What’s happening with ‘The Downside’?
Gianmarco Soresi, an American comedian, just signed a deal to bring his weekly podcast “The Downside” to Vox Media’s podcast network. This is a big move for the show, which was already building an audience through independent channels.
The podcast, co-hosted with actor Russell Daniels, takes a completely different approach to typical comedy shows. Instead of looking for silver linings or staying positive, the hosts actively encourage negativity and complaints. It’s basically the opposite of motivational content you usually see on streaming platforms.
Why should Indian audiences care?
If you listen to podcasts regularly, you know comedy shows are everywhere right now. But most of them follow the same formula—make jokes, share feel-good stories, inspire the audience. “The Downside” flips that script entirely.
The show brings in different guests every week who join the hosts to talk about life’s frustrations, failures, and disappointments—all while keeping it funny. It’s honest humor without the fake positivity that many people find exhausting.
For Indian podcast listeners specifically, this matters because it shows how international comedy podcasts are evolving. While Indian creators are still figuring out what resonates with audiences, international platforms are experimenting with refreshingly raw content. Vox Media’s backing suggests this kind of comedy actually has commercial appeal.
Vox Media isn’t a small operation either. They run a major podcast network with millions of listeners. Getting picked up by them gives “The Downside” access to significantly larger audiences and better distribution through apps like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The deal also signals something interesting about where comedy is heading. Instead of always punching up or delivering traditional jokes, comedians are finding success by simply being brutally honest about how difficult life can be. No sugarcoating, no fake ending with everything worked out perfectly.
That’s actually refreshing in 2024, when so much online content is carefully curated to look perfect. A show where complaining is literally the point? It might sound depressing, but listeners clearly want it.
If you’re someone who gets tired of motivational posts and wellness culture, or if you just enjoy comedy that doesn’t pretend everything is fine, this is the kind of show that might actually speak to you. And with Vox Media behind it, you’ll find it easily on any major podcast platform.
Expect “The Downside” to expand its reach significantly over the coming months as more people discover it through Vox’s promotional channels.