Who Is Michael Hobbes? Biography, Career, Podcasts & Life Story

SUMMARY

Michael Hobbes is an American journalist, writer and podcast host who has earned a reputation for tackling complex subjects and presenting them in an accessible, engaging manner. His writing and podcasts have explored topics as diverse as social issues and economics, wellness culture, popular books and the way stories are often understood by the public.

For most, Michael Hobbes’ work comes in the form of podcasts rather than traditional journalism. His works in this space include Maintenance Phase and If Books Could Kill, with You’re Wrong About helping to make him a household name.

• Michael Hobbes at a Glance

❖ Name: Michael Hobbes

❖ Profession: Journalist, writer and podcaster

❖ Birthday: April 18 (Based on biographical data)

❖ Birthplace: Seattle, Washington

❖ Known For: Maintenance Phase, If Books Could Kill, and You’re Wrong About

❖ Previous Employer: HuffPost

❖ Education: Journalism, psychology; studied in Denmark

❖ Current Podcasts: Maintenance Phase and If Books Could Kill

Little is known publicly about Michael Hobbes’ age. It is best to avoid any assumptions based on limited data.

• Early Life and Education

Image Source: Pixabay

Michael Hobbes grew up in Seattle, Washington. In an interview with Long Lead, he recalled that as a young person he was drawn to both writing and psychology, before discovering journalism through his campus newspaper while studying at community college. Following this, he studied journalism and psychology and later went to graduate school in Denmark.

In his time there, he became involved with a human-rights organisation in Copenhagen.

This would become a vital component of his working life, as rather than entering mainstream journalism immediately after university, Hobbes worked for around 11 years in international development and human rights before returning to journalism.

• From Human Rights Work To Journalism

Prior to his current career as a podcaster, Hobbes spent approximately 11 years working in human rights and international development. This included a stint in Copenhagen and also working in Germany.

It was during his time with the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that he wrote essays in his spare time, which eventually caught the attention of HuffPost and led the media company to offer him a reporting role.

Hobbes would eventually rise to the role of senior reporter at HuffPost, writing about economic, social issues and wider public debates, with his work appearing in The New Republic, Slate and Pacific Standard, among other outlets. One of his articles about millennials was shortlisted for a National Magazine Award.

• His Writing Style

A common theme in Hobbes’ writing is his fascination with the disparity between what is thought to be the case and what the evidence suggests.

Rather than focussing on simply what the accepted view of a situation is, Hobbes often asks himself and his readers/listeners to investigate where such a viewpoint came from, what evidence supports it, and what might be missing.

In a 2024 interview, Hobbes spoke about an investigative piece he did into his own high school and education system, as he spent time speaking to students, teachers and administration about the realities of reform. In this, he noted that he learned a lot about the difference between ideas and what can realistically be achieved. It was the kind of insight that has been especially valuable to him following his move into podcasts.

• Michael Hobbes and You’re Wrong About

Image Source: Pixabay

One of the first major projects Hobbes embarked upon as a podcaster was You’re Wrong About, a show he did with journalist Sarah Marshall. It launched in 2018, and focussed on topics, people, and events that had since been oversimplified or misunderstood, investigating each and presenting listeners with the known facts.

It was a format that gave You’re Wrong About great success, both critically and commercially, throughout the 2020s. However, Hobbes left the show in October 2021, with Sarah Marshall continuing its production with additional guest hosts, remaining its primary host.

• Maintenance Phase

Following his departure from You’re Wrong About, Hobbes continued to pursue subjects he was passionate about with greater intensity. This resulted in Maintenance Phase, a podcast he launched in 2020 with writer Aubrey Gordon.

Maintenance Phase talks about a number of popular health and wellness claims, diet culture and nutrition, focussing on investigating the science behind widely-held beliefs.

The official tagline for Maintenance Phase is that it is a show in which Hobbes and Gordon investigate health and wellness trends and the science (or lack thereof) behind them.

