and about 70% over 50 (2019 Pew Research). However, his post-Fox content has gained traction among younger adults, especially young conservatives aged 18-34, through platforms like X and YouTube.
Gender: More male-dominated.
Political Leaning: Strongly conservative and Republican; audience members tend to approve of figures like Donald Trump at high rates (e.g., 64% approval among Fox viewers in 2019 polls).
Other Demographics: Whiter and higher-income than average news consumers. Surprisingly, his Fox show attracted the most Democratic viewers in the 25-54 age demo across cable news in early 2022 (421,000 viewers), though this may reflect crossover appeal or curiosity. Follower counts across platforms (as of January 2026):
X (Twitter): 16.96 million (
@TuckerCarlson
YouTube: 1.64 million subscribers (Tucker Carlson Network channel), with 405 million total views and 1,900+ videos.
Overall listenership: Ranked highly on streaming platforms, with strong engagement from US-based audiences interested in anti-establishment narratives.
Patrick Bet-David
Success Overview
Patrick Bet-David is an Iranian-American entrepreneur, author, and media personality best known for founding Valuetainment Media and the PBD Podcast. He built his empire after immigrating to the US, starting with PHP Agency (a financial services company) and expanding into content creation focused on business, entrepreneurship, leadership, politics, and current events. Key achievements include:
Author of bestsellers like Your Next Five Moves (a #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller) and other books on business strategy.
Valuetainment has grown into a major media brand with millions of followers, emphasizing "valuetainment" (value + entertainment) through interviews with high-profile guests like politicians, business leaders, and celebrities.
The PBD Podcast, launched in 2020, features in-depth discussions and has accumulated hundreds of episodes, often blending business advice with political commentary.
Ranked 160th in the US Podcast Ranker by Triton Digital (Q3 2025).
Strong digital growth: The podcast and related channels generate tens of millions of views monthly, with content syndicated on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. Bet-David's influence extends to live events, consulting, and minority ownership in the New York Yankees. His success is rooted in appealing to aspiring entrepreneurs and self-made individuals, with a reported net worth in the hundreds of millions from his businesses.
Audiences and Followers
Bet-David's audience is primarily business-oriented, attracting entrepreneurs, professionals, and those interested in personal development, finance, and conservative-leaning political discussions. While specific demographic data is limited, the content suggests a focus on motivated, achievement-driven listeners. Inferred demographics based on content and platform analytics:
Age: Likely skewed toward 25-44, appealing to young professionals and millennials/gen-Z building careers or businesses, though it also draws older executives.
Gender: Predominantly male, given the emphasis on entrepreneurship, finance, and competitive mindsets.
Political Leaning: Conservative-leaning, with frequent right-wing guests and topics, but inclusive of broader business and pop culture discussions; Bet-David identifies as a conservative media personality.
Other Demographics: Diverse professions (e.g., business owners, salespeople, investors), with higher education and income levels among core listeners. Strong US focus, but global appeal due to immigrant success stories and universal business themes. Follower counts across platforms (as of January 2026):
X (Twitter): 1.43 million (
@patrickbetdavid
YouTube:
PBD Podcast channel: 2.85 million subscribers, 830 million total views, 4,600+ videos; growing at 30,000 subscribers and 29 million views per month.
Valuetainment main channel: 7.1 million subscribers, with individual videos reaching up to 8 million views.
Instagram: Approximately 5 million (
@patrickbetdavid
Overall listenership: Engaged community on podcasts, with episodes covering a wide range for broad appeal.
