Master Plan, hosted by David Sirota and produced with The Lever, is an investigative serial podcast on how small groups of powerful people shaped major public problems. It has 26 episodes in feed, released about every two weeks, typically 50 to 60 minutes. Estimated downloads per episode are 20,000 to 80,000 (estimated), with a rate of $360 to $2,000 per episode.
Award-winning investigative series reaching a politically engaged, high-income news audience
- Honored with the 2025 National Press Club Award for Audio Journalism and a Webby Awards honoree designation
- Ratings average 4.8 across 713 Apple Podcasts ratings, signaling a loyal listener base
- Long-form episodes of 50 to 60 minutes give sponsors room for a full host-read integration
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- narrative, serialized investigation, bonus interview
- Tone
- serious, investigative
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 50 to 60 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- The Lever
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- Yes
Funding link to a paid subscription to The Lever appears in the description; no sponsor mentions found in the feed.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Political investigation covering military action and government power, including the episode 'Obama's Kill List' and 'State of Emergency'; the explicit flag is 0.
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 | masterplanpodcast.com/ |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1723377799 |
| RSS feed | rss.swap.fm/feeds.megaphone.fm/master-plan |
Benchmark score: 62 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Introducing “You Might Be Right:” Will Redistricting Shape the Midterm | 2026-10-01 | 53 min |
| Episode 8: The Inheritance | The Kingmakers | 2026-09-14 | 57 min |
| Episode 7: The King’s Man | The Kingmakers | 2026-08-25 | 1 h 3 min |
| Episode 6: Obama’s Kill List | The Kingmakers | 2026-08-18 | 1 h 15 min |
| Episode 5: State of Emergency | The Kingmakers | 2026-08-11 | 1 h 4 min |
| The Return of the Kingmakers | 2026-07-28 | 3 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 18 days ago, a new one about every 14 days.
SEASON TWO: THE KINGMAKERS IS HERE For early access to future episodes and exclusive bonus content, click here to upgrade to a paid subscription to The Lever. Master Plan, the award-winning investigative podcast series from The Lever, reveals the hidden forces behind today’s biggest problems — and how small groups of powerful people engineered those problems to serve their own interests. We are…
About Master Plan
Master Plan is an investigative podcast from The Lever, hosted by David Sirota, that examines how small groups of powerful people engineered major public problems. According to the show's feed and the Master Plan website, the series has 26 episodes released about every two weeks, typically running 50 to 60 minutes, with Season Two titled The Kingmakers now in release. Sirota is described as an award-winning investigative journalist and Oscar nominee for his work on the film Don't Look Up.
The show holds a 4.8 average across 713 ratings on Apple Podcasts, and the description cites the 2025 National Press Club Award for Audio Journalism, a New York Festivals Radio Award, multiple Signal Awards, and a Webby Awards honoree designation. Listeners are estimated, not measured, to skew toward adults over 35 with a US-centered audience.
Sponsorship is not visible in the feed; the show promotes a paid subscription to The Lever. Based on an estimated 20,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll would cost roughly $360 to $2,000 per episode. Brands seeking civic, policy or book-adjacent audiences should consider the show, and the show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80 while boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Master Plan can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about Master Plan
How much does Master Plan charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on estimated downloads of 20,000 to 80,000 per episode, a host-read mid-roll is estimated at about $360 to $2,000 per episode. Rates are estimates derived from listener signals, not a published price card.
What is Master Plan about?
Master Plan is an investigative podcast from The Lever, hosted by David Sirota, exploring how small groups of powerful people shaped major public problems. Season Two, The Kingmakers, is currently releasing.
How do I contact Master Plan about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked directly through Starbooked.
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