The show is a direct, yet friendly way to ease into the headlines of the day. No raised voices or stress. There’s a little humor sometimes. I appreciate it.

Listen if want to one-sided news. I’m not hearing the full story here. I’ve listened since 2021 and want something more middle of the road. Leaving.

This is some of the best, most unbiased, interesting reporting available. I prioritize this podcast as my first listen every week day. It keeps me informed across US and international news, usually with a side of human interest, and makes keeping up with the news (literally a full-time job for people) easy and fun. I recommend this podcast to anyone who asks (and many who don’t even ask). lol

Just like Brad said on a talk show a few years ago, Start Here is like hearing the news from a friend. Especially when turbulent times stress me out, I can always come on Brad and the team on Start Here to give me my daily dose of information in easy-to-digest sound bites. I only have one complaint: I feel quite cheated when I listen to the VERY end of an episode and there is no clever sound tag, especially on Fridays. I live for those sound tags, Brad! Thanks for the wonderful podcast!

Love the podcast most of the time. I do occasionally get annoyed with misinformed reporting, and especially when including Fr. James Martin as the defacto representative for the Catholic Church (bad representative). That’s my big reason for only 4 stars. You want someone to accurately represent the Catholic Church? Talk to the guys at The Pillar.

As a newbie to the 9 to 5 life, I absolutely love listening to Start Here on my way to work. I know how well I’m doing time/traffic-wise based on where I am when Brad says, “This is Start Here, I’m Brad Mielke.” (Which I always say along with him.) I love the concise, easy to follow reporting and always consider it a treat when there’s a fun sound bite at the end! Thanks to Brad and Team Start Here for being a part of my morning routine, y’all are doing great. :)

As someone who is autistic, I find start here’s reporting on autism is problematic, insulting, and sensationalist. Overall the podcast has been framing it as a burden, a disease, something that needs to be cured or dealt with. They show overly dramatic scenes to further their points, and don’t include any autistic voices in their reporting. It prioritizes drama over nuance, sensationalism over substance. I really liked start here, I thought they would be better than this. Instead they contribute to the harmful stigma around autism.

Waking up every morning I’ve found it’s essential to have a cup of coffee in my hand and start here in my ear. Like the morning walk that gives me a good start to my daily energy, start here is the kick start to my daily knowledge. I would be lost without it.

Would be nice if you would report ALL the facts and info about stories.

Shame on you for having someone on today (4/14/25) who described autism as a disease. It is a genetic neuro developmental disorder. As a parent of an autistic son I am disheartened that you would allow such information on your show. I think you need to correct this quickly.

I love Start Here. I look forward to it each morning. Brad delivers the news in language I understand, asks questions I would ask, in a time snap that holds my attention. Start Here is a great way to get the top stories, along with random trivia (which I also love) with “One Last Thing.” Thanks!

I’ve been listening on my TV because it follows the morning national news. What is different is Brad has a lovely voice and speaks clear about the news from a perspective that you can relate to and trust the information. I have since added this show to my podcasts and following on my mobile device. Thanks to all of the Start Here team for trusting news to keep us informed and updated.

I discovered this podcast when I told my Echo to “play the news.” It quickly became part of my morning routine as I began work each day. They do great job at covering the major news stories and have SMEs or analysts on to enhance the coverage.

Brad, the way I gasped when you said you “taking a few months off”. Anyway, thank you for continuing to be an awesome start to every day!

I’ve listened to this pod on and off for years, and I’ve been in a on period for a while. I didn’t realize how much I enjoy and appreciate the pod until today when it wasn’t in my feed during my normal getting ready time 🥺 is the pod okay? Checking on my strong friends.

Best news podcast, super informative and I love how you break things down and make it easy to understand. And Brad, love your energy - thank you!

I started listening to this Podcast August 2018! Brad and his team do Amazing work. No other News Outlet (podcasts or otherwise) has been as reliable, consistent, and as fun as the Start Here podcast. Looking forward to 7 more years! Buckle in Brad. 🤣 Sorry for taking so long to leave a review/rating. They say you’re friends-for-life after 7 years, so I figured it was time 😭🤣

No notes.

It’s a real shame that a news organization with such great resources produces such a politically biased show. I’ll give one example just from today: the subject was about potential privatization of public buildings and organizations like Amtrak and USPS (a strategy that has been very successful in other countries like Australia and New Zealand). The hosts just scoffed and dismissed the idea out of hand like it was a joke. Would love it if this show actually provided serious thoughtful analysis rather than echo chamber news candy.

I deleted a bunch of other news apps that were extremely biased in their reporting and I gave this podcast a chance, but after the latest Israel humanitarian aid report that was in today’s show, it just goes to show how biased your reporting is. Before it was NO humanitarian aide was going through Gaza, but now it’s just about Israel stopping it. Yet, I haven’t heard unbiased reporting about the performance Hamas was doing with the hostages and forcing living hostages to watch their friends be released. PLEASE report honestly and equally. Enough is enough.

