This Is Hell! is a long-form political interview program hosted by Chuck Mertz, broadcast on WNUR Chicago since 1996. It features writers, activists and workers on politics and economics. The feed holds 500 episodes, published about every four days, typically 80 to 100 minutes long. Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, with a rate of $40 to $200 per episode.
Longform political interviews with a loyal, engaged Chicago-rooted audience
- Apple Podcasts shows 897 ratings with a 4.9 average, a strong sign of an engaged listenership
- Three decades on air, with 500 episodes and a regular twice-weekly cadence
- Host-read placements suit brands targeting progressive, politically engaged adults
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- interview, listener mailbag, solo monologue
- Tone
- critical, irreverent
- Language
- English
- Production
- Clean, edited audio
- Typical length
- 80 to 100 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- Yes
Funding is through a Patreon link named on the website and in the episode description, with no sponsor mentions found in the feed.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
The feed is flagged explicit and episode titles cover war, ICE and genocide, with political framing throughout.
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 | www.thisishell.com |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id73329951 |
| RSS feed | feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:7060… |
Benchmark score: 85 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Chuck Opens a Bloated Mailbag / The Greatest Audience in Hell & Chuck | 2026-10-14 | 1 h 13 min |
| Worker Resistance in Big Tech / JS Tan & Clarissa Redwine | 2026-10-13 | 1 h 27 min |
| An Indicted Minneapolis 15 Defendant Speaks Out / Cal Robinet | 2026-10-07 | 1 h 39 min |
| Building Socialism Requires Dismantling Empire / Sudip Bhattacharya | 2026-10-06 | 1 h 34 min |
| Another Brazilian Coup Attempt Underway / Brian Mier | 2026-09-22 | 1 h 32 min |
| Breaking ICE / Sonali Kolhatkar | 2026-09-18 | 1 h 30 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 5 days ago, a new one about every 4 days.
Manufacturing Dissent since 1996
About This Is Hell!
This Is Hell! is a longform political interview program hosted by Chuck Mertz, who has presented the show since 1996. According to the show's website, it is broadcast on WNUR Chicago and features journalists, authors and activists discussing the forces behind politics, with gallows humor. The feed lists 500 episodes released about every four days, typically 80 to 100 minutes long.
Apple Podcasts shows 897 ratings with a 4.9 average and the show was listed there in 2005. Listeners are likely adults interested in politics and economics, though these audience figures are estimates. The feed carries no sponsor mentions and the show is funded through Patreon.
The show suits brands with a progressive, politically engaged audience, including book publishers and nonprofit campaigns. Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, which implies roughly $40 to $200 per host-read mid-roll ad.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. This Is Hell! can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about This Is Hell!
How much does This Is Hell! charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, so a host-read mid-roll ad is roughly $40 to $200 per episode. Exact rates depend on the placement and the show's current terms.
What is This Is Hell! about?
This Is Hell! is a longform political interview program hosted by Chuck Mertz. It features journalists, authors and activists discussing politics, economics and social issues in long episodes.
How do I contact This Is Hell! about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.
Similar creators
Podcast and other creators in political interviews, ranked by score.
| Creator | Niches | Est. downloads | Median views | Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| economicsleft politics | 15k | – | $90–620 | 98 | |
The Bill Press Podpodcast | us politicsnews commentary | 50k | – | $360–2000 | 92 |
The Socialist Programpodcast | left politicsnews commentary | 15k | – | $90–620 | 89 |
Bad Faithpodcast | politicsnews commentary | 5k | – | $40–200 | 53 |
Jacobin Radiopodcast | left politicseconomics | 40k | – | $360–1500 | 50 |
Sid & Friends In The Morningpodcast · US | talk radionews commentary | 15k | – | $90–620 | 47 |