Words Matter, from The DSR Network and hosted by Riley Fessler, analyzes American politics and the week's news with guests drawn from government, journalism and policy. The show has 470 episodes released roughly weekly, typically running 40 to 60 minutes. Estimated downloads are 20,000 to 80,000 per episode, with a host-read rate of $360 to $2,000 per episode.
Weekly American politics analysis with an engaged audience of 2,857 Apple ratings
- Holds a 4.6 Apple Podcasts average across 2,857 ratings, with most ratings at five stars.
- Has 470 episodes on a steady weekly cadence, giving a sponsor repeated exposure over time.
- Features guests from government, journalism and policy, which lends the show credibility on current events.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- co-hosted analysis, interview, news commentary
- Tone
- critical, serious
- Language
- English
- Production
- Clean, edited audio
- Typical length
- 40 to 55 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed. The feed lists no funding links, and the show is linked to a Substack newsletter and a company website.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Explicit flag is 0, but episode titles such as 'Trump's Biggest War is Against the American People' and 'What to Do When Trump Tries to Steal the Next Election' show overtly partisan political content that brands should review.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | dsrnetwork.substack.com |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1420216970 |
| RSS feed | feeds.megaphone.fm/TRGM2789420791 |
Benchmark score: 93 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Down to the Wire in a Battle for America’s Soul | 2026-10-16 | 53 min |
| The Gathering Storm | 2026-10-08 | 43 min |
| A Conversation with Timothy Snyder: Winning is Essential…But it is Not | 2026-10-01 | 57 min |
| Is it Time for a Lickspittle Hall of Fame? | 2026-09-24 | 43 min |
| How Low Will the Mobster-in-Chief Go? | 2026-09-17 | 51 min |
| 25 Years After 9/11 and the Greatest Threats We Face Are From Within | 2026-09-10 | 43 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 3 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.
American politics is undergoing seismic changes that will alter the course of history. At Words Matter, we believe that facts, evidence, truth and objective reality are necessary and vital in public discourse. Our hosts and guests have broad experience in government, politics and journalism -- this gives them a unique ability to explain recent events and place them in historic context. Together,…
About DSR's Words Matter
Words Matter is a weekly American politics podcast from The DSR Network, hosted by Riley Fessler. Each episode analyzes the week's news with guests from government, politics and journalism, placing recent events in historical context. According to the show feed, the podcast has released 470 episodes since July 2018 on a cadence of about one episode every seven days, with a median length of roughly 47 minutes.
The show holds a 4.6 average across 2,857 ratings on Apple Podcasts, which is a signal of an established listener base. Based on that rating count, cadence and hosting, the estimated audience is 20,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode, and listeners are estimated to skew toward adults aged 35 and over, mostly in the United States. The feed shows no sponsors, so the show is a candidate for a first host-read sponsorship.
At an estimated $18 to $25 per 1,000 downloads, a host-read mid-roll would cost roughly $360 to $2,000 per episode. The show suits civic, news and political-interest brands that accept its partisan tone. The source for these facts is the show's RSS feed and Apple Podcasts listing.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. DSR's Words Matter can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about DSR's Words Matter
How much does Words Matter charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on an estimated 20,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll is priced at roughly $360 to $2,000 per episode. Final pricing depends on the sponsor's package and on the show's own terms.
What is Words Matter about?
Words Matter is a weekly American politics podcast from The DSR Network, hosted by Riley Fessler. Each episode analyzes the week's news with guests from government, politics and journalism.
How do I contact Words Matter about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked as well.
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