Maintenance Phase has seen Hobbes investigate topics as diverse as popular diets, fitness trends, nutrition and a range of ideas about health and the science behind some commonly-held beliefs about weight. It is a show that is equal parts research and conversation, which has proven to be a huge hit with listeners. Maintenance Phase has even picked up awards, with the podcast winning a Webby for Best Podcast Series in 2022. Episodes from the series continue to be released, with the show’s official website featuring the latest instalments.

• If Books Could Kill

Another major project in Hobbes’ career is If Books Could Kill – a show that, like You’re Wrong About, is the work of Hobbes and a co-host. If Books Could Kill is a podcast in which Hobbes and lawyer Peter Shamshiri investigate the claims made in some of the most popular nonfiction books. Its tagline references the idea that it is about examining those airport bestsellers that have had such an impact on popular thinking.

Episodes of If Books Could Kill have featured discussions of The 5 Love Languages, Freakonomics, and Surrounded by Idiots, as well as the research and arguments Hobbes and Shamshiri have uncovered about some of these books and their impact on society. The show has proven extremely popular, with Apple Podcasts currently listing over 100 episodes, naming Hobbes and Shamshiri as the creators and hosts of the series.

• Michael Hobbes’ Other Journalism

Podcasts aside, Michael Hobbes has continued to write and appear in a variety of other media outlets.

His work has been published in:

❖ HuffPost

❖ Slate

❖ The New Republic

❖ Pacific Standard

He has spoken on WNYC’s On the Media programme and has appeared on podcasts and in interviews regarding his journalism and research. In 2025, for example, Pitchfork Economics revisited an interview with Hobbes about his HuffPost article discussing white collar crime.

• What Makes Michael Hobbes’ Podcasts Different?

When listening to Michael Hobbes’ podcasts, there is a fairly consistent structure that he follows. Firstly, there is almost always a prominent cultural idea or belief in place. This could be something as simple as a popular book, a diet trend or an element of history that is widely known.

However, what makes Hobbes’ shows so interesting is the research. While many shows will present a commonly-held viewpoint, rarely do they go behind this to explore where it came from. Hobbes and his co-hosts do this, investigating the evidence, and presenting the facts that they have found. This is then woven into a discussion, with the evidence presented in

an accessible and informative manner that also has an element of humour.

Humour, in fact, is a large part of what makes Hobbes’ podcasts engaging and accessible. They are often sarcastic and light-hearted, but always rooted in research and the presentation of facts.

• Michael Hobbes’ Life Outside Journalism

Outside of his professional life, Michael Hobbes has largely kept himself out of the public eye. Biographical information places him in a number of different countries, including

Seattle, Denmark, Germany, and the UK. However, his professional life has always appeared to be the main focus of his life. Unlike many other public figures, Hobbes has not built his personal life around his work, instead keeping himself private and discreet.

• Michael Hobbes’ Career Today

As of 2026, Michael Hobbes is still associated with both Maintenance Phase and If Books Could Kill, with recent episodes continuing to feature him and his co-hosts. His professional life has changed a great deal since his time with international development and NGOs. Hobbes has become one of the most prominent journalists and podcasters of his generation, with his contributions to both media continuing to shape the industry. Maintenance Phase and If Books Could Kill are his current projects, and represent a shift away from traditional journalism that he has made over the years.

Conclusion

Michael Hobbes has built a career based on investigating common ideas and presenting the facts behind them. He has spent years building his reputation as a writer and journalist, with his work for HuffPost and the likes of The New Republic, Slate, and Pacific Standard all helping to build his name as a researcher and writer. Following this, his podcast work has enabled him to build a reputation for himself as a podcaster, with You’re Wrong About, Maintenance Phase and If Books Could Kill all representing different facets of his work. As one of America’s most interesting journalists and podcasters, Michael Hobbes has made his living investigating stories and presenting the true facts to the public.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Michael Hobbes?

Michael Hobbes is an American journalist, writer and podcast host known for Maintenance Phase, If Books Could Kill and You’re Wrong About.

2. What is Michael Hobbes famous for?

He is particularly known for his podcast work and his research-based discussions of health, wellness, popular books, social issues and media narratives.