3/3/25 Must listen - however… in today’s episode when MTGs boyfriend was called “a reporter” by your correspondent in the episode (question about Zelensky’s attire/lack of suit)… I find this misleading and frankly rude to not reveal who was taunting Zelensky in that moment.

This episode is not ok. Claiming that Zalinsky yelled too is not accurate. This smacks of sucking up to Trump.

Love this podcast! These are the 5 things I did 1. Donated things to Goodwill 2. Laughed at everyone with Trump bumper stickers. 3. Ate ice cream on Monday AND Tuesday 4. Volunteered making sack lunches for homeless people 5. Just continued to laugh at everyone who put Trump bumper stickers on their Teslas and ugly CyberTrucks! Happy Friday!!

Great show! Very informative!

Great show! Always engaging. Start Here is the first thing I listen. I couldn’t help but laugh at your last episode. If Elon had asked me what I’ve done. I probably would’ve told him about my accomplishments and Yoga, gardening etc.

Start Here is my very favorite news show of all times! You are pretty much the only news outlet that I trust, and I’m always bummed on the weekends when there’s not an episode so I’m excited to hear about your expansion! Keep doing the good work!

This is show is a pretty good broad overview of daily news…until the host is allowed to get snarky at the end with the “One Last Thing” segments. The actual news in “One Last Thing” is often informative, and I would be happier if the host stuck with just the facts. But then, there’s some oh-so-clever remark…I imagine it’s somebody’s idea to leave on a positive note, but I more often end up leaving mildly disgusted. I suppose I have two options: skip “One Last Thing” completely or drop the entire show. It’s not like there’s a shortage of news podcasts, etc. and it wouldn’t be the first time I dropped a thing because it was covered in too much snark…

Selling the same pro vaccine bias along with many other propaganda/hot topic selling points.

I have listened to your podcast for over a year now. Every morning while I get ready for work, it’s the best! Thank you for helping me stay up to date on current events.

The news lately is just too much and confusing mentally. This is the only 30 mins per day I allocate to news and it is done in a very clear way. Thanks everyone who works on this program!

Brad and his team bring important information and quality headlines everyday, in a very digestible way. And Brad has an amazing sense of humor!!! It’s like starting my morning with a great friend! Thanks Brad!

Weekends and holidays feel weird now because I don’t have new episodes to start off my day.

Brad Milkey is amazing at sharing the most hot topics of the news, and it helps me as someone who gets often stressed out by the current events. To just get a recap on all the daily news I recommend listening to Start Here.

This podcast has become so political. Please just report the news without all the bias!

Thanks Brad. I began listening to Start Here over a year ago. Throughout the recent election and the first part of the new presidency, this ABC crew has presented unbiased reporting of the daily information. This is refreshing no matter which side of the aisle one stands on. All of the other news sources seem to blame and bash one side or the other for everything.

The first thing I do when I wake up every morning is turn on Start Here. The reporting is spot on.

Listen to Start Here every morning as I get ready for the day. Keeps me informed and educated about what is happening in the world. Host and reporters are all great!

I’ve been listening to this podcast since the pandemic. It’s just enough to make me feel informed (but not overwhelmed). Thank you, Brad! Hearing your voice is like chatting with a good friend each day!

So I’ve listened since 2020 but I think I’ll be done now after that story about Patrick Mahomes because I’m in Kansas City and I’m a Chiefs fan but thanks for a good five years

I understand wanting to be a bit more balanced after the results of the Nov 5 election but I feel like the slant now is pro-Trump, not a neutral look at the news. Some of the stories have bordered on sycophancy. Anything to do with the $15 million settlement? I gave you a chance but today the final straw was to not talk about Jan 6 pardons but instead to focus on the ones Trump just did for the two cops in the Moped Caper. Start Here used to be my favorite podcast, started every day with it. I’ll miss Brad. Can I say that I am just extremely disappointed.

You’re a real one (1/23/25 episode) 🤙 also the news coverage is solid, always start my day with this show!

Thank you for keeping us informed and keeping it fun

I LOVE Start Here…usually. But to not even mention that Musk through up a Sieg Hiel during the inaugural events is unacceptable. I understand that Trump has indicated he will punish those who speak out about him, but who will step up to tell the Truth to the American people…well, maybe that’s why we are where we are as a country. Do Better team!

I don't have cable and don't watch much TV so this is a great way for me to keep up on the news.

I listen to the news while exercising and always enjoy the show.

This is hands-down, my favorite podcast. I listen every day including when I’m on vacation or traveling for work. I wish the episodes were a little longer. 45 minutes would be phenomenal. Keep up the great reporting!

Great show

For Someone who wants to be more Knowledgeable about world news but finds it overwhelming to watch the news or doesn’t have the time, this is an excellent podcast.

Been listening to this podcast for a year but the thinly veiled jabs and bluntly inserted bitter and spiteful opinions are getting too hard to tolerate after the election. This is not the way to gain and maintain listenership. If I want propaganda I would go to fox or msnbc.

Might I suggest a whole new podcast called one last thing!