Michael Hobbes Explained

Michael Hobbes
Occupation:Journalist and podcaster
Known For:Maintenance Phase,
You're Wrong About,
If Books Could Kill
Website:https://rottenindenmark.org/

Michael Hobbes is a journalist and podcast host. He was formerly a Senior Enterprise Reporter for HuffPost. His writing has also appeared in Pacific Standard, The New Republic, and Slate.

Hobbes currently co-hosts the podcast Maintenance Phase, which criticizes the science behind health and wellness fads, and the podcast If Books Could Kill, which critically examines the premises of various popular non-fiction books.[1] He also previously co-hosted You're Wrong About, which explores the truth behind popular narratives about well-known historical events and phenomena.

Career

Before beginning his writing career, Hobbes worked in human rights for 11 years. He was previously a reporter for the Huffington Post, where he covered the new economy. He also writes journalistic and personal essays for publications including Pacific Standard, The New Republic, and Slate. His article on the plight of millennials was nominated for a National Magazine Award.[2] He has also appeared in multiple episodes of WNYC's On the Media.

Michael Hobbes, along with co-host Sarah Marshall, started the podcast You're Wrong About in May 2018. Each episode centers a historical event or concept and breaks down the common myths and misconceptions that surround it. Unlike many history podcasts, one co-host researches the episode and the other blind-reacts to the information. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns the podcast gained a cult following. Hobbes decided to step away from the podcast in October 2021, citing his wish to end his involvement on a high note.

Hobbes and Aubrey Gordon have co-hosted the podcast Maintenance Phase since October 2020.[3] The show examines the myths and "junk science" behind health, nutrition, and wellness trends, and have discussed topics including popular diets and diet foods, anti-fat bias, and eating disorders.[4]

In November 2022, Hobbes and lawyer Peter Shamshiri launched If Books Could Kill, a podcast that breaks down popular non-fiction books like Freakonomics in the same style as Maintenance Phase and You're Wrong About.

Reception

Hobbes questioned the veracity of a 2024 essay in The Atlantic by a former New York Times editor who said he had been chastised by human resources due to eating at Chick-fil-A, given the CEO's position against same-sex marriage. The Atlantic asserted that the story had been fact-checked and confirmed with multiple Times employees, and journalists Robby Soave and Erik Wemple also supported the magazine.[5] [6] Jonathan Chait called Hobbes a "bad-faith media critic" who reflexively criticized stories inconvenient to left-wing causes.[7]

Personal life

Hobbes is gay.[8] He has lived in Seattle, Berlin, the United Kingdom and Denmark.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: McCann . Fiona . If Books Could Kill: Sharp takedowns of dumb takes . The Irish Times . April 25, 2023.
  2. Web site: ELLIES 2018 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED . www.asme.media.
  3. Web site: Quah . Nicholas . The Best Podcasts of 2021, According to People Who Make Podcasts . Vulture . April 25, 2023 . en-us . December 29, 2021.
  4. News: Petersen. Victoria. September 9, 2021. Breaking Down the 'Wellness-Industrial Complex,' an Episode at a Time. en-US. The New York Times. October 1, 2021. 0362-4331.
  5. News: Soave . Robby . Robby Soave . February 29, 2024 . New York Times Staffers Bullied a Conservative Writer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517113031/https://reason.com/2024/02/29/new-york-times-staffers-bullied-a-conservative-writer/ . May 17, 2024 . May 21, 2024 . Reason.
  6. News: Wemple . Erik . Erik Wemple . March 7, 2024 . New York Times employees fighting over Chick-fil-A? Sounds about right. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240307234251/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/03/07/chick-fil-a-new-york-times/ . March 7, 2024 . May 21, 2024 . The Washington Post.
  7. News: Chait . Jonathan . Jonathan Chait . March 1, 2024 . The ‘Fake’ New York Times Chicken-Sandwich Story Turns Out to Be Quite Real . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240512192106/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/the-fake-n-y-times-chicken-sandwich-story-is-quite-real.html . May 12, 2024 . May 21, 2024 . New York.
  8. Web site: Reese . Isaac . Reese: Solving Gay Loneliness by Finding Community . The Daily Utah Chronicle . October 21, 2019 . April 25, 2023.
  9. Web site: Wilson . Gemma . Millennial Provocateur Michael Hobbes . City Arts Magazine . April 25, 2023 . January 2, 2